Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Rome match.
The final stage of the ATP Rome qualifying event begins today, with Cameron Norrie (No. 91) facing off against Dušan Lajović (No. 131) in one of the ties. Based on both ranking and recent performances, the British player is considered the favourite.
Cameron Norrie
Cameron Norrie can certainly be satisfied with his form throughout April. He made it to the Round of 32 in Barcelona, where he lost a tightly contested match against Karen Khachanov (7:6, 4:6, 3:6). He was then knocked out at the same stage in Madrid by Gabriel Diallo (6:2, 4:6, 4:6). Norrie opened his current qualifying campaign with a commanding straight-sets victory over Jacopo Vasami (6:3, 6:2), despite the opponent enjoying home advantage in Rome.
Dušan Lajović
Dušan Lajović, on the other hand, has struggled to display the same level of consistency. While he frequently makes it through to ATP main draws, he rarely advances beyond the second round. It’s also worth noting that the Serbian only competed in Madrid during April. His other appearances were in lower-tier events, where he failed to make a significant impact.
Cameron Norrie vs Dušan Lajović Prediction
Cameron Norrie is in strong form and has established himself as a regular presence at the top level. He is well-suited to clay courts, so a sudden dip in performance seems unlikely. We are backing the British player.
