Carlos Alcaraz, the 22-year-old Spanish tennis prodigy, is gearing up for a triumphant return to the clay courts of the Foro Italico at the 2025 Rome Open, an ATP Masters 1000 event running from May 7 to May 18. After withdrawing from the Madrid Open due to a right adductor injury sustained during the Barcelona Open final, the world No. 3 is back in training and poised to chase his first Rome title. With a favorable draw keeping him clear of top seed Jannik Sinner until a potential final, Alcaraz’s path to the championship match promises both opportunity and formidable challenges. His journey, fueled by resilience and ambition, could not only solidify his clay-court dominance but also propel him back to the No. 2 ranking ahead of the French Open.
As the third seed, Alcaraz enjoys a first-round bye, giving him extra time to fine-tune his game after a month sidelined. His campaign begins in the second round against either Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff or Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka. Alcaraz holds a 2-0 head-to-head edge over Nishioka, including a straight-sets win at the 2022 Paris Masters, and has never faced Struff on the ATP Tour. “My mindset is to do everything it takes to be a hundred percent for Rome,” Alcaraz said after his Madrid withdrawal, underscoring his determination to hit the ground running. A comfortable victory here would set the tone for his quest to reclaim the form that saw him win the Monte Carlo Masters earlier this season.
In the third round, Alcaraz could face American Alex Michelsen, Serbia’s Laslo Djere, or Argentina’s Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Michelsen, fresh off an Estoril Challenger title, is a rising talent but untested against Alcaraz. Djere and Etcheverry, both clay-court specialists, pose trickier threats, though Alcaraz’s 1-0 record against Etcheverry from the 2023 Barcelona Open gives him an edge. His ability to adapt under pressure, a hallmark of his game, will be key. “I am a player who grows under pressure, in the big stage,” Alcaraz noted after his 2023 Madrid Open triumph, a mindset that could carry him through this early test.
The fourth round presents a potential clash with Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov, Russia’s Karen Khachanov, or Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. Dimitrov, a former top-10 player, trails Alcaraz 4-2 in their head-to-head, with Alcaraz dominating 6-1, 6-1 at Indian Wells this year. Khachanov’s powerful baseline game and Sonego’s home-crowd support could complicate matters, but Alcaraz’s clay-court pedigree—highlighted by his 2024 Roland Garros title—makes him the favorite. His 15-2 record at Madrid’s clay courts and a 9-1 clay record in 2025, including Monte Carlo, signal his readiness for these battles.
The quarterfinals could pit Alcaraz against Britain’s Jack Draper or Denmark’s Holger Rune, both of whom have pushed him in recent encounters. Draper, who defeated Alcaraz 6-1, 0-6, 6-4 at Indian Wells this year, leads their clay head-to-head 1-0 after a straight-sets win in the Barcelona final. Rune, a clay-court specialist, remains a dangerous opponent, though Alcaraz has won their last two meetings. “I know I have an ability to play good in the important moments,” Alcaraz said, a confidence that will be tested against these rising stars. A win here would not only boost his momentum but also position him to leapfrog Alexander Zverev for the No. 2 ranking, ensuring a more favorable French Open draw.
In the semifinals, Alcaraz might face defending champion Zverev, Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti, or Russia’s Daniil Medvedev. Zverev, who leads their head-to-head 6-5, won their latest clash at the 2024 ATP Finals, while Musetti pushed Alcaraz to three sets in the 2025 Monte Carlo final. Medvedev, less comfortable on clay, trails Alcaraz 6-2. Alcaraz’s ability to reset after early struggles, as seen in his Monte Carlo comeback, will be crucial. “It has been a really difficult month for me… I was struggling stepping on the court,” he admitted post-Monte Carlo, yet his 6-1, 6-0 rout of Musetti in the final showcased his resilience.
A final against world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, fresh off a doping ban, would be a blockbuster. Sinner, who shares the 2024 Grand Slam titles with Alcaraz, leads their rivalry 5-4, though Alcaraz won their last clay meeting at the 2022 Umag final. Other potential finalists include America’s Taylor Fritz, Australia’s Alex de Minaur, or Russia’s Andrey Rublev, all formidable but less likely to derail Alcaraz’s clay-court mastery. With Roland Garros looming, Alcaraz’s Rome campaign is a high-stakes gamble to reclaim his form and rankings edge, proving why he’s “arguably the most interesting athlete in the world right now,” as one outlet put it.
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