Djokovic vs Tsitsipas - ATP Rome Prediction

Djokovic vs Tsitsipas is perhaps the most tantalizing of the four quarterfinal matches on Friday at the ATP Rome Masters. The number one player in the world takes on a player who should hold that honor himself when the current Big Three exit the sport, with a semifinal spot on the line in Rome. In this round of tennis picks, we look at this exciting clash and provide our best bet from the Roman red clay.

Novak Djokovic has not been pushed at all through two matches in Rome this week. The world’s number one player beat Taylor Fritz in straight sets before demolishing Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina in straight sets in the round of 16. Djokovic faces his toughest test of the week so far in Tsitsipas, though, who Djokovic will need to be at or near his best to beat.

Fortunately, Djokovic has been at or near his best of late. The Serbian has gone 5-2 on clay so far this year, picking up wins over impressive clay court players like Jannik Sinner and Miomir Kecmanovic during the three events he has played on clay so far this year. Djokovic has yet to reach a final on clay so far this year, though, something he will look to take steps toward changing here.

Stefanos Tsitsipas hasn’t been challenged much in Rome this week either. After making easy work of Marin Cilic in his first match of the week, the Greek player survived a first set tiebreak against Matteo Berrettini before crushing him in the second set. But Tsitsipas will need to do something he has never done before to advance here and beat Djokovic on clay.

If Tsitsipas is going to beat Djokovic, he is going to need to continue to protect his serve. Tsitsipas has faced five break points through two matches in Rome, and has saved all five of those break chances. Against Djokovic, his serve will presumably be put under greater duress than it was against Berrettini and Cilic, though.

Djokovic vs Tsitsipas is a match that has been contested seven times in the past, with Djokovic winning four of those seven matchups. But Djokovic has won both of their matches on clay, taking the first two sets in both of those victories, even if he needed a fifth set to beat Tsitsipas in last year’s French Open.

This match is going to come down to how Tsitsipas handles the defensive ability of Novak Djokovic. Djokovic is going to ask more questions of Tsitsipas than he is used to, and the history of this matchup suggests that the world number one will get the better of things on clay. Expect Djokovic to get a victory here and continue to round into form ahead of Roland-Garros.