MADRID, 8 Apr. (SportsFinding) –
Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic could face Carlos Alcaraz for the first time after the draw for this Friday’s Monte Carlo Masters put the world number one and the young Spaniard on the path to meeting in the quarterfinals.
The draw for the tournament that begins on Sunday presented the appetizing prospect of a fight between the current French Open champion and a player who many expect will enjoy great success at Roland Garros given his upward trajectory.
Alcaraz, 18, became the youngest men’s champion at the Miami Open last week, rising to No. 11 in the ATP rankings after falling outside the top 100 at this very moment 12 months ago.
The Spaniard won an ATP 250 tournament on clay last year in Umag, and an ATP 500 on surface in Rio de Janeiro in February, but winning a Masters 1000 title on hard court in Miami set the tone given Alcaraz’s rapid climb. .
Both he and Djokovic will receive a bye in the first round in Monte Carlo, and then must win twice to set up their Round of 16 date. Alcaraz may have to beat reigning Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz in the third round, with Marin Cilic and Sebastian Korda likely opponents for the young Murcian.
Djokovic will also not take a place in the quarter-finals for granted. If he navigates his first match, the Serb could face a dangerous third-round clash with Spain’s Roberto Bautista or the player he lost to in the round of 16 last year, Britain’s Dan Evans.
Rafael Nadal is absent after sustaining a stress fracture to his rib during his Indian Wells final loss to Fritz. For his part, Djokovic did not play in the recent Indian Wells and Miami Masters events because only people vaccinated against the coronavirus are allowed to enter the United States.