Nadal, against Carreño in Rome; Muguruza against Stephens

The draw for the Internazionali d'Italia cadres (September 14-21) resulted in a direct confrontation between Spaniards in the second round of the 1,000 Masters. Rafa Nadal and Pablo Carreño, exempt from the first round, will face each other for a place in the second round. The Spaniard will return to the track, on Wednesday or Thursday, against a compatriot and friend who has just played the semifinals of the US Open and will arrive in Italy on Sunday.

On his way, if he surpasses him, they would be ranked Milos Raonic in the round of 16, Diego Schwartzman in the quarterfinals, Fabio Foginini in the semifinals and Novak Djokovic in a hypothetical final. The Serbian, on the other side of the table, will face to start with the Italian Caruso or a player from the previous one and on his route are Auger-Aliassime, Monfils or Wawrinka and Berrettini. Albert Ramos, the other Spaniard with a direct place, will face Japanese Kei Nishikori in the first round, who has just lost the first exchange in Kitzbühel. Medveved, Thiem, Zverev and Bautista were discharged.

In the women's tournament, Garbiñe Muguruza, ninth seed, will have a tough start against American Sloane Stephens, who beat him last year in the round of 16 at Roland Garros.

On the way to the Spanish, if she overcomes this tough obstacle in the first round, there would be Ons Jabeur or Coco Gauff in the second round, Johanna Konta in the second round, Sofía Kenin or Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinals and Simona Halep, the first favorite, in the semifinals. The final would be against Karolina Plsikova, if you look at the ranking. One side of the tough box that will not be Serena Williams, who resigned at the last minute.

Lime and sand in the preview for the Spanish

In the previous phase of the tournament, Alejandro Davidovich advanced after beating Argentine Londero 2-6, 6-2 and 6-2 and will face the Japanese Sugita on Sunday, while Fernando Verdasco fell against Bosnian Damir Dzumhur 6- 0 and 6-2, who will meet veteran Tommy Robredo, who could with the Italian Moroni (1-6, 6-3 and 6-4). Bernabé Zapata lost to local Musseti 7-6 (2), 0-6 and 6-1, and Roberto Carballés retired due to injury when he fell against French Moutet 7-5 and 4-2. Pedro Martínez passed over the transalpine Forti (6-4 and 6-0) and will oppose Viola. In the women's draw, Aliona Bolsava beat the Italian Pieri by a double 6-1 and will face the Russian Kalinskaya.