Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, and Rafael Nadal all find themselves in a loaded top half of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia bracket. Such was the big story when the draw ceremony was held on Friday evening in Rome. Djokovic and Nadal, in fact, are in the same quarter–an incredibly tough one that also includes Milos Raonic, Gael Monfils, and Nick Kyrgios.
Djokovic, Nadal, Raonic, and Kyrgios all reached the Madrid quarterfinals. Both Djokovic and Nadal advanced to the semis, and the world No. 1 currently awaits a title match against Andy Murray on Sunday. Monfils got bounced early in Madrid by Pablo Cuevas, but he recently finished runner-up in Monte-Carlo to Nadal.
Federer’s section is similarly difficult. Madrid semifinalist Kei Nishikori is the other recipient of an opening-round bye, while Richard Gasquet and Dominic Thiem are also lurking. In the 34-year-old’s first scheduled match since withdrawing from Madrid because of a back injury he awaits the winner of an intriguing battle between Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev.
“The goal clearly now is to play [in Rome] and do well,” Federer commented after pulling out of Madrid. “I’ve been playing a lot of practice on clay. I’ve been putting a lot of hours in. I was (there for) 10 days in Monaco before the tournament and played three matches there.… Now, also the last two weeks I was back on the clay even though it was cold in Switzerland. Maybe that didn’t help my back; I’m not sure. But I practiced there for many days, as well.’
“With my experience and the way I feel about big tournaments, if I have (been playing a lot of) matches, great. If I don’t, I trust my game that I’ll be fine, regardless.”
A much more wide open bottom half of the draw features Murray, who will begin his week against either Borna Coric or a qualifier. Roberto Bautista Agut is a potential third-round opponent for the second seed, while Tomas Berdych and David Goffin are also in that quarter. Murray just recently thrashed Berdych before taking out Nadal on Saturday.
Stan Wawrinka, meanwhile, will likely face good friend Benoit Paire in his opening match. If Wawrinka or Jo-Wilfried Tsonga falter early, Paire, David Ferrer, or Fabio Fognini could capitalize on what is by far the weakest section of the bracket.
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