Jesper de Jong vs Alexander Shevchenko Preview & Prediction | 2025 Italian Open | First Round
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Lucky loser Jesper de Jong is up against Alexander Shevchenko in the first-round of the Italian Open, with the winner to take on Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Ranking points: ATP 1000
Start date/time: Thursday 8th May, 2025: UK – not before TBC / US ET – not before TBC / US PT – not before TBC
Venue: Foro Italico, Rome, Italy
Surface: Outdoor clay
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports Tennis / US – Tennis Channel
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Tennis Channel
Tickets: Visit this link for the latest Jesper de Jong vs Alexander Shevchenko ticket information
Jesper de Jong vs Alexander Shevchenko prediction
Jesper de Jong has not been able to replicate his early clay court form in recent times. He made the final of the Murcia Open in late March which he lost to Carlos Taberner. He then backed that up with a semi-final appearance a week later in Girona but lost to former Grand Slam champion Marin Cilic in straight sets.
Wins have been more difficult to come by for the Dutchman since then, as he lost early on in Barcelona, Madrid and more disappointingly, in the Estoril Challenger just last week. He enters the draw in Rome as a lucky loser, having lost to Thiago Seyboth Wild in the second qualifying stage.
Alexander Shevchenko won both his qualifying rounds without dropping a set and now faces De Jong. His performances haven’t been particularly inspiring either though he did win three matches in a row at the BMW Open. This included the qualifying rounds and coming from a set down to defeat Bucharest Open champion Flavio Cobolli in round one, before a loss to Francisco Cerundolo in the second-round.
This is pretty difficult to call considering neither player is in sparkling form and they're closely ranked in the world rankings. We see this going to three sets.
Jesper de Jong vs Alexander Shevchenko tip: Both players to win a set
