Former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic showed signs of improvement last week in Madrid, beating Monte-Carlo runner-up Kei Nishikori in the first round in what was arguably the best win of his comeback from right elbow surgery that kept him out after Wimbledon last year. And while he lost his next match against eventual quarter-finalist Kyle Edmund, the Serbian will look to continue improving at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, where he faces a familiar foe in his opener.
The four-time champion will look to get another victory under his belt on Monday against talented Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov in the third match on Court Centrale. Djokovic is well-acquainted with the former World No. 13, who himself is recovering from an injury (right wrist). In fact, the 30-year-old owns a 5-0 FedEx ATP Head2Head series record against the three-time ATP World Tour champion.
View FedEx ATP Head2Head for the following matches from the 2018 Internazionali BNL d'Italia & vote for who you think will win!
Nishikori vs Lopez | Djokovic vs Dolgopolov |Fognini vs Monfils
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But while Djokovic has won all five of their meetings — four of which have come at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000-level — there is plenty of reason to be on his toes. The last time they played, at Cincinnati, three years ago, the Serbian came within two points of defeat in the second set before escaping with a semi-final victory.
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Dolgopolov will look to keep points short and play offencive tennis against Djokovic, which should provide fans at the Foro Italico with an intriguing contrast in styles.
The player whom Djokovic ousted in Madrid, Nishikori, will look to get back on track in another clash of styles against Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. While they’re competing on red clay, the 36-year-old veteran will still serve and volley more often than not, attempting to beat the speedy Nishikori with his serve placement and touch at the net.
On the other hand, Nishikori, who has showed great form at Monaco, will attempt to neutralise Lopez’s attack and lengthen rallies, to create a situation in which he should thrive. The Japanese superstar, currently World No. 24, was the seventh seed in the Italian capital last year, and will look to better a third-round performance as he continues his climb back up the ATP Rankings.
But perhaps fans will need the most popcorn for the final ATP World Tour match of the day on Court Centrale, which features home favourite Fabio Fognini and the always-entertaining Frenchman, Gael Monfils.
Both men have won an ATP World Tour title this year, with Monfils opening 2018 with a triumph at Doha and Fognini sliding to victory in Sao Paulo. And with the Italian crowd creating a tremendous atmosphere — in which Monfils also thrives — expect nothing less than an evening thriller between two of the best showmen in the sport.
Fognini will attempt to even the pair’s FedEx ATP Head2Head series (currently trails 3-4) and create lasting memories for his fans one year after ousting top-seeded Andy Murray in the final clay-court Masters 1000 event of the year. If he wins, Fognini will set a second-round showdown against Madrid runner-up Dominic Thiem, against whom he has never won a set (trails FedEx ATP Head2Head series 0-2).
More Matches To Watch Monday
- Karen Khachanov vs Philipp Kohlschreiber (FedEx ATP Head2Head series tied 1-1)
- Richard Gasquet vs Benoit Paire (Gasquet leads FedEx ATP Head2Head series 5-0)
- No. 10 Pablo Carreno Busta vs Jared Donaldson (First FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting)