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
Some Rafa news from Majorca Daily Bulletin: He just sold Beethoven. He must be very happy. It had taken a while to find a buyer as it probably tends to do with these yachts.
Best of luck to him in pursuit of La Decima in Rome.
Will be the best moment for me when I see Rafa back on the court! US Open was empty without Rafa though I did watch a few matches it wasn’t the same.
Of course because of Covid nothing is the same.
The master is rested and I am sure he will play with his fiery intensity. Vamos Rafa!!
OOOOOHHHH!!!! Rafa que alegria d verte de nuevo, te deseo lo mejor, sea lo que sea en ese torneo y en todos, SIEMPRE CONTIGO!!!!!!
Hoping your body and mind are rested and ready to do your magic!! So glad you are we
L!
I wonder why Dominic Thiem is not playing this event? Anyhow, I hope with all these months of rest that Rafa will come out blazing on fire and take this once again for the 10th time. Just like last year it will provide the impetus for doing well at Roland Garros! Vamos Rafa!
Dominic injured his foot during his match against Medvedev but his team says he will be ready for the final tomorrow, Sunday. They probably want him to rest and fully heal after the USOPEN so he can be ready for the FO. I don’t know the extent of his injury but I hope he doesn’t do a Rafa [play while injured]. The chance to win a Slam may override everything. Wishing him the best.
I would love to see Rafa beat Nole in the final like last year . Rafa is the favorite as far I am concerned as he has dominated this Italian Open spanning many years .
Three bagels for the Disqualified One would make my day.
I don’t want to see the Disqualified One in the final!
I hope Rafa beats someone else in the final🤞
Vamos Rafa💪🍀❤️
Mimi, you bad girl, LOL. I am looking at it from a different angle. If the Disqualified One does meet up with Rafa in the final he will have nightmares about the FO. And it will give Rafa more confidence for the FO.
And if you know who loses earlier maybe he will give all of us a treat by flying back to Serbia and withdraw from the FO. Highly unlikely.
Margo, you are right 👍 I am a very bad girl when it is about Rafa, my Super Idol!🤩😍😜
👍👊👏👌🏸
👊
So happy this day has come at last. Praying that you win all the way through both tournaments . God bless and keep you safe. 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
Hard and dangerous draw…
Have a Rafantastic tournament Rafa. Go out there and Jick Butt!
KICK BUTT RAFA!
RAFA ROCKS
OooooSaka just won her 2nd USOPEN. She lost the first set but woke up in the 2nd set, won that and the 3rd. I can’t imagine how happy she must be. GO NAOMI
Congratulations to Naomi👏
I feel sad for Vika……
I was rooting for Naomi but during the early part of R2 I stopped watching feeling Vika would win. What an about face.
Vika said it hurt to lose but she won’t dwell on it. She is a straight talker and I like her honesty.
Naomi said she doesn’t want to face Vika again and said the match was not fun.
They both played an amazing match and after not competing for years Vika will surely win another Slam. She is amazing and I will be watching her.
Good luck to both Naomi and Vika in the future🍀❤️
I believe Mr. Nadal is chomping at the “Babolat” to play. Will be watching 👀🎾
Oh dear, what an awful draw! Or maybe Pablo – not that I wish him any ill! – will be tired after the US Open. Bring this on. It’s been too long!
Keep faith in our great champion
Looking forward so much to seeing Rafa back on court . Tennis without Rafa is flat . I want to see him bring all his trademark buzz and magic to retain his title. Wishing him good luck and to remember that his supporters may not be there but will be with him in spirit . Go Rafa .🌟🇪🇸☘️
Welcome back Rafa, wishing you the best of luck, stay safe, Vamos x
Welcome back Great RAFA
Have a fantastic tournament, Rafa! All the best ❤️
Will be so good to see u again 😍😍 Vamos 💕💕💕
Rafa we miss you in the US Open good luck Champ we are ready too see you playing again love your fans for ever Champ 👍🎾👍😘🎾👍😘🎾👍👍👍👍👍🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍👍👍😘
Best of luck Rafa! So excited to finally see you after sooooooo long. Win every clay title this year champ. Vamos💪💪💪
Good luck Rafa God Bless…..