The French Open draw ceremony will be held the week immediately following the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, so the season’s third clay-court Masters 1000 tournament is the last battle for positioning in the rankings in advance of the year’s second Grand Slam.
Carlos Alcaraz is out of Roland Garros because of a wrist injury, so a top 33 ranking (not top 32) is required to earn a seed.
The battle for those final spots will be an intense one in Rome. Rafael Jodar, who made a run to the Madrid quarterfinals, is currently one spot out at No. 34. The 19-year-old Spaniard is followed closely behind by Madrid semifinalist Alexander Blockx, who is currently 35th. Alejandro Tabilo, the Aix-en-Provence Challenger champion on Sunday, and Denis Shapovalov are also among those looking to overtake a group including Brandon Nakashima (No. 31) and Ugo Humbert (No. 32).
The battle of a top eight seed is also crucial, as it guarantees avoiding Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, and Novak Djokovic at least until the quarterfinals. Medvedev’s lead in the eighth position ahead of Lorenzo Musetti and Alexander Bublik is far from comfortable going into Rome.
Here is the current seeding chart for the French Open (taking Alcaraz’s absence into account):
1. Jannik Sinner (14,350)
2. Alexander Zverev (5,805)
3. Novak Djokovic (4,700)
4. Felix Auger-Aliassime (4,050)
5. Ben Shelton (4,030)
6. Taylor Fritz (4,770)
7. Alex de Minaur (3,755)
8. Daniil Medvedev (3,460)
9. Lorenzo Musetti (3,415)
10. Alexander Bublik (3,355)
11. Flavio Cobolli (2,750)
12. Jiri Lehecka (2,715)
13. Andrey Rublev (2,590)
14. Karen Khachanov (2,220)
15. Valentin Vacherot (2,147)
16. Arthur Fils (2,130)
17. Tommy Paul (1,975)
18. Cameron Norrie (1,918)
19. Luciano Darderi (1,890)
20. Learner Tien (1,870)
21. Frances Tiafoe (1,865)
22. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (1,820)
23. Arthur Rinderknech (1,736)
24. Casper Ruud (1,735)
25. Tomas Martin Etcheverry (1,660)
26. Francisco Cerundolo (1,620)
27. Jakub Mensik (1,600)
28. Joao Fonseca (1,435)
29. Corentin Moutet (1,393)
30. Tallon Griekspoor (1,360)
31. Brandon Nakashima (1,295)
32. Ugo Humbert (1,280)
33. Rafael Jodar (1,273)
34. Alejandro Tabilo (1,243)
35. Alexander Blockx (1,200)
36. Denis Shapovalov (1,170)
Jodar HAS to be seeded
I like Musetti at The Foro Italico!
same
Yeah. He’s the new Fognini
Madrid was great because of the fast conditions, but doesn’t rival the sheer class and history of the Foro Italica
Even just being home again with Italian food will help — like Popeye and spinach. And the crowd support! Jasmine Paolini unexpectedly won the WTA side last year. That was a lovely happening. Good luck, Lorenzo!
If Jodar doesn’t get a seed for Paris, it’ll be a tragedy. It simply won’t do to have him potentially run into the likes of Novak Djokovic in the first round.
certainly wouldn’t do for Djokovic!
He’ll have to roll his sleeves up in Rome then! It’s totally possible. But even if he doesn’t, good experience and sooner or later he’ll get there.
I find the Top 8 seeding interesting. It’s one reason our Alex de Minaur has managed to stay in the Top 10 and made so many QFs last year — precisely because of who he wouldn’t meet until the QFs.