Learner the apprentice

The American will play his 14th main-tour match on clay here...

Five wins so far, against Squire, VDZ, Opelka, Basavareddy and Dzumhur. A bit thin, isn’t it?

Yes, but we thought he would play worse in his first match here. Sure, a different match-up, but maybe not that unpleasant for the American. Bublik basically plays a hard-court style, with more drop shots and some loopy trajectories when needed. He has a better feel for the game on this surface. Yes but…

I still say that in Rome, I find the American motivated. And I think that also matters quite a bit for his level on clay. Then, I don’t think the match-up is bad at all for him. He’ll be able to defend on clay that will probably be slowed down by the rather cold and rainy conditions, and he’ll pound Bublik’s backhand with his lefty forehand. I also find him pretty good on return, on top of that!

So, I’m nitpicking, is that it? A motivated Bublik, even on clay, plays at a top‑10 level. Why not. But I don’t forget that it’s only been one match that he’s been playing seriously again. So I’m putting a warning label on it…