Rome Tennis Open

SEEDS

1        Novak Djokovic

2        Alexander Zverev

3         Rafael  Nadal

4         Stefanos Tsitsipas   

5         Casper Ruud

6         Andrey Rublev

7         Carlos Alcaraz

8        Felix Auger-Aliassime

9        Cameron Norrie

10      Jannik Sinner

11       Hubert Hurkacz

12      Diego Schwartzman

13       Denis Shapovalov

14       Reilly Opelka

15       Pablo Carrero-Busta

16       Roberto Bautista-Agut

17      Grigor Dimitrov

18      Alex de Minaur

Berretini is sill out of competition and it will cost him dearly when it comes to ranking points - so he will not retain his no.  The likely rankings are going to place Carlos Alnaraz at 6 and Rublev at 7.when it comes out  tomorrow. 

Both Alcaraz and Bautista-Agut have withdrawn and two seeds have been added in Dimitrov 17  and De Minaur 18     

I made a mess in posting this thread Apologies for that

ROUND 2

Top Half of the Draw

1       Novak Djokovic               vs           Aslan Karatzev

 Stan Wawrinka/                         vs          Laslo Djete

12    Diego Schwarzman           vs          Marcos Giron

8      Felix Augur-Aliassime      vs          Alejandro Davidovich Fokina/

3     Rafael  Nadal                      vs          John Isner

13    Denis Shapovalov              vs          Nikoloz Basilashvili

11    Hubert Hurkacs/David Goffin     vs    Jenson Brooksby

5      Casper Ruud                      vs          Botic van de Zandschulp

Bottom Half of the Draw

6      Andrey Rublev                   vs          Filip Krajinovic

10    Jannik Sinner/Pedro Martinez   vs    Fabio Fognini/

15    Pablo Carrero-Busta            vs     Karen Khachanov

4       Stefanos Tsitsipas              vs      17    Grigor Dimitrov

Christian  Garin                          vs       Emil Vuusuvuoori

9      Cameron Norrie/Luca Nardi       vs     Marin Cilic

18     Alex de Minaur                  vs      Tommy Paul

2      Alexander Zverev              vs        Sebastian Baez              

ROUND 3

Top Half of the Draw

1       Novak Djokovic               vs         Stan Wawrinka/Laslo Djete

8      Felix Augur-Aliassime      vs          Marcos Giron

3     Rafael  Nadal                      vs          13    Denis Shapovalov          

5      Casper Ruud                      vs          Jenson Brooksby 

Bottom Half of the Draw

10    Jannik Sinner                       vs        Filip Krajinovic 

4      Stefanos Tsitsipas                 vs       Karen Khachanov

Christian  Garin                           vs        Marin Cilic

2      Alexander Zverev               vs       18     Alex de Minaur

Rublev disgraced himself in losing to Krajinovic  - he lost both his first two service games by double-faulting and poor serving in the first set and like in 2021 he was totally disinterested in playing in the game.    Bad news for him as a player.                 

QUARTERFINALS

Top Half of the Draw

1       Novak Djokovic               vs         8      Felix Augur-Aliassime      

5      Casper Ruud                      vs         13    Denis Shapovalov  

Bottom Half of the Draw

4      Stefanos Tsitsipas                 vs       10    Jannik Sinner 

2      Alexander Zverev                vs        Christian  Garin

Nadal before the Madrid Open said he had to restrict his training program due to his pressure  fracture  - he did not seem to be really affected by tiredness but this evening in Rome he was very good in the first set - but halfwy through the second set he started losing the plot.   In the first and deciding set he was totally poor in execution obviously due to tiredness,    It will lose him a very high number of  ranking points and is not good preparation for Roland Garros  only 9 days away.   

SEMIFINALS

1       Novak Djokovic               vs          5      Casper Ruud            

2      Alexander Zverev             vs          4      Stefanos Tsitsipas 

FINAL

1       Novak Djokovic               vs          4      Stefanos Tsitsipas

Wil this be the first tournament win for Djokovic in over 9 months?    We will have to wait till tomorrow to find out - but I do not think he will beat Tsitsipas.     

Congrats to Djokovic in winning his first tournament since September 2021.  He deserved the wion - but what Tsitsipas mange to do was to NOT bieng competitive at all.   The latter speciaized in double faults and in the second set he was 5-32 up and made a use mess serving for the set - inclusive of two double-faults.    The first set his serving was total BS as well.   

Whether this performance of Djokovic is enough to get him to win at Roland Garros i another question.  I will give my opinion on that one once the draw is out.