Day 4 at the Foro Italico continues to deliver intriguing matchups across the board for the ATP Rome Masters. With the clay season in full swing, the contrasts in surface pedigree and recent form make for compelling reading going into Saturday’s action. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance?
ATP Rome Day 4 Predictions
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Christian Garin
Head-to-Head: Davidovich Fokina 2-1 Garin
Both players know their way around the dirt, but their paths to this match differ. Garin has shown real grit by winning qualifying matches, including a solid straight-sets win to reach the main draw. The Chilean has a strong clay background and plenty of experience grinding out points on slower surfaces.
Davidovich Fokina, on the other hand, brings higher-ranked consistency and dangerous variety in his game, especially when his one-handed backhand finds rhythm. Their past encounters have been tight, but Davidovich Fokina’s recent ability to handle longer rallies should help him control more of the baseline play here.
Prediction: Davidovich Fokina in 3
Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Mattia Bellucci
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Etcheverry has been one of the more reliable clay performers in recent seasons, racking up wins on the surface and showing strong movement and forehand power that translates well in Rome. The Argentine loves these conditions and has the fitness to stay in long exchanges.
Bellucci, the home player, earned a nice straight-sets win in the first round and brings aggression from the baseline, but his clay record this season has been less consistent overall. Etcheverry’s experience in bigger clay events gives him the edge in managing the important points.
Prediction: Etcheverry in 2
Marin Cilic vs Martin Landaluce
Head-to-Head: Cilic 1–0 Landaluce
At 37, Cilic is firmly in the veteran bracket, but he has shown he can still compete at this level. He makes his 15th main draw appearance at the Italian Open and his first since 2022, having had to withdraw from his Madrid second-round match against Joao Fonseca due to food poisoning. He beat Marcos Giron comfortably in round one here, so he appears to be back in good shape.
Martin Landaluce is the younger and more dynamic player, and he won his own first-round match 6-2 6-3, showing he is in decent form. However, clay is not exactly Cilic’s natural element–his game is built around the serve and heavy ball-striking, and while those tools are less dominant on dirt, his experience at this level matters a great deal. Landaluce has the tools to push him but needs to win an extended battle, and Cilic’s game management in big moments tends to hold.
Prediction: Cilic in 3
Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Mariano Navone
Head-to-Head: Navone 1–0 Auger-Aliassime
Auger-Aliassime possesses plenty of athleticism and can hit big off both sides, which helps on any surface when his confidence is high. Navone, however, is a true clay-court specialist who understands the slide, constructs points patiently, and has already shown he can trouble Auger-Aliassime on this surface.
The Canadian’s game is undeniably high quality, and he is playing well, but he has historically struggled to convert his hard-court form into deep clay runs consistently. Navone is a born clay-court competitor who is in form, full of confidence, and already has a win over Auger-Aliassime in his back pocket. That combination makes him a genuine threat to cause an upset here.
Prediction: Navone in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
