Rafael Nadal is scheduled for an early Italian Open face-off with Daniil Medvedev while Novak Djokovic will play in Rome.
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NADAL, MEDVEDEV IN EARLY FACE-OFF IN ITALIAN OPEN
Nadal is lined up for an early showdown against defending Italian Open champion Medvedev should the Spaniard reach the quarterfinals.
The former world No.1 will open his campaign against a qualifier before possibly facing No.7 seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Medvedev will start his title defense in Rome against either Borna Coric or Jack Draper based on the draw released on Monday.
The possible Nadal-Medvedev quarterfinals matchup could face either Madrid Open champion Andrey Rublev or Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Alexander Zverev and Grigor Dmitrov could emerge from the other half of the draw.
Zverev has a strong chance to reach at least the quarterfinals should he hurdle Mariano Navone, Tallon Griekspoor,, and Alexander Bublik.
DJOKOVIC IN, EYES TO ADD TO SIX ITALIAN OPEN TITLES
Djokovic makes his return to clay-court action in Rome after skipping the Madrid Open.
By skipping Madrid, the world No.1 may be peaking in time for the French Open and avoiding the injuries that hit Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz.
Djokovic opens his campaign against Roman Safiullin or a qualifier in his first appearance since the Monte Carlo Masters.
The Serbian seeks to add to his six Italian Open titles as he primes up for the French Open starting on May 26.
Djokovic will then be lined up to face Zverev or Dmitrov in the same half of the draw.
SWIATEK INSPIRED BY NADAL IN WINNING MADRID OPEN FINAL
Newly crowned Madrid Open winner Iga Swiatek was inspired by Nadal to win her final against Aryna Sabalenka.
The world No.1 drew inspiration from Nadal’s 2022 Australian Open final.
The Spaniard came back from two sets down to beat Medvedev.
“One thing that came through my mind was actually that I think Rafa had couple of matches like that,” Swiatek recalled.
“But I remember exactly when he was playing Medvedev in Australia and it clicked for him. It felt like it,” she added.
