Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

Karen Khachanov vs. Francesco Passaro Preview, Prediction and Betting Odds for ATP Italian Open 2025 Round of 32

Khachanov vs. Passaro: A Test of Skill on Italian Clay

Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The 23rd seed, Karen Khachanov, will face wild card Francesco Passaro in the third round of the Italian Open. Khachanov, who received a bye in the first round, kicked off his campaign with a gritty three-set victory over Roman Burruchaga. On the other hand, Passaro has been in impressive form, first battling past qualifier Jason Tseng in three sets before cruising through Grigor Dimitrov in straight sets.

Khachanov enters the match with seven singles titles under his belt, while the young Passaro, who turned pro in 2019, brings a fresh and hungry energy to this clash with the seasoned veteran. Here’s everything you need to know for this exciting matchup.

Also Read: Holger Rune vs. Corentin Moutet Head to Head Record, Prediction and Betting Odds for ATP Italian Open 2025 Round-3

Karen Khachanov vs. Francesco Passaro Preview

Karen Khachanov’s 2025 season has lacked consistency, with early exits becoming a recurring theme. After a third-round finish at the Australian Open, he hasn’t gone past the Round of 16 in most tournaments, Barcelona being the lone exception, where he reached the semifinals before falling to Holger Rune.

His latest outing in Madrid saw him lose a tight three-setter to Tommy Paul. Despite the underwhelming results, his numbers suggest he’s staying competitive: 104 aces, a 73% first-serve win rate, and 153 break point chances, though a modest 36% conversion and 37% return points won indicate room for sharper execution in big moments.

25th tour-level semi-final ✅

From 2-5 0-30 down in the second set, @karenkhachanov defeats Davidovich Fokina in straights, 6-4 7-5!#BCNOpenBS pic.twitter.com/DoWgeRbqm8
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) April 18, 2025

Young Italian Passaro began his 2025 campaign with a career milestone, his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open. While a walkover from 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov due to a hip injury helped him advance, Passaro showed grit by taking Benjamin Bonzi to four sets in the second round. He followed that up with a quarterfinal run at the Challenger Rosario, but a string of injuries (leg issues in February, March, and May, along with two abdominal setbacks in July and early August) have stalled his progress.

With a modest 1-2 record this season, the numbers reflect both his potential and the stop-start nature of his year: 95 aces, a 68% first-serve win rate, 24% return points won on the first serve, and a 37% break point conversion from 91 opportunities.

Karen Khachanov vs. Francesco Passaro Head-to-Head Record

Karen Khachanov and Francesco Passaro do not have a head-to-head yet. The Italian Open will be their first match ever.

Karen Khachanov vs. Francesco Passaro Comparison

Karen Khachanov	Category	Francesco Passaro
24	Ranking	101
290-211	Career W-L	7-14
9-10	YTD W-L	1-2
7	Career Titles	0
0	Grand Slams	0
0	YTD Titles	0

Karen Khachanov vs. Francesco Passaro Prediction

Khachanov’s experience and firepower give him the edge, but Passaro’s home crowd and hunger could make it closer than expected. A tight contest leans slightly in Khachanov’s favor.

Prediction: Karen Khachanov in straight sets