With Medvedev's and Ruud's early loss in Madrid, Djokovic and Alcaraz are closing to being the top two seeds for RG 2023

Hitman

Bionic Poster
The two are much closer now to locking them in after today, still not there yet though. Alcaraz should he defend his title here in Madrid will be no less than seeded 2, as he has would have defended both his clay titles he won last year. He can only gain more points from Rome. Djokovic will have some heavy lifting to do in Rome, but he benefits from Tsitsipas himself having to defend a final there. Ruud also hurt his chances massively with his early loss in Madrid.

So, almost there. If Tsitsipas holds his ground and gets to at least the final in Madrid, he should secure a top 4 seeding with Medvedev.

Ruud, Rublev, Rune and Sinner look like rounding off the top 8. I expect FAA to drop out of the top 8 by the end of Rome, as he is defending semi points and he has not been playing well at all this season as a whole.

Likely scenario IMO

1 - Alcaraz - Will take the top seed
2 - Djokovic - Will drop to two but will fall into opposite side of draw to Alcaraz
3 - Tsitsipas - He will jump ahead of the others
4 - Medvedev - Will round up the top four

5 - Ruud
6 - Rublev
7 - Rune
8 - Sinner
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
That's very good for Novak. Best to avoid the kid till possible and play at peak when faced. Alcaraz still is a kid and can falter due to lack of maturity in game and mental.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
The Nadal will be a landmine.

Yes, one of those 8 list above is going to get Nadal in the fourth round.

Nadal would probably want a Ruud or Rublev fourth round, and with Medvedev quarter first, Tsitsipas quarter second, and the other two likely equally last.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Yes, one of those 8 list above is going to get Nadal in the fourth round.

Nadal would probably want a Ruud or Rublev fourth round, and with Medvedev quarter first, Tsitsipas quarter second, and the other two likely equally last.
How about R1 Nadal vs Thiem?
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
How about R1 Nadal vs Thiem?

Well, any of them can get Thiem first round, along with Wawrinka. Thiem did play well this week, but still lost second round to Tsitsipas.

The draw that Nadal will want to avoid is something like Rune or Sinner 4th round, Tsitsipas quarter and Alcaraz & Djokovic back to back either way round. This is a potential draw if the prediction in the OP holds true. Still not fully set those seedings as Madrid needs to conclude and Rome still needs to be played.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Well, any of them can get Thiem first round, along with Wawrinka. Thiem did play well this week, but still lost second round to Tsitsipas.

The draw that Nadal will want to avoid is something like Rune or Sinner 4th round, Tsitsipas quarter and Alcaraz & Djokovic back to back either way round. This is a potential draw if the prediction in the OP holds true. Still not fully set those seedings as Madrid needs to conclude and Rome still needs to be played.
Every year I used to make draw of hell for Nadal at RG and he used to get some cookie cutters till the semis. Last year I didn't even watch till RG and Nadal ended up facing highest competition in his career. I would definitely put Sinner and Zverev both in my draw from hell for this year.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Every year I used to make draw of hell for Nadal at RG and he used to get some cookie cutters till the semis. Last year I didn't even watch till RG and Nadal ended up facing highest competition in his career. I would definitely put Sinner and Zverev both in my draw from hell for this year.

He could face Zverev early on for sure as Zverev will likely be out of top 16. That means Zverev could be a 3rd round opponent for someone, not good news for anyone to play him that early.
 

pj80

Legend
He could face Zverev early on for sure as Zverev will likely be out of top 16. That means Zverev could be a 3rd round opponent for someone, not good news for anyone to play him that early.
I predict Rafa gets Zverev R3, Rune R4, Alcaraz QF, Tistipas/ Sinner SF....or at least thats what I'm hoping
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
Nadal: Challenge accepted!
(y)
Nadal is like Bruce Lee in game of death. Honestly every round of RG feels like video game where Nadal's opponents level rises and Nadal has to beat them. Sadly it's the game where Nadal himself is the boss.
 
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Nadal - GOAT

Hall of Fame
The two are much closer now to locking them in after today, still not there yet though. Alcaraz should he defend his title here in Madrid will be no less than seeded 2, as he has would have defended both his clay titles he won last year. He can only gain more points from Rome. Djokovic will have some heavy lifting to do in Rome, but he benefits from Tsitsipas himself having to defend a final there. Ruud also hurt his chances massively with his early loss in Madrid.

So, almost there. If Tsitsipas holds his ground and gets to at least the final in Madrid, he should secure a top 4 seeding with Medvedev.

Ruud, Rublev, Rune and Sinner look like rounding off the top 8. I expect FAA to drop out of the top 8 by the end of Rome, as he is defending semi points and he has not been playing well at all this season as a whole.

Likely scenario IMO

1 - Alcaraz - Will take the top seed
2 - Djokovic - Will drop to two but will fall into opposite side of draw to Alcaraz
3 - Tsitsipas - He will jump ahead of the others
4 - Medvedev - Will round up the top four

5 - Ruud
6 - Rublev
7 - Rune
8 - Sinner
The key is Madrid. If Tsitsipas can win it then he is a strong contender for top 2.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
The key is Madrid. If Tsitsipas can win it then he is a strong contender for top 2.

And there it goes. Tsitsipas massively hurting his chances here with that quarter final loss.

It looks like it is an almost lock now that Alcaraz and Djokovic will be the top two seeds for RG.
 

pj80

Legend
And there it goes. Tsitsipas massively hurting his chances here with that quarter final loss.

