The draw has been revealed for Internazionali BNL d’Italia. Second-seeded Rafael Nadal has a first-round BYE. He will begin his campaign against US Open semi-finalist Pablo Carreno Busta in Rome.
Rafa’s potential route to the final:
- 1st round: Bye
- 2nd round: Pablo Carreno Busta
- 3rd round: Milos Raonic
- Quarter-final: Diego Schwartzman
- Semi-final: Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Final: Novak Djokovic
If the men play to seed the quarter-final line up will be:
- Novak Djokovic v Gael Monfils
- Matteo Berrettini v David Goffin
- Fabio Fognini v Stefanos Tsitsipas
- Diego Schwartzman v Rafael Nadal
Our champ is currently on a 10-match winning streak in Rome, having won the past two editions of the tournament. The 35-time ATP Masters 1000 winner won three-set battles against Alexander Zverev in the 2018 championship match and Novak Djokovic in last year’s final.
If Rafa triumphs for the third straight year in Rome, he will capture a 10th trophy at a single event for the fourth time in his career. The Manacor native owns 12 Roland Garros trophies and has won 11 crowns at both the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters and the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.
GOOD LUCK & VAMOS RAFA!
Source: ATP Tour
Yes indeed, Pauline. I think this match against Pablo is just what Rafa needs for a first match back. He’s motoring! Keep your foot firmly down on the pedal, champ. Excellent work so far.
Layoff? What layoff! So far so good. Sorry for Pablo(but not too sorry) that he drew Rafa straight out.
Keep it going Champ.
Pablo was really good in New York but has no chance against Rafa today. Rafa looks great!
“Rafael Nadal has a massive “advantage” at Roland Garros because of his decision to skip the US Open and practice on clay instead. This is the opinion of Novak Djockovic. Although this may be true, I can’t help thinking that this was said deliberately to take the pressure off him and on to Rafa.
Nevertheless, this won’t be in Rafa’s head. Respectful of every player, he won’t take anything for geanted and will work his hardest on every single point.
A solid match from Novak. He continued his famous post match celebration after his win today (yuk), even without a crowd. Weird. He’s probably imagining the applause (or mainly applause) of a full stadium.
Bring on the fire today Rafa, as Pablo CB is no slouch.. Can’t wait.
It seems like all the Italian players have done well today except S. Caruso lol
S. Travaglia beat B. Coric
M. Berrettini beat F. Coria
S. Tsitsipas is in danger against J. Sinner right now, let’s see……
No wonder RBA pulled out of the Italian Open, his wife gave birth to their first child, a baby boy today.
Congratulations to RBA and his wife🎊🥳
Congratulations to RBA on the birth of his baby boy. Joyful news after the sad death of his father a year ago.
Wonderful news Mimi about the addition to Roberto’s family. A new baby is always cause for celebration.
Roberto said the only thing holding him up during the loss of both parents was the love of his wife. His mom’s death was totally unexpected. About two years after Roberto’s dad died, she died at the age of only 52, in her sleep.
His wife and tennis saved him.
Hi Margo,
Wonderful, news indeed! So happy for Roberto 🥰
Are you ready for Rafa and Pablo? Rafa is finally back on court OMG 🙏😍🤩
Enjoy the match👌
Joyous news from Roberto and his wife Ana on the birth of little Rober. Enhorabuena.
It’s too late for this year but hoping that next year Rafa will join him in the top ten father’s club.
That would be great, Pauline👍 A little Rafa or Maria……
When does Rafa play?? Anyone knows????
Not before 7pm local time tomorrow, not before 10am pacific time.
Thanks a lot Mimi Lau
You are welcome, Rafan.
Margo…. I just read on EssentiallySports the following as I know you were interested in Rafa’s comments about Dominic’s victory….
In a pre-tournament press conference for the Italian Open, Nadal congratulated ‘hard-worker’ Dominic Thiem for his first Grand Slam title. . Rafa said Thiem fully deserved the victory.
“Happy for Dominic… if somebody deserves to win a big title is him. Super hard worker very focused on his goals, good person….that’s a good human and he deserves it,” Nadal said.
“I’m sorry for Sasha (Zverev). He was very close to the final, but somewhere I think Dominic was a little bit stronger throughout the tournament and after a lot of years of hard work he deserved to win the title. Sasha will have other opportunities in the future.”
And there you go…. Rafa … who says what he means and means what he says…. A very open and honest comment about Dominic Thiem … I remember when Rafa gave his speech at the French Open, as he looked at Dominic he said “You will be here one day …that is for sure” …. and I agree it’s only a matter of time however.let’s hope it’s not this year 🙂 …. I want our boy to lift up that cup once again….
Can’t wait for tomorrow! We finally get to see him in action…
VAMOS RAFA!!!
Thank you Marileena.
I had TennisTV on today but with the sound off as I was working, now watching Stan’s match v Musetti, sound on. USO and “Cincy” had so much noise around the stadium, even without the canned applause, that it sounded quite normal. All you can hear in Rome are the crickets. This is what I imagined spectator-less tennis to be like when it was announced. The scoreboard has failed as well. It’s kind of eerie. But Rafa must have played so many practice sets in conditions like this, hopefully it won’t seem as strange to him as it does to me.
Were you surprised Stan Wawrinka got a bagel in the first set? He is in danger of losing in straight sets now……😱
I didn’t see the first set, but yes, very surprised at the score. Stan played a bad tiebreak in the second set as well. I thought he had a good chance here and might have been a threat to Djokovic in their quarter of the draw 🤷♀️
I thought so too, and I was hoping either Stan or Gael, maybe Gael now? If I remember it correctly, Marco, qualifier from Italy, beat Djokovic at the FO in 2018🤔