Minnen (26) will meet his 20-year-old opponent for the first time. In the 2nd round, the winner of this confrontation meets the Russian Liudmila Samsonova (WTA 17). Ranked 15th seed, she is exempt from the 1st round.
The same goes for Elise Mertens. The Belgian N.1 awaits the winner of the duel between the Czech Katerina Siniakova (WTA 36) and the Italian Nuria Brancaccio (WTA 292).
The Polish world No.1 Iga Swiatek is the favorite for this last big meeting before Roland-Garros. Kazakh Elena Rybakina (WTA 4) defends her title.
Nadal will start against a qualifier
Rafael Nadal, 305th in the world after an almost blank 2023 season, will face a player from qualifying in the first round of the Masters 1000 in Rome which begins on Wednesday, according to the draw made on Monday.
In the event of victory, the Spaniard, crowned ten times in Rome, the last in 2021, could face the Pole Hubert Hurkacz, 9th in the ATP ranking, in the second round.
Also in his part of the table are the Dane Holger Rune, finalist of the Roman tournament last year and 12th in the world, and the Russian Daniil Medvedev, 4th in the world.
Since his return to the circuit after another forced three-month break, the Spaniard, who will soon be 38 years old and who is most likely playing his last season on the ATP circuit, was eliminated in the 2nd round in Barcelona and reached the 8th finals. of the Masters 1000 in Madrid.
Djokovic against a qualifier or Safiullin
For his part, Novak Djokovic will have as his first opponent in the 2nd round either a qualifier or the Russian Roman Safiullin (N.39).
The world No.1, lacking benchmarks after a start to 2024 far from his standards (no title, 11 victories and four defeats), could cross paths with the Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (N.22) in 8th of final.
If he reaches the quarter-finals, he will theoretically be opposed to the Norwegian Casper Ruud (N.7) who beat him in the semi-finals in Monte-Carlo, then in the semi-finals to the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov (N.10) or to the German Alexander Zverev (N.5).
Djokovic skipped the Masters 1000 in Madrid, after his elimination in Monte-Carlo.
The Masters 1000 in Rome, the last major tournament before Roland-Garros (May 26-June 9), will be deprived this year of the Italian Jannik Sinner, world No.2, who is out due to a painful hip, and the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz (N.3), still suffering from pain in his right forearm.
