Carlos Alcaraz is on the hunt this week to regain his spot as World No. 2 in the PIF ATP Rankings, which would also secure him the second seed at the upcoming Roland Garros tournament. Meanwhile, British player Jack Draper has the opportunity to break into the Top 4 and claim the crucial fourth seed at this major event.
Alcaraz and Draper: A Race for Rankings
According to the PIF ATP Live Rankings, Alcaraz can bounce back to World No. 2 by reaching the semi-finals at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. The 22-year-old Spaniard is set to face Karen Khachanov in the fourth round on Tuesday. If he wins two more matches in Rome, he would overtake Alexander Zverev, who is defending points from last year’s title. Even if Alcaraz doesn’t win again this week, he can still regain the No. 2 spot if Zverev doesn’t defend his title.
Landing the second seed in Paris would help Alcaraz avoid a potential semi-final matchup with World No. 1 Jannik Sinner, whom he leads 6-4 in their head-to-head series. A favorable seeding could significantly enhance Alcaraz’s chances of advancing further in the tournament.
Jack Draper, currently ranked No. 5, is having an impressive season, highlighted by his first ATP Masters 1000 title in Indian Wells and a runner-up finish in Madrid. The 23-year-old is just 115 points shy of World No. 4 Taylor Fritz, who experienced an early exit in Rome against Marcos Giron. Draper has shown remarkable consistency and skill, positioning himself as a strong contender.
If Draper reaches the semi-finals, he would climb to No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings, which would allow him to avoid facing the top three players until the semi-finals at Roland Garros. Draper’s next match in Rome is against Corentin Moutet, and he is just two wins away from making history as the fourth British man to enter the Top 4 in the ATP Rankings since 1973, joining the ranks of Andy Murray, Tim Henman, and Greg Rusedski.
The competition for the Top 8 seeds at Roland Garros is heating up. Casper Ruud and Alex de Minaur currently hold the seventh and eighth positions in the PIF ATP Live Rankings, but Lorenzo Musetti, who is close behind, could break into the Top 8 with a strong performance in Rome. Former Rome champion Daniil Medvedev, along with Tommy Paul and Arthur Fils, are also in the running for a Top 8 seed, which would allow them to avoid facing another Top 8 player until the quarter-finals in Paris.
The draw for Roland Garros will take place on May 22, with the tournament set to begin on May 25. As the countdown to this prestigious event continues, all eyes will be on Alcaraz and Draper as they seek to solidify their positions in the ATP Rankings and make a significant impact in Paris.