Daniil Medvedev’s title at the Rome Masters did, in fact, prove to have a major impact on the French Open draw.
By lifting the trophy in the Italian capital, Medvedev passed Novak Djokovic in the rankings–sending the 35-year-old Serb from No. 1 to No. 3 in the world. Seeded third for Roland Garros, Djokovic landed in the top half of the bracket with top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz when the draw ceremony was conducted on Thursday afternoon. That means the two clear-cut favorites would go head-to-head in the semifinals instead of in the final.
Add Stefanos Tsitsipas into the mix and the Alcaraz-Djokovic side is without question the tougher of the two. Alcaraz and Tsitsipas could square off in the quarterfinals, while Djokovic’s projected quarterfinal opponent is Andrey Rublev. Cameron Norrie, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Karen Khachanov, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, and Lorenzo Musetti are also in the top half.
The bottom half is where everyone wants to be, as a spot in the title match is relatively up for grabs. That’s not to say it’s downright weak, but all 64 players have combined for two Grand Slam titles in their careers (one each for Medvedev and Dominic Thiem). Only two others have played in a slam final (Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev).
Thiem’s comeback from a wrist injury is showing no signs of slam title contention any time in the near future, which leaves Medvedev, Ruud, Holger Rune, and Jannik Sinner as the favorites to reach the final from the bottom half. Medvedev and Rune just faced each other in the Rome championship match, with the Russian triumphing 7-5, 7-5.
Projected quarterfinal contests in Paris are Medvedev vs. Sinner and Ruud vs. Rune.
First-round matchups to watch are Musetti vs. Mikael Ymer, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Arthur Fils, Denis Shapovalov vs. Brandon Nakashima, Hubert Hurkacz vs. David Goffin, Ben Shelton vs. Lorenzo Sonego, Sebastian Baez vs. Gael Monfils, Jan-Lennard Struff vs. Jiri Lehecka, and Jack Draper vs. Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
who ya got?
Top half definitely the toughest….3 guys to watch are Alcaraz, Rune, and Sinner.
Not Med?
Or Ruud?
Rublev is my dark horse, he did win Monte Carlo.
Winning M.C. can be a good omen, as it was for Thomas Muster in 1995.
Just checked my bracket and I’ve gone for Al defeats Rune in final. Oops, was sure I’d gone for Al defeats Med! Too late now!
Al over Med.
I did have Rublev but changed to Khach.