The final clay-court ATP Masters event of the season is kicking off in Rome with a slate of matches ahead.
Altmaier vs Zhang: A Clay Court Battle
Zhizhen Zhang is set to face Daniel Altmaier. Physical struggles have defined much of Zhizhen Zhang’s career. Despite his strong serve and aggressive forehand, he now finds himself outside the top 200.
On slow clay, this is a challenging matchup against a natural clay-courter in Daniel Altmaier, who will use his heavy topspin backhand and loopy forehand to disrupt Zhang’s rhythm. While Altmaier is not in top form either, the surface gives him the edge.
Head-to-head, Zhang leads Altmaier 1-0.
Prediction: Altmaier in 3.
Other Rome Masters Matches
Fabian Marozsan faces Vit Kopriva. This matchup contrasts Vit Kopriva’s baseline consistency with Fabian Marozsan’s all-court craft. Marozsan returns to the site of his famous win over Carlos Alcaraz in 2023, but on clay, Kopriva’s heavy groundstrokes and movement could give him a slight edge.
Head-to-head: Marozsan 1-0 Kopriva.
In what should be a competitive encounter, Kopriva has a good chance to pull off the upset.
Prediction: Kopriva in 3.
Patrick Kypson is also competing. Both players are better suited to faster surfaces, relying on big serves to generate free points, which clay tends to neutralize. However, Patrick Kypson has recently shown promise on clay, pushing top players like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Matteo Berrettini in tight matches. That confidence, along with his movement on this surface, gives him the edge here.
Prediction: Kypson in 3.
Arnaldi vs Munar: A Familiar Rivalry
Matteo Arnaldi is set to play Jaume Munar. These two players are very familiar with each other, having faced off multiple times since their Challenger days. While Matteo Arnaldi has had some success in the matchup, Jaume Munar holds the overall edge.
Both enter Rome in need of a win, with Munar enduring a below-par start to 2026 after a solid 2025, and Arnaldi still searching for his first tour-level victory of the season. This match will likely be decided by baseline consistency and confidence. While Arnaldi’s athleticism and home support could give him a lift, Munar’s steadiness from the back of the court should be enough to see him through.
Head-to-head: Munar 2-1 Arnaldi.
Prediction: Munar in 2.
The early days of the event set the tone, as we have a fascinating slate of matches ahead.