Daniil Medvedev is expected to move past Pablo Llamas Ruiz in two sets at ATP Rome Day 6, after the former world No. 1 was handed a walkover by Tomas Machac. Medvedev, who has previously won this event, comes in with far less court time than Llamas Ruiz, whose run through qualifying has already taken a toll.
Llamas Ruiz has won all four of his matches since qualifying, and every one of those victories went to a deciding set. That sort of workload can drain a player quickly, especially against a seasoned opponent. Medvedev’s dislike of clay is well known, but the Russian has also shown he can handle this tournament before, which is why he is favored here despite the surface.
The contrast is stark on the sixth day in Rome. Llamas Ruiz arrives after four straight three-set battles, including a win over Ben Shelton in the previous round, while Medvedev has had the benefit of a walkover from Machac and no extra miles in his legs. The prediction is rooted in that imbalance: one player grinding through nearly every match, the other fresh enough to control the pace.
Brandon Nakashima is part of the wider Day 6 picture as the draw continues to separate the players who have survived the strain from those who have not. His only win so far came against Roberto Bautista Agut, a reminder of how quickly this tournament can narrow the margins. In Rome, fatigue is often the difference between holding on and going home, and Llamas Ruiz will likely already be feeling it.
