Djokovic, Alcaraz Together Again For First Time All Year At ATP Rome Masters

For the first time all year, Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz will be in the same draw. The Rome Masters will be the site of a potential Top 2 collision as the top players in the world head toward the French Open later this month.

Alcaraz comes in on fire having won his last eight matches including consecutive clay titles in Barcelona and Sunday at the Madrid Masters.

Alcaraz makes his debut at the event while Djokovic has won the title six times, but comes in off a shaky elbow which has hampered his play on the clay. But he’s made the final in Rome the last four years winning twice.

Top seeds are 1 Novak Djokovic, 2 Carlos Alcaraz, 3 Daniil Medvedev, 4 Casper Ruud, 5 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 6 Andrey Rublev, 7 Holger Rune, 8 Jannik Sinner, 9 Taylor Fritz, 10 Felix Auger Aliassime, 11 Karen Khachanov, 12 Frances Tiafoe, 13 Cameron Norrie, 14 Hubert Hurkacz, 15 Borna Coric, 16 Tommy Paul

NOVAK DJOKOVIC QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Djokovic, 7 Rune, 10 Auger Aliassime, 13 Norrie, 17 De Minaur, 22 Korda, 26 Dimitrov, 30 Kecmanovic
Floaters: Murray, Etcheverry, Krajinovic, Van Assche, Wawrinka, Fognini
Notable openers: Ilya Ivashka-Stan Wawrinka, Fabio Fognini-Andy Murray
Projected 3R matches: 1 Djokovic – 26 Dimitrov, 17 De Minaur – 13 Norrie, 10 Auger Aliassime – 22 Korda, 30 Kecmanovic – 7 Rune
Notes: Novak Djokovic will seek a fifth straight trip to the final but in his section all eyes will be on the match of the first round between former champion Andy Murray and Italian star Fabio Fognini. Djokovic could face Grigor Dimitrov, Cameron Norrie and then potentially Holger Rune in the quarters.

CASPER RUUD QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Ruud, 8 Sinner, 11 Khachanov, 16 Paul, 23 Van De Zandschulp, 24 Cerundolo, 28 Shelton, 29 Griekspoor
Floaters: Baez, Gasquet, Nakashima, Bublik, Wu
Notable openers: Brandon Nakashima-Gregoire Barrere, Richard Gasquet-Yibing Wu
Projected 3R matches: 4 Ruud – 28 Shelton, 23 Van De Zandschulp – 16 Paul, 11 Khachanov – 24 Cerundolo, 29 Griekspoor – 8 Sinner
Notes: Former semifinalist Casper Ruud’s recent slump should opener the door for a breakthrough this week. And that could come from Italian superstar Jannik Sinner who will have the pressure to make a deep run. Sinner has a terrific draw out the semifinals. Young American Ben Shelton could make a run and Karen Khachanov is playing well.

DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Medvedev, 6 Rublev, 9 Fritz, 14 Hurkacz, 19 Zverev, 21 Bautista Agut, 27 Davidovich Fokina, 31 Zapata Miralles
Floaters: Ruusuvuori, Cressy, Wolf, Jarry, Molcan, Humbert, Cecchinato, Goffin
Notable openers: Quentin Halys-JJ Wolf, Ugo Humbert-Emil Ruusuvuori
Projected 3R matches: 6 Rublev – 27 Davidovich Fokina, 21 Bautista Agut – 9 Fritz, 14 Hurkacz – 19 Zverev, 31 Zapata Miralles – 3 Medvedev
Notes: An open quarter with 7-10 different players with a chance to come through. Alexander Zverev is a former champion but is far from form. Daniil Medvedev is playing well, Andrey Rublev was hot last month and Taylor Fritz, Roberta Bautista Agut, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Huberta Hurkacz can do damage.

CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 5 Tsitsipas, 12 Tiafoe, 15 Coric, 18 Musetti, 20 Evans, 25 Nishioka, 32 Lehecka
Floaters: Schwartzman, Sonego, Mannarino, Ramos Vinolas, Lajovic
Notable openers: Matteo Arnaldi-Diego Schwartzman
Projected 3R matches: 5 Tsitsipas – 25 Nishioka, 18 Musetti – 12 Tiafoe, 15 Coric – 20 Evans, 32 Lehecka – 2 Alcaraz
Notes: Carlos Alcaraz makes his debut – we hope – and he’ll be the tournament favorite. The 20-year-old could see a rematch with Borna Coric before another showdown with Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarters. Frances Tiafoe is projected to face Lorenzo Musetti.

The projected quarterfinals:
No. 1 Djokovic – 7 Rune
No. 4 Ruud – 8 Sinner
No. 6 Rublev – 3 Medvedev
No. 5 Tsitsipas – 2 Alcaraz

Former champions: Djokovic(6), Murray, Zverev
Former finalists: Wawrinka, Tsitsipas, Schwartzman

Last year, (1) Novak Djokovic defeated (4) Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0 7-6(5).

LAST 10 ROME CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2022 Novak Djokovic d Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-0, 7-6(5)
2021 Rafael Nadal d Novak Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
2020 Novak Djokovic d Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3
2019 Rafael Nadal d Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
2018 Rafael Nadal d Alexander Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
2017 Alexander Zverev d Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3
2016 Andy Murray d Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3
2015 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3
2014 Novak Djokovic d Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3
2013 Rafael Nadal d Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3

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