Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the ATP Rome match.
For both players, this is an opportunity to make their mark in the main draw of a prestigious clay-court Masters event. Jesper De Jong has broken into the top 100 for the first time in his career and will be determined to progress as far as possible to consolidate his ranking. Alexander Shevchenko, by contrast, is currently experiencing a clear dip in form. Despite making it through the qualifying rounds, his overall play on clay has been unconvincing.
Jesper De Jong
The Dutch player has shown consistency in early-round encounters, winning 7 of his last 11 opening matches. On clay this season, Jesper De Jong has claimed 11 victories in 19 matches and even secured a title in Sassuolo last year. Notably, he tends to close out matches efficiently — 10 of those 11 wins came in straight sets.
Alexander Shevchenko
Alexander Shevchenko, on the other hand, is struggling, particularly on clay — he has suffered 8 defeats in his last 14 matches on this surface. This stretch includes losses to Benjamin Hassan (ranked No. 239), Filip Misolic (No. 180), Borna Coric (No. 252), and Norbert Gombos (No. 328). Although he managed to defeat Marton Fucsovics in qualifying, this appears to be more of an anomaly than a genuine sign of resurgence. Against top-100 opponents this year, Shevchenko has lost seven times in a row.
Jesper De Jong vs Alexander Shevchenko Prediction
Jesper De Jong is showing good physical condition and tactical discipline, and frequently capitalises on opponents who are lacking form. Alexander Shevchenko has yet to demonstrate the level required to compete over the course of a full match. His struggles against top-100 players suggest he is unlikely to progress past the opening round.
