ATP Rome: Vit Kopriva vs Sebastián Báez

ATP Rome: Vit Kopriva vs Sebastián Báez

🧠 Form & Context

Sebastián Báez
A purebred clay specialist, Báez enters Rome with solid form despite a few mental stumbles. He’s already surpassed his 2023 clay campaign with a runner-up finish in Bucharest and four clay wins this swing. His biggest struggle remains psychological—he’s lost three matches this year after winning the first set. Still, his game—built on topspin-heavy forehands and rally endurance—is a perfect fit for Rome’s slow conditions.

Vit Kopriva
The Czech journeyman is enjoying a breakthrough in the Eternal City, earning his first-ever Masters main-draw win after qualifying. He beat a rusty Quentin Halys in R1 and enters with renewed confidence. Known for his steady baseline play, Kopriva doesn’t bring raw power but thrives in rhythm-based matchups, particularly on clay where he owns all three of his career top-50 wins.

🔍 Match Breakdown

This is a surface and style matchup that heavily favors Báez. Rome’s high-bounce clay neutralizes big-hitters and rewards players like Báez who are disciplined, physical, and consistent from the baseline. Kopriva may have momentum and belief, but his lack of firepower will likely leave him struggling to dictate play.

Báez will look to attack early and apply scoreboard pressure, something he’s done well in most of his clay wins. The danger lies in his mid-match lapses—if Kopriva can stay close and extend rallies deep into the second set, he could force tiebreak drama.

🔮 Prediction

Prediction: Báez in straight sets. While Kopriva may keep things tight with grinding resistance, Báez’s experience, rally tolerance, and clay expertise should guide him into the next round.