Italian Open 2021: Jannik Sinner vs Ugo Humbert preview, head-to-head & prediction

Match details

Fixture: Jannik Sinner vs Ugo Humbert

Date: 10 May 2021

Tournament: Internazionali BNL d'italia 2021

Round: First round (Round of 64)

Venue: Rome, Italy

Category: ATP Masters 1000

Surface: Red clay

Prize money: €2,082,960

Match timing: Approx. 2 pm local time, 5.30 pm IST

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video

Jannik Sinner vs Ugo Humbert preview

The first round of the 2021 Italian Open will see an exciting clash between two fast-rising youngsters - Jannik Sinner and Ugo Humbert - on Monday.

Sinner has played some of his career's best tennis in the first half of 2021. But he made an early exit at the Madrid Open last week, and will be eager to put up a better showing in Rome.

Ugo Humbert

Ugo Humbert, meanwhile, has had a difficult time this season. Despite coming off of a breakthrough 2020 - where he won his first two ATP titles - the Frenchman has been unable to maintain any kind of consistency so far in 2021.

Humbert did make a couple of quarterfinals at his home tournaments in February, but has only won once in three appearances on the red dirt this season. Against an in-form Sinner on Monday, Humbert will need to come up with a significantly improved performance if he hopes to come up trumps.

Jannik Sinner vs Ugo Humbert head-to-head

Jannik Sinner will be keen on moving past the disappointment of his early exit in Madrid last week.

Ugo Humbert leads Jannik Sinner 1-0 in the duo's head-to-head rivalry. The two met in the round-robin stage of the 2019 Next Gen Finals, with the Frenchman winning in four sets (played in the first-to-four-games format).

Jannik Sinner vs Ugo Humbert prediction

Considering the form of the two players on clay this season, Jannik Sinner will start as the firm favorite. Besides making the semi-finals in Barcelona, Sinner has also secured wins against the likes of Andrey Rublev, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Roberto Bautista Agut on the dirt this season.

Ugo Humbert on his part enjoys playing an aggressive brand of tennis, where he registers several quick-fire points behind his serve. But the slower conditions in Rome are likely to favor Sinner, who has a more well-rounded game.

The Italian's confidence-boosting run in Barcelona should also allow him to play with more freedom from the get-go. If he can show the same level of intensity, the Sinner should be able to come through this match unscathed.

Prediction: Jannik Sinner to win in straight sets.