Rome Italy) – On Serbian Novak Djokovic’s return to the circuit, after losing the Masters 1000 in Madrid, the draw for the Masters 1000 in Rome was favorable for the world number 1, at least in the initial rounds, allowing him to pick up the pace until begin the biggest challenges. Debuting directly in the second phase, he takes on the winner of the duel between Russian Roman Safiullin and a quali.
Next, the main obstacle in the Serb’s path should be the Chilean Alejandro Tabilo, seeded 29th, with the young Czech Jakub Mensik able to take the lead. In the round of 16 the level rises a little more against possibly the Russian Karen Khachanov or the Argentine Francisco Cerúndulo, respectively seeded 16th and 20th at the Foro Itálico.
The bracket starts to get complicated for Djokovic from the quarterfinals onwards, when he can see Norwegian Casper Ruud, his tormentor at the Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, a few weeks ago. The fifth favorite should debut against Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic, he could face Australian Jordan Thompson or Frenchman Gael Monfils in the third round and in the round of 16, North American Ben Shelton or Frenchman Adrian Mannarino.
Zverev and Dimitrov in the semi-finals
Arriving in the semifinals in Rome, the Serb has a good chance of crossing paths with German Alexander Zverev or Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov, the main favorites in the second quadrant of the competition. Seed 3, the German debuts against a tennis player coming from qualifying or the Australian Aleksandar Vukic, while the third pre-classified Bulgarian takes on the Austrian Sebastian Ofner or the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka.
Other important names in this part of the bracket are the Americans Taylor Fritz and Sebastian Korda, the Italian Lorenzo Musetti, who with the absence of Jannik Sinner is the home’s main chance, the Kazakh Alexander Bublik, the Argentine Mariano Navone and the Dutch Tallon Griekspoor. Guest of the organization, veteran Fabio Fognini is also there, runs on the outside and tries to surprise.
