These last two weeks full of tennis and excitement are coming to an end. Alexander Zverev and Nicolas Jarry They meet in what promises to be an intense fight for the trophy in the Italian capital. After 10 days with multiple surprises, the German reaches the last match in the ATP Rome 2024 as favorite, with Jarry in front who has nothing to lose.
The two arrived in the Italian capital as seeds, so they saved that time on the court in the first round. In the case of Zverev, his highest-ranked opponent he has faced has been Taylor Fritz, although Alexander did not lose a set until the semifinals against Alejandro Tabilo.
As for Nicolas Jarry, the Chilean has had to fight much harder in his matches, losing sets, with his most difficult opponent being Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals. The suffering was also noticeable in his semi-final against Tommy Paul. It will be his first Masters 1000 final, while for Sascha it is the eleventh time, already having 5 trophies in the category in his collection.
Despite the experience in such scenarios, this is a date of utmost importance for an Alexander who arrives as a favorite and who can take this Masters 1000 in Rome as a turning point for a Roland Garros in which he could have opportunities. Perhaps that tension does not work in favor of Zverev who is a clear favorite, also having already won in Rome (his first Masters 1000 in 2017).
What can Nicolas Jarry do to surprise? As we have seen this week in Rome, the Chilean plays with much more freedom in matches where he does not arrive as a favorite, so being in the final is already a reward for him. He doesn’t have as much pressure, so it will be easier for him to develop his game on the court. According to what he himself said at a press conference, his service will be essential. The first-round percentages will have to work in his favor, although on the other side of the net he will also have a great server.
Among the other factors to take into account is the aggressive aspect of his game, with even climbs to the net, and the occasional drop with which to break the German’s rhythm of play. The sensations he has with his forehand can also be important to him, controlling unforced errors so as not to give too much away to his rival.
Guaranteed excitement
About five years ago, Zverev and Jarry competed in an epic final in Geneva, with Alexander taking the big trophy, but admitting that the Chilean deserved that title for having played better. Seasons have passed since then and things have changed a lot. Nicolas has had some wins over Sascha on clay, so he knows what he has to do to get the German into trouble. The head to head balance is 4-2 for Zverev, although it is 2-2 if we stick to clay court battles.
Both will have options this coming Sunday, although Alexander Zverev should be the clear favorite to win the title. After a crazy week in Rome, anything can happen, so nothing is guaranteed until the last point is played.
