Alcaraz Avoids Sinner Until Rome Final

Recovered from the minor muscle tear suffered in the Conde de Godó final two weeks ago, Carlos Alcaraz is in Rome ready to compete in the third and final Masters 1,000 of the clay season.

The Murcian played in Madrid despite the injury sustained five days earlier in the Barcelona final against Holger Rune. After undergoing the necessary tests and training at home, he has traveled to Rome to participate in the last preparatory tournament before Roland Garros.

This tournament is particularly significant as it marks the return of Jannik Sinner to the circuit after a three-month suspension agreed with authorities following his double positive at Indian Wells in 2024. The Italian, whose ban ended this Monday, will face Mariano Navone or Federico Cina in the second round, having received a bye in the first round as the top seed, and will avoid a clash with Alcaraz until the final.

Alcaraz will face a potentially challenging debut if Jan-Lennard Struff, who must defeat the clay-averse and injured Yoshihito Nishioka, becomes his first opponent in Rome. The German is a familiar adversary for Alcaraz, having defeated him in their first encounter at Roland Garros 2021 and pushing him to the final set in Wimbledon 2022 and Madrid 2022 and 2023.

The hypothetical path for the Spaniard, should he advance through the rounds, could see him meet Tomás Martín Etcheverry or Laslo Djere in the third round, Grigor Dimitrov or Karen Khachanov in the last 16, Jack Draper, finalist in Madrid, or Holger Rune, champion in Barcelona, in the quarter-finals, and Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Zverev, or Stefanos Tsitsipas in the semi-finals. On the other side of the draw are Sinner, Casper Ruud, champion in Madrid, and Alex de Miñaur.

For Alcaraz, a victory at the Foro Italico would secure the world number two ranking and win a tournament featuring Sinner for the first time since Beijing in 2024.

The major absence from the tournament is Novak Djokovic, confirmed a few days ago following his debacle in Madrid. Unless he requests a wildcard in Hamburg or Geneva, the Serbian will arrive at Roland Garros without clay victories, having exited early in Monte Carlo and Madrid. A fourth title in Paris, which would mean a 25th Grand Slam, seems more challenging than ever.

In the women's draw, Paula Badosa, who missed Madrid due to chronic back issues that have plagued her for years, could debut against Naomi Osaka, fresh from winning an ITF title on clay. The Japanese four-time Grand Slam winner must first overcome veteran Sara Errani.

If she progresses, the Catalan could face Beatriz Haddad-Maia in the third round, Madison Keys or Anna Kalinskaya in the last 16, Iga Swiatek in the quarter-finals, and Jessica Pegula or Jasmine Paolini in the semi-finals, while Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Mirra Andreeva are on the other side of the draw.