Arnaldi and Fognini to Compete at Rome Masters This Thursday

ROME, Italy – Italians Matteo Arnaldi and Fabio Fognini will take the court on Thursday at the Rome Masters. They are set to face Roberto Bautista Agut and Jake Fearnley, respectively, in the first round of the tournament.

Matteo Arnaldi will meet Roberto Bautista Agut for the first time in his career. The match highlights a contrast between two players at different stages in their professional lives. Bautista Agut, 37, has had a tough season with a record of 4-11 and has not advanced beyond the first round in any tournament this year. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Arnaldi ranks No. 37 in the world and aims to use this event as a stepping stone for potential French Open seeding. Recently, he made headlines by reaching the quarterfinals in Madrid after notable victories over Frances Tiafoe before losing to Jack Draper.

Fans at the Foro Italico are expected to give Arnaldi a significant boost in this matchup, adding to the excitement of playing in front of a home crowd.

Fabio Fognini, also 37, will compete against Jake Fearnley in what is likely his final appearance at the Rome Masters. Fognini struggles with his form, ranked 107th, and has yet to win a main-draw match in 2025. Although he has fared better in qualifying events and Challenger tournaments, he recently lost to world No. 396 Neil Oberleitner at the Mauthausen Challenger.

Fearnley, who is enjoying his debut season on the professional tour, currently ranks 57th, thanks to solid performances as a qualifier in both Madrid and Miami. Even though clay courts are not his forte, early indications show that he is adapting well.

With Fognini’s struggles and the enthusiastic crowd rallying behind him, both matches promise to captivate tennis fans. Arnaldi and Fearnley seem poised to advance as they aim for a successful run in the tournament.