Returning to the ATP Tour this week at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, Novak Djokovic learned the path to his record-extending 39th ATP Masters 1000 crown on Friday.
The top-seeded Serbian could face in-form Italian Jannik Sinner in the quarter-finals and is seeded to meet Miami champion Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo. Djokovic, who is aiming to consolidate his position at No. 1 in the Pepperstone ATP Rankings, will open against Brandon Nakashima or Mackenzie McDonald.
The World No. 1 could then play 16th seed Lorenzo Musetti in the third round. The 35-year-old defeated Musetti in a five-set thriller at Roland Garros in 2021. Djokovic is a two-time champion in the Principality, having triumphed in 2013 and 2015.
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Jannik Sinner arrives in Monte-Carlo off the back of a run to his second ATP Masters 1000 final in Miami. He begins his first clay-court tournament of 2023 against Diego Schwartzman or David Goffin.
Medvedev holds a 29-3 record on the season, having lifted four trophies this year. Chasing his maiden title on clay, the third seed will play Italian wild card Lorenzo Sonego or a qualifier in his opening match and is seeded to meet German Alexander Zverev in the third round. Medvedev is first in the Pepperstone ATP Live Race To Turin.
Holger Rune, who claimed his maiden Masters 1000 crown in Paris last year, is a potential quarter-final opponent for Medvedev. The sixth seed starts against former World No. 3 Dominic Thiem, a wild card, or Frenchman Richard Gasquet. Cameron Norrie or Matteo Berrettini are potential third-round opponents for the Dane.
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Chasing his third consecutive title in Monte-Carlo, Stefanos Tsitsipas anchors the bottom half of the draw.
The second seed, who holds a 12-2 record in the Principality, will meet Benjamin Bonzi or Bernabe Zapata Miralles in his opening match and is seeded to play eighth-seeded American Taylor Fritz in the quarter-finals. Fritz begins against 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka or Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor.
Fourth seed Casper Ruud has lifted eight of his nine tour-level trophies on clay. Looking to kick start his season in Monte-Carlo, the 2021 semi-finalist plays Botic van de Zandschulp or a qualifier in his first match and could meet former World No. 1 Andy Murray in the third round. Fifth seed Andrey Rublev, who reached the Monte-Carlo final in 2021, is a potential quarter-final opponent for the Norwegian.
Murray plays 14th seed Alex de Minaur in the first round, while Miami semi-finalist Karen Khachanov takes on 2022 Monte-Carlo finalist Alejandro Davidovich Fokina. #NextGenATP American Ben Shelton faces Grigor Dimitrov.
