Andrey Rublev’s triumph in Madrid means it’s now time to move on to Rome for the next Masters 1000 event of the season – and though Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner might be missing, the rest of the draw is looking interesting.
The full draw was made on Monday morning. The seeds get a bye in the first round, leaving eyes to be drawn by a match that’s likely to be very feisty indeed – Dan Evans v Fabio Fognini, in the second quarter.
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Novak Djokovic, back after his withdrawal in Madrid, will start with a bye before facing Roman Safiullin – who he defeated in Monte-Carlos – or a qualifier. In the third round, the world No 1 could face Alejandro Tabilo, recent winner of the Aix-en-Provence Challenger, with a possible meeting with Karen Khachanov in the fourth round.
In the quarter-finals, he could face Casper Ruud – who ended his run in Monte-Carlo last month – before a potential clash with Alexander Zverev or Grigor Dimitrov in the semi-finals.
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Rafael Nadal, back in Rome after his absence last year, will start his campaign against a qualifier before taking on Hubert Hurkacz – a tough task for anyone. If he overcomes the Pole, the Spaniard could face Tomas Etcheverry or Thiago Seyboth Wild, followed by Holger Rune in the round of 16 and defending champion Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-final. Stefanos Tsitsipas or Andrey Rublev could be his opponents in the last four.
Daniil Medvedev may be an unlikely defending champion given his reiterated dislike of clay, but he is looking to retain his crown in Rome. He begins with a bye and then has either Jack Draper or Borna Coric in the second round. He could then face Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the third round, and Tommy Paul in the fourth round. Hurkacz is then his most likely quarter-final opponent, with either Rublev or Tsitsipas his rival for a place in the final.
