Matteo Bellucci, Italy's world No. 80, enters the Rome Masters first round on clay against Spain's Mariano Landaluce. The Italian has shown inconsistent form recently, with two wins against Burruchaga and Sonego offset by losses to Cadenasso, Dzumhur, and Forejtek. Bellucci faces an uphill battle in the head-to-head record, trailing 0–3 against Landaluce, who has proven a difficult matchup on multiple surfaces. Home court advantage on clay may offer some support, but recent results suggest the Italian needs to elevate his level significantly.

Mariano Landaluce, ranked No. 94 from Spain, arrives in Rome with a mixed recent record that includes wins over O'Connell and Jade but losses to Pellegrino, Quinn, and Walton. The Spanish player holds a commanding 3–0 head-to-head advantage over Bellucci, a confidence-boosting record that could prove decisive in their first-round clay court encounter. Landaluce's inconsistent form and lower ranking suggest this remains a competitive matchup, though his historical success against the Italian gives him a notable edge going into the tournament.