David Goffin vs Alexander Zverev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Italian Open

Prediction published on 12/05/2023, 10:30  by Kennedy Kechula | Modified on 12/05/2023 at 11:47 in Tennis Predictions

19th seed Alexander Zverev begins his Rome Masters campaign on Saturday with a second-round match against unseeded David Goffin. His last win, which also happens to be the last time they met, came on clay in the third round in Monte-Carlo. With this latest clash being the fourth between the two to be played on clay, Goffin, a former world number seven, will fancy his chances of making it to the next round, especially with his recent upturn in fortunes. Goffin comes to this match having won four of his last five matches and defeated the wildcard Luca Nardi in three sets to make a winning start to his ninth appearance in Rome. Despite the win, Goffin has dropped down three places in the live rankings after losing 20 ranking points and is now placed at 110th in the world. On the ATP Tour, these two players have shared their four previous meetings but Zverev leads 2-1 on clay. 

Alexander Zverev has also dropped down in the live rankings and is currently at number 27 as he's defending points won when reaching the 2022 Rome Masters semifinals. The German former world number two is still struggling with his fitness after the injury he sustained at Roland Garros last year.He has won 11 matches which is as many as he has lost and he will hope to halt this topsy-turvy run with a sustained performance in what is his seventh appearance in Rome. Zverev is a former champion here, which was back in 2017, and came close to a third appearance in the final last season but was eliminated in the semifinals. Zverev has twice beaten Goffin on clay with his last success in this matchup coming at this very tournament in the quarterfinals in 2018 on his way to back-to-back finals. The winner of this encounter will advance to the third round where a tie with either 14th seed Hubert Hurkacz or the unseeded J.J Wolf awaits.