It looks like it is an almost lock now that Alcaraz and Djokovic will be the top two seeds for RG.
Tsits now in danger of being outside top 4....could and hopefully will be in Alcaline's quarter at RG
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Tsits now in danger of being outside top 4....could and hopefully will be in Alcaline's quarter at RG

Yes, he now has finalist points to defend in Rome, not sure he makes the Rome final this time. And hard to see Medvedev doing very well also that he somehow takes one of the top two spots.

It's very close to being a lock that they will be on opposite sides and avoid each other until the final.
 

RaulRamirez

Legend
Yes, he now has finalist points to defend in Rome, not sure he makes the Rome final this time. And hard to see Medvedev doing very well also that he somehow takes one of the top two spots.

It's very close to being a lock that they will be on opposite sides and avoid each other until the final.
Which is probably good news for both players and their fans, the huge question(s) being, of course, where will Rafa land and how healthy and in form will he be?
 

ND-13

Legend
There are only 3 players worth watching - Djokovic, Nadal and Alcaraz.

Rest are making up the numbers. Might as well put Sabalenka or Swiatek or Hadad Maia and nothing would change.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster
Alcaraz has confirmed he is playing Rome and is now a virtual lock for being the number one ranked player and number one seed for RG.

Djokovic will need to do semi well in Rome and need Medvedev out early. If Djokovic does go deep, he should lock it in. Tsitsipas is out of the running and I believe so is Ruud.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
The fact that two much younger 19 (alcaraz is now 20) year old kids just bypassed you in rankings is matter of shame for Sinner. Sure Wimbledon points being taken, he might have been top 8 but not 100%. This is not great atg behavior. Especially at 19 kids are not even physically strong. Rune isn't. Still ahead of fully physically developed Sinner.
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
The fact that two much younger 19 (alcaraz is now 20) year old kids just bypassed you in rankings is matter of shame for Sinner. Sure Wimbledon points being taken, he might have been top 8 but not 100%. This is not great atg behavior. Especially at 19 kids are not even physically strong. Rune isn't. Still ahead of fully physically developed Sinner.
What is with everyone's weird Sinner hype? LOL
 

MichaelNadal

Bionic Poster
Just 2 people lol.
Feels more like

870x489_smith.jpg


:alien:
 

junior74

Bionic Poster
Alcaraz has confirmed he is playing Rome and is now a virtual lock for being the number one ranked player and number one seed for RG.

Djokovic will need to do semi well in Rome and need Medvedev out early. If Djokovic does go deep, he should lock it in. Tsitsipas is out of the running and I believe so is Ruud.

Overplaying, Thiem style?
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
10 matches in 20 days is pretty much. And he will most likely play 5 more in Rome.

I've always thought those clay tournaments are too clustered.
15 matches in more than a month is not overplaying. Thiem used to play useless events before RG and any other tournament. Did he also enter in Winston Salem for few years? That tournament is in a university court.
 

junior74

Bionic Poster
15 matches in more than a month is not overplaying. Thiem used to play useless events before RG and any other tournament. Did he also enter in Winston Salem for few years? That tournament is in a university court.

Yes, but Thiem didn't win all tournaments. He always had strange losses.

Let's see. I have a feeling Alcaraz will burn out at RG. Many players can force him into 5 setters. Novak takes it, I think.
 

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.
For the first time in decades, the clay season schedule is benign enough for overplaying not to be an issue. I think the move to 2-week MS was a good decision.
 

dking68

Legend
The two are much closer now to locking them in after today, still not there yet though. Alcaraz should he defend his title here in Madrid will be no less than seeded 2, as he has would have defended both his clay titles he won last year. He can only gain more points from Rome. Djokovic will have some heavy lifting to do in Rome, but he benefits from Tsitsipas himself having to defend a final there. Ruud also hurt his chances massively with his early loss in Madrid.

So, almost there. If Tsitsipas holds his ground and gets to at least the final in Madrid, he should secure a top 4 seeding with Medvedev.

Ruud, Rublev, Rune and Sinner look like rounding off the top 8. I expect FAA to drop out of the top 8 by the end of Rome, as he is defending semi points and he has not been playing well at all this season as a whole.

Likely scenario IMO

1 - Alcaraz - Will take the top seed
2 - Djokovic - Will drop to two but will fall into opposite side of draw to Alcaraz
3 - Tsitsipas - He will jump ahead of the others
4 - Medvedev - Will round up the top four

5 - Ruud
6 - Rublev
7 - Rune
8 - Sinner
Sinner can possibly go up to 6 or 5 with the title. Tsitsipas has 600 points to defend
 

aldeayeah

G.O.A.T.

So, unless Med reaches the Rome final (highly unlikely) Carlitovic will be #1 and #2.

Med and one of Tsitsipas/Ruud/Rublev will complete the top 4

(If Nadal plays RG, one of the top 4 will get him as a projected R4 opponent, since he's almost guaranteed to be ranked #14-#16)

With Rune and one of Sinner/Fritz completing the top 8.
 

nolefam_2024

Bionic Poster
I hope Novak or Carlito meet Rafa in R4. Let's not play with fire and give him more confidence in later matches.
 

Hitman

Bionic Poster

So, unless Med reaches the Rome final (highly unlikely) Carlitovic will be #1 and #2.

Med and one of Tsitsipas/Ruud/Rublev will complete the top 4

(If Nadal plays RG, one of the top 4 will get him as a projected R4 opponent, since he's almost guaranteed to be ranked #14-#16)

With Rune and one of Sinner/Fritz completing the top 8.

I think the top four will be Alcaraz, Djokovic, Medvedev and Tsitsipas. I think Nadal gets Medevdev in the fourth round.
 
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