Alcaraz plots revenge ahead of van de Zandschulp clash in Rotterdam

Carlos Alcaraz will seek revenge when he takes to court on debut at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam after being drawn against Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round.

The Dutch wild card upset Alcaraz in straight sets in the second round at last year’s US Open. Alcaraz will need to be alert from the start against van de Zandschulp if he is to avoid another defeat, with the home favourite set to be backed by a vocal Dutch crowd in Rotterdam.

If Alcaraz advances he could meet 2022 champion Felix Auger-Aliassime in a tough second-round clash. Auger-Aliassime triumphed at the ATP 250 event in Adelaide in January and is competing in the semi-finals in Montpellier on Saturday. The Canadian will start against a qualifier at the ATP 500.

Fifth seed Holger Rune is also in Alcaraz’s section, with the Dane a potential quarter-final opponent for the World No. 3. The Spaniard is seeded to meet 2021 champ Andrey Rublev in the semi-finals. Alcaraz leads both Rune and Rublev 2-1 in his Lexus ATP Head2Head series against the pair.

Rune, who is making his third appearance in Rotterdam, faces Australian Open quarter-finalist Lorenzo Sonego in the first round, while Rublev takes on Zhizhen Zhang. Rublev could meet eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz in the quarters. The Pole starts against Flavio Cobolli.

In the bottom half, second seed and 2023 winner Daniil Medvedev will look to bounce back from his second-round defeat to #NextGenATP American Learner Tien at the Australian Open against Swiss wild card Stan Wawrinka.

Medvedev, No. 7 in the PIF ATP Rankings, is seeded to face Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-finals. The Greek wild card plays a qualifier in the first round and could take on Matteo Berrettini in a blockbuster second-round clash.

Third seed