Lorenzo Musetti in the photo
The 2024 Internazionali d’Italia in Rome raises the curtain on the men’s tournament, but the event presents some notable absences. The Italian public will have to do without their home favourite, Jannik Sinner, forced to withdraw due to hip problems. Not even the Spanish phenomenon Carlos Alcaraz, struggling with an injury to his right arm, and the talented Czech Jiri Lehecka, held back by a back problem after the excellent semi-final reached in Madrid, will be missing from the match.
Leading the seeding we find the Serbian champion Novak Djokovic, ready to return to the red clay of the Foro Italico after missing the Madrid event. The “Djoker” will begin his adventure from the second round, where he will face the winner of the match between a qualifier and the Russian Roman Safiullin. In the lower part of the scoreboard, confirmation of the presence of the Russian Daniil Medvedev is awaited, returning from a withdrawal due to a groin problem in the Spanish capital. His potential opponent will emerge from the challenge between the British Jack Draper and the Croatian Borna Coric. Great expectations also for the “king of red clay” Rafa Nadal, inserted in the lower part of the draw and expected from a first round qualifier. If successful, an interesting crossroads with the Polish Hubert Hurkacz looms on the Mallorcan’s path.
Italian tennis presents itself in Rome with a large group of 12 representatives. At the top of the scoreboard, an all-Italian derby will be staged between the wild cards Giulio Zeppieri and Matteo Gigantewith the winner facing Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo in the second round. Luciano Darderi he will seek redemption against Canadian Denis Shapovalov, who defeated him in Miami, while the veteran Fabio Fognini he will face the British Daniel Evans. Flavio Cobolli he will challenge a qualified player and, in case of victory, he will find the American Sebastian Korda in his path in the second round.
Great anticipation for Lorenzo Musetti, the main blue bearer, who will start from the second round against the winner of the match between the American Christopher Eubanks and a qualifier. The Tuscan could meet the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov in the third round.
At the bottom of the board, Matteo Berrettini will be the protagonist of another Italian derby against Stefano Napolitanowith a place in the second round up for grabs against the Frenchman Ugo Humbert.
Unkind draw for Matteo Arnaldiopposing the Czech Tomas Machac in the first round and with the prospect of facing the dangerous Chilean Nicolas Jarry in the second. Lorenzo Sonego he will face the Serbian Dusan Lajovic, while the young Luca Nardi will face the German Daniel Altmaier. If successful, the Pesaro native will find the fearsome Dane Holger Rune, tenth seed, on his path. The blue frame closes Andrea Vavassoriwho will challenge the German Dominik Koepfer on his debut.
Masters 1000 Rome – Main Draw – upper part
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