Rome Previews: Can surging Mirra Andreeva finally break through against Coco Gauff?

Coco Gauff vs. Mirra Andreeva

Gauff and Andreeva are 22 and 19, respectively, but there’s nothing new about either of them. That includes their own mini-rivalry. The American and the Russian have already played four times total; three times on clay; and once in Rome 12 months ago. Gauff has dropped just one set in those four encounters.

Recent events might lead you to believe Andreeva is due for a win. This spring she has won a title and made a 1000 final on clay, while Gauff has admitted to a lack of motivation due to personal issues. But twice this week, Coco has manufactured enough positive energy to stage a borderline-miraculous comeback.

Gauff might feel bullet-proof at the moment, but I’ll take the more in-form player by a nose. Winner: Andreeva

👉 Estimated start time: 1:00 p.m. ET | 10:00 a.m. PT

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Rafael Jodar vs. Learner Tien

The 19-year-old Spaniard and the 20-year-old Californian have taken turns as the ATP’s Newcomer of the Moment in 2026. Tien began by making the quarters in Melbourne and Indian Wells and rising to No. 21. As his momentum slowed on clay, Jodar grabbed the baton and hasn’t stopped sprinting with it.

On their own, they offer two very different futures. Jodar is a state of the art attacker, while Tien wins with speed, steadiness, smarts, defense—everything but power. They’ve met once before, at the Next Gen Finals, with Jodar winning in five first-to-four-game sets. Now they’ll face off for real.

I’ll take Jodar, because clay is his natural element, and he’s been rolling on it. Winner: Jodar

👉 Estimated start time: 6:10 a.m. ET | 3:10 a.m. PT

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Lorenzo Musetti vs. Casper Ruud

Neither man is having his best season. Musetti is 13-6, Ruud is 14-9, and both are well below their career-high rankings. But with Carlos Alcaraz no longer an obstacle, hope springs eternal for both on dirt. Musetti and Ruud have games made for clay, and have reached the semifinals and final at Roland Garros, respectively. Neither has dropped a set at the Foro so far.

Ruud leads their H2H 2-1, and is 2-0 on clay. But Musetti, who made the semis here last year, seems to have learned something that most of his fellow Italian colleagues haven’t: How to harness the crowd’s energy, rather than let it overwhelm him. Winner: Musetti

👉 Start time: Not before 5:00 a.m. ET | 2:00 a.m. PT

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