This is how the round of 16 of the Monte Carlo ATP Masters 1000 remains

He Masters 1000 ATP Monte Carlo, first major event on the demanding European clay court tour leading up to Roland Garros, was left without two of its heavyweights as only two rounds of draws were played, one for the eight best classified in the world rankings.

Carlos Alcaraz had to say goodbye on Tuesday, the eve of his scheduled fight with the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassimevictim of a muscle injury in the right arm.

On Wednesday, the defending champion, the Russian, left Andrey Rublev, surprised the australian Alexei Popyrin in two sets.

Both Alcaraz and Rublev are at the top of the table led by world number 1, the Serbian Novak Djokovicwho will meet again in the round of 16, this Thursday, with his executioner in last year’s edition, the Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

If ‘Nole’ gets revenge, they’ll face an Australian in the quarterfinals, well Alex de Minaur or Popyrin. Casper Ruudthe double finalist at Roland Garros, will be his hypothetical opponent in the semis, replacing Alcaraz.

At the bottom, the road became more difficult because the favorites arranged it that way. Frontal stellar collision between German Alexander Zverev and the greek Stefanos Tsitsipaswith the Daniel Medvedev Notice if you outdo your countryman Karen Khachanov. The Muscovite has reached at least the semi-finals of all tournaments played this season, although he is not as comfortable on clay as he is on hard court.

The sinner needs a repeat of the semi-finals in Monte Carlo to save the world number 2 and maintain his brilliant season. He sees himself as an experienced and stony German Jan-Lennard Struff, although the Italian sent a strong message, overwhelming to the Americans Sebastian Korda in their first match on clay since their disappointing second round against the Daniel Altmaier at Roland Garros.

The underdog will face off in the quarterfinals where the survivor of a partial draw was temporarily halted by rain: the Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov dominant Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic 6-4, 2-1; the danish Holger Rune He is 6-3, 2-1 up on Indian Samit Nagal.

This is how the Monte Carlo round of 16 remains

Novak Djokovic (Srb/1)-Lorenzo Musetti (Ita)
Alex De Minaur (Aus/11)-Alexei Popyrin (Aus)
Lorenzo Sonego (Ita/LL)-Ugo Humbert (Fra/14)
Hubert Hurkacz (Pol/10)-Casper Ruud (Nor/9)
Alexander Zverev (Ale/5)-Stefanos Tsitsipas (Gre/12)
Karen Khachanov (Rus/15)-Daniil Medvedev (Rus/4)
Holger Rune (Din/7) or Samit Nagal (Ind) vs. Miomir Kecmanovic (Srb) or Grigor Dimitrov (Bul/9)
Jan-Lennard Struff (Ale)-Jannik Sinner (Ita/2