Old Dogs Djokovic and Nadal lead Rome Masters draw; No sinner, no Alcaraz

The men's competition at the Rome Masters kicks off on Wednesday in Italy, led by tennis legends Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal.

They won a combined 16 titles in Rome, with Nadal winning 10 and Djokovic six.

With Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the tournament, Djokovic is the clear favorite to win another title in Rome, ahead of Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Kasper Ruud. Current champion Daniil Medvedev is a question mark with a groin.

The competition in Rome is considered to be the closest to Roland Garros in terms of ground and height, so there is a large correlation between results in Italy and Roland Garros.

Of the world's top 40, only three are missing: Sinner, Alcaraz and Jiri Legecka.

Top seeds: 1 Novak Djokovic, 2 Daniil Medvedev, 3 Alexander Zverev, 4 Andrey Rublev, 5 Kasper Ruud, 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 7 Hubert Hurkacz, 8 Grigor Dimitrov, 9 Alex De Minaur, 10 Holger Rune, 11 Taylor Fritz, 12 Ben Shelton, 13 Hugo Humbert, 14 Tommy Paul, 15 Alexander Bublik and 16 Karen Khachanov.

QUARTER NOVAK Djokovic
Seeded: 1 Djokovic, 5 Ruud, 12 Shelton, 16 Khachanov, 19 Mannarino, 20 Cherundolo, 29 Tabilo, 32 Thompson
Floating: Ketzmanovich, Hanfmann, Zhang, Safiullin, Nakashima, Moutet, Marozhan, Shevchenko, Ensik, Monfils, Mikhelson.
Notable newcomers: Miomir Kecmanovic-Brandon Nakashima.
Predicted 3R matches: 1 Djokovic – 29 Tabilo, 20 Serundolo – 16 Khachanov, 12 Shelton – 19 Mannarino, 32 Thompson – 5 Ruud
Notes: After missing out in Madrid, Novak Djokovic was lucky to draw and no one was in danger in the quarter-finals. Then he might see Ben Shelton or perhaps Casper Ruud. Ruud could face Kecmanovic in his first match, and then perhaps Gael Monfils or Thiago Monteiro. Shelton may meet with young compatriot Alex Mikhelson.

“ALEXANDER ZVEREV” QUARTER
Seeding: 3 Zverev, 8 Dimitrov, 11 Fritz, 15 Bublik, 23 Griekspoor, 24 Korda, 26 Musetti, 28 Navone
Floators: Shapovalov, Evans, Eubanks, Nishioka, Ofner, Schwartzman, Fognini, Darderi.
Notable newcomers: Diego Schwartzman-Aleksandar Vukic, Yoshihito Nishioka-Sebastian Ofner.
Predicted matches 3R: 3 Zverev – 28 Navone, 23 Griekspoor – 15 Bublik, 11 Fritz – 24 Korda, 26 Musetti – 8 Dimitrov
Notes: The open quarter includes Alexander Zverev, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz, Sebastian Korda and Lorenzo Musetti. Zverev is probably a slight favorite with a good draw in the quarter-finals. The bottom 16th looks like a dogfight with Dimitrov, Musetti, Fritz and Korda. Take your pick, here.

ANDREY RUBLEV QUARTER
Seeded: 4 Rublev, 6 Tsitsipas, 9 De Minaura, 13 Humbert, 18 Auger Alassime, 21 Jarry, 27 Norrie, 31 Fils
Floating players: Struff, Berrettini, van de Zandschulp, Cachen, Giron, Fucsovics, Ruusuvuori, Arnaldi.
Notable newcomers: Jan Lennard Struff-Pedro Kachin, Emil Ruusuvuori-Marcos Giron.
Predicted 3R matches: 6 Tsitsipas – 27 Norrie, 18 Auger Alassime – 9 De Minaur, 13 Humbert – 21 Jarry, 31 Fils – 4 Rubleva
Notes: A tough quarter of the draw featuring Madrid winner Andrey Rublev, former finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas, as well as Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Nicolas Jarry and the likes of Struff, Berrettini and Arnaldi. Rublev has a good fight with Jarry in the fourth round.

“DANILA MEDVEDEV” QUARTER
Seeded: 2, Medvedev, 7 Hurkacz, 10 Rune, 14 Pavel, 17 Baez, 22 Tiafoe, 25 Echeverri, 30 Davidovich Fokina
Floating: Coric, Sonego, MacDonald, Altmaier, Karatsev, Seyboth Wild, Nardi, Draper, Nadal, Bergs.
Notable newcomers: Zizou Bergs-Rafael Nadal, Dusan Lajovic-Lorenzo Sonego, Mackenzie McDonald-Aslan Karatsev.
Predicted matches 3R: 7 Hurkacz – 25 Echeverri, 17 Baez – 10 Rune, 14 Paul – 22 Tiafoe, 30 Davidovich Fokina – 2 Medvedev
Notes: Open section with Daniil Medvedev nursing a groin problem and even healthy, it's rubbish with the man he beat last year, Holger Rune, Tommy Paul Thomas Martin Echeverry and of course Rafael Nadal. If Nadal was 100%, it would be an easy road with no truly dangerous opponents on clay. But the Spaniard, who turns 38 next month, will open what is likely to be his final tournament in Rome with Mastes against Zizou Bergs and then he could face Hurkac with Echeverri in the third round. Nadal is scheduled to play on Thursday.

Former champions: Djokovic (6), Zverev, Nadal (10), Medvedev.
Former finalists: Schwartzman, Tsitsipas, Rune

Last year (3) Daniil Medvedev defeated (7) Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5 to win his first career clay title.

LAST 10 ROME CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2023 Daniil Medvedev d Holger Rune 7-5, 7-5
2022 Novak Djokovic – Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–0, 7–6(5)
2021 Rafael Nadal – Novak Djokovic 7-5, 1-6, 6-3
2020 Novak Djokovic – Diego Schwartzman 7-5, 6-3
2019 Rafael Nadal – Novak Djokovic 6-0, 4-6, 6-1
2018 Rafael Nadal – Alexander Zverev 6-1, 1-6, 6-3
2017 Alexander Zverev – Novak Djokovic 6-4, 6-3
2016 Andy Murray – Novak Djokovic 6-3, 6-3
2015 Novak Djokovic – Roger Federer 6-4, 6-3
2014 Novak Djokovic – Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-3

Could you:
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