Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal with feasible tasks at home tournaments
Novak Djokovic andRafael Nadal are the big favorites for the title at their home tournaments in Belgrade and Barcelona next week. The draw meant well to both of them.
by Nikolaus Fink
last edit: Apr 17, 2021, 04:43 pm
Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal returned to the international tennis stage at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Monte Carlo after an almost two-month break. For both of them, however, the first appearance since the Australian Open did not go as desired: Djokovic lost in the round of 16 against Dan Evans, Nadal a round later against Andrey Rublev.
Not least because of this, the living legends of tennis will be looking to make amends at their home tournaments in the coming week. Djokovic will start at the ATP 250 tournament in Belgrade, Nadal will try his luck at the ATP 500 level in Barcelona.
#VIDEO#
As in Monte Carlo, the Spaniard will open in the Catalan capital against Adrian Mannarino or a qualifier. Then there could be a duel with Cristian Garin, Guido Pella or Kei Nishikori, in the quarterfinals David Goffin is the planned opponent. Karen Khachanov could also wait for Nadal in the last eight.
Djokovic in the semifinals against Karatsev?
In the semifinals, the 20-time Grand Slam winner escaped a possible rematch with Andrey Rublev, who ended up in the same half as Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was second. Nadal could face Diego Schwartzman, Pablo Carreno Busta or Fabio Fognini in the semifinals.
In Belgrade, Djokovic will open his title hunt against Soonwoo Kwon or a qualifier. The first set opponent in the quarter-finals could be Miomir Kecmanvoc, in the semifinals a duel with Aslan Karatsev threatens. The lower half is led by Matteo Berrettini after Dominic Thiem's cancellation.
The single tableau in Barcelona
The single tableau in Belgrade