Grigor Dimitrov vs Brandon Nakashima Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Italian Open

Prediction published on 09/05/2022, 09:39  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 09/05/2022 at 10:52 in Tennis Predictions

World number 20 Grigor Dimitrov takes on Brandon Nakashima in the Rome Masters first round. A tough match lies ahead for the winner with fourth seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas the opponent. Dimitrov knows only too well how difficult an opponent Tsitsipas would be. He's lost to him in both of his last two tournaments in Barcelona and Madrid, both at the last 16 stage winning just 12 games. He will hope to get the chance of third time lucky and has had a good European clay court season to date. He made it to the last four in Monte Carlo with wins over players such as Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz. Dimitrov also beat Diego Schwartzmann in Madrid, before losing to Tsitsipas.

Brandon Nakashima is the world number 76 but was as low as 82nd in February. His 2022 got off to a good start with a quarter final in Sydney but hasn't got past the last 16 stage since then. He has not been doing too well on clay this years and in the past has never made the main draw of the French Open. In Barcelona, he lost in his second match and then in the first round in Munich. It was the same fate for Nakashima in Madrid, losing to Benoit Paire in three sets after losing the first without winning a game. He had to win two matches to qualify for the main draw in Rome. Back Dimitrov to win this.