Miami (USA) – Back at the top of the ATP rankings after winning the title in Indian Wells, Carlos Alcaraz is defending the Miami Masters 1000 trophy and also number 1 over the next two weeks. The 19-year-old Spaniard needs the second championship in Florida not to lose his place to Novak Djokovic.

Alcaraz makes his debut in Miami against the winner of the match between the Argentinian Facundo Bagnis and a player from the qualification. The closest seed is North American Maxime Cressy, seeded 30th, who awaits the match between Andy Murray and Dusan Lajovic. The Briton is double champion in Miami and will have an unprecedented confrontation with the Serb.

In the same key sector are North American Tommy Paul, seeded 16 and Australian Open semi-finalist, and Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, seeded 20 in Miami. The two would be the main candidates to face either Alcaraz or Murray in the round of 16.

American Taylor Fritz, who rose from fifth to tenth place after Indian Wells, is now the ninth seed in Miami and faces the winner of the home duel between John Isner and Emilio Nava. Fritz can cross paths with Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round, while names like Argentinian Diego Schwartzman or Dane Holger Rune can paint in the round of 16. Rune awaits the winner between Argentinian Pedro Cachin and Hungarian Marton Fucsovics.

On the same side of the board is Casper Ruud, last year’s runner-up in Miami. The Norwegian is the 3rd seed waiting for Ilya Ivashka or a qualified tennis player. He could face Botic van de Zandschulp in the third round, Alexander Zverev or Roberto Bautista Agut in the round of 16, as well as Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner as possible quarter-final rivals.

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Tsitsipas and Medvedev are on the other side of the key
Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas will be the second seed in Miami and will try to recover from the opening elimination of Indian Wells. He could face the Frenchman Richard Gasquet or a qualified player. Argentinian Sebastian Baez is the closest leader, while Lorenzo Musetti or Karen Khachanov. The Greek quadrant still has names like Felix Auger-Aliassime and Frances Tiafoe. 5-seeded Aliassime’s debut could be against Thiago Monteirowho must first beat the Australian Jason Kubler.

Indian Wells finalist, Daniil Medvedev is seeded 4 in Miami and awaits the Spanish duel Roberto Carballes Baena and Bernabe Zapata Miralles. The former number 1 could cross the Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka in the third round, while the Italian Matteo Berrettini and the Australian Alex de Minaur. Medvedev’s quadrant still has other good names like Cameron Norrie, Borna Coric, Ben Shelton and Hubert Hurkacz.