Rome Open draw: Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could meet in semi-finals at final Masters 1000 clay event of 2022

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal could meet in the semi-finals of the upcoming Rome Open as the world's top players mount their final preparations for the next Grand Slam of the year at Roland-Garros. The action at the Foro Italico — the last Masters 1000 clay-court event of the year — represents a chance to gain some precious momentum before heading to Paris, with the main draw on the French dirt starting on May 22.

Ad/> In the men's draw in Rome, top seed Djokovic and third seed Nadal — who met in the final last year with Nadal victorious in three sets — have been drawn in the same half, and could meet in the last four. ATP MadridExclusive: Alcaraz ready for the French Open ahead of Zverev showdown4 HOURS AGO However there are obstacles aplenty before then, with Nadal set to face the likes of Miami finalist Casper Ruud and Djokovic seeing Felix Auger-Aliassime, Stan Wawrinka and Diego Schwartzman blocking his path.

In the bottom half, all eyes will be on Spanish teen sensation Carlos Alcaraz, who — incredibly given all his success this term — has never even played at the Rome event before. He will be seeded seventh and in a repeat of the Madrid Open final, could meet second seed Alexander Zverev — but this time as early as the quarter-finals.

Monte Carlo champion Stefanos Tsitsipas has one of the toughest draws on paper, with Grigor Dimitrov in wait in the last-32, and the likes of Karen Khachanov, Andrey Rublev and home hope Jannik Sinner potentially beyond that. Exclusive: Alcaraz ready for the French Open ahead of Zverev showdown Nadal backs Alcaraz to 'beat anyone in the world' after Madrid Open exit to teenager Britons Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans feature in the draw, with the former set to begin his campaign