Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev have learned their paths for the 2024 Miami Open, while Andy Murray has been handed an intriguing opening round draw.
With world No 1 Novak Djokovic opting to skip the ATP Masters 1000 tournament, Alcaraz is the top seed, while Sinner and Medvedev are seeded second and third respectively. Alcaraz retained his title at the Indian Wells Open last week, where he defeated Medvedev in the final after a semi-final victory over Sinner.
Alexander Zverev is the No 4 seed, while Andrey Rublev, Holger Rune, Casper Ruud and Hubert Hurkacz are seeded fifth to eighth in that order.
Three-time Grand Slam champion and former world No 1 Andy Murray will face 2021 Wimbledon finalist Matteo Berrettini in an enticing first round clash. This will likely be the 36-year-old Brit’s final appearance at the Miami Open, where he is a two-time champion (2009 and 2013).
In a balanced-looking draw, the position of defending champion and hard-court juggernaut Medvedev is one of the key headlines, with the 2021 US Open winner landing in the bottom half with Sinner.
Rublev (5), Ruud (7), Stefanos Tsitsipas (10), Taylor Fritz (12), Tommy Paul (13), and Ugo Humbert (14) are the other top 16 seeds in the bottom half.
In the top half, Alcaraz is joined by Zverev (4), Rune (6), Hurkacz (8), Alex de Minaur (9), Grigor Dimitrov (11), Karen Khachanov (15), and Ben Shelton (16).
ATP1000 Miami main singles draw pic.twitter.com/TYNYWcTgQ4
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) March 18, 2024
Alcaraz, who won the Miami Open in 2022 and made the semi-finals last year, will meet either Aleksandar Vukic or Roberto Carballes Baena in his first match.
The 20-year-old Spaniard would then face one of Borna Coric, Dusan Lajovic or Gael Monfils in the third round, before a potential last 16 meeting with Shelton or Lorenzo Musetti.
Alcaraz could take on Hurkacz or Dimitrov in the last eight, before a likely semi-final showdown with either Zverev, Rune, de Minaur, Khachanov, or Jiri Lehecka.
Sinner, a two-time Miami Open runner-up (2021 and 2023), will play Pedro Cachin or a qualifier in his opening match, before a likely third round meeting with Tallon Griekspoor or Alex Michelsen.
The two seeded players the Italian would face in the last 16 are Paul, who made the Indian Wells semi-finals last week, or 21st seed Frances Tiafoe.
The 22-year-old could take on Rublev or Tsitsipas in a potential quarter-final matchup, before a likely last four showdown with Medvedev, Ruud, Fritz or Humbert.
Therefore, Sinner and Alcaraz will not meet before a potential blockbuster final in what would be their ninth encounter and a swift rematch of their Indian Wells clash.
The seventh of the eight sections in the draw looks to be the strongest, with Rublev and Tsitsipas both facing tricky-looking early matches.
The duo are joined by dangerous 17th seed Alexander Bublik and 29th seed Tomas Martin Etcheverry, but it is the potential threat of the unseeded players that makes the section tough. Along with Murray and Berrettini, Tomas Machac, Arthur Fils, Matteo Arnaldi and Denis Shapovalov all feature.
