Struff, 36 years old, 92 kg.

My first thought is of course that the German is going to struggle in today’s conditions, with a heavy clay court and a temperature that’s rather low for the season. Clearly, the pressure he usually applies with the weight of his shots will have a bit less impact today against a fairly mobile player who actually prefers being in this defender’s role rather than that of a playmaker. The Argentine wasn’t very convincing in his second qualifying round here in Rome, even if the Swiss on the other side of the net showed a good level. But what disappointed me the most, on the Argentine’s side, was his inability to maintain his best tennis throughout the entire match. He had to compensate a bit in the second set. And knowing that this match is being played today, which makes it his third in three days, I’m wondering whether, mentally more than physically, he’ll be able to keep within reach—or rather keep at bay—the ambitions of a German who always has a good attitude and is ready to slip into the slightest opening.