Italian Open in Rome, 2nd Round, Wednesday, 11.05.2022
These days it’s blow by blow in Rome. Already on Sunday the big final of the Italian Open is on the agenda, but until then we still have a lot of top-class matches ahead of us.
On Wednesday, some players will only play the second round. Among them are two who have not shown their best side in the last few weeks. Read my Carreno Busta Khachanov tip to see why I’m leaning towards the Spaniard
Spanish players and red clay have been a recipe for success in tennis for years. In Rome, prodigy Carlos Alcaraz is not competing, so Rafael Nadal and his colleagues are all alone in the spotlight.
Pablo Carreno Busta also wants to cause a stir in the eternal city. He showed what he can do in Barcelona a few weeks ago. Was he driven by his own audience or was he finally in top form again?
Lorenzo Sonego, Casper Ruud and Diego Schwartzman were able to defeat Carreno Busta, all three are high up in the rankings. The final went to Alcaraz, but almost everyone loses to the 19-year-old at the moment.
Actually, Carreno Busta had intended to take exactly these performances to Madrid, but he did not succeed. In a very close match, he lost to Botic van de Zandschulp, the up-and-coming Dutchman, right from the start.
The more confident was his tournament start in Rome, Carreno Busta won 6-3, 6-2 against Federico Delbonis. He only gave up one break, a strength he will need against the almost two-metre tall Karen Khachanov.
However, the Italian Open is not one of his favourite tournaments. Twice he was eliminated in the first round, then he had to retire before round 2. The last three years were anything but successful.
There have already been seven duels with Khachanov, with the Russian leading 4:3. Four of the last five encounters went to him, whether that will also give him the decisive advantage on Wednesday?
Also because Karen Khachanov is not in top form. The negative highlight of 2022 took place in Madrid, where he was blown out flat against underdog Lucas Pouille 3-6, 4-6.
In four of the last five competitions he failed right at the beginning, only in Belgrade he once managed to win two duels. At least he managed to avoid elimination in the first round in Rome.
His 6-3, 6-4 against Giulio Zeppieri was no more than a must-win, Khachanov will definitely have to improve on this performance against Carreno Busta. Once he reached the round of 16 in Rome, in his other three appearances he lost the very first match.
My Carreno Busta Khachanov Tip
Has Pablo Carreno Busta recovered from his weak tournament in Madrid? He had shown how strong he really is a few days earlier in Barcelona. If he has a good day, he can beat anyone.
The Russian doesn’t like the red clay very much, is not in shape at all.
Although he is ahead of Carreno Busta, he lost both matches against the Spaniard on clay. Therefore, my tip also goes in the direction of a single bet and reads:
Carreno Busta beats Khachanov!
