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Holger Rune vs Sebastian Baez: ATP Rome – Round of 16
Two Top-20 players will face each other in the round of 16 at the ATP Rome.
Holger Rune Profile
Holger Rune is currently 12th in the ATP rankings and his career high was No. 4 in the world. The Danish is 20-10 for the season and 6-3 on clay.
He is coming off a 6-4, 6-4 win in the second round over Luca Nardi.
Last week, he lost in the third round in Madrid to Tallon Griekspoor. The week before, Rune retired in the semifinal in Munich in the match against Jan-Lennard Struff.
His best result of the season was the final in Brisbane, where he lost to Grigor Dimitrov.
Last year in Rome, Rune lost in the final to Daniil Medvedev.
Sebastian Baez Profile
Sebastian Baez is having the highest ranking in his career being No. 19 in the world. The Argentinian is 19-10 for the season and 15-5 on clay.
He is coming off a 7-6, 7-6 win over Dusan Lajovic in the second round.
Last week in Madrid, Baez lost in the third round to Taylor Fritz.
He has already won two titles this season. In the final in Santiago, he defeated Alejandro Tabilo 3-6, 6-0, 6-4, and in the final in Rio de Janeiro, he won 6-2, 6-1 against Mariano Navone.
This is his third appearance in Rome, and for the first time, he has reached the third round.
Head-to-Head Tied 2-2
- Rune vs Baez 7-6, 6-1 (2023 ATP Basel, round of 16)
- Baez vs Rune 7-6, 6-3 (2022 ATP Buenos Aires, first round)
- Baez vs Rune 6-2, 6-4 (2021 Santiago Challenger, first round)
- Rune vs Baez 6-3, 6-2 (2021 ATP Santiago, first round)
Prediction and Conclusion
Both players are coming off solid performances in the second round, and this will be an interesting match to see. They have split their previous four head-to-head matches, and both of Baez’s wins came on clay. However, Rune is a former top-five player, and he is eager to get back there. The tournament in Rome looks like a real opportunity for the youngster to go deep, and he will play his best tennis, which will be enough to beat Baez.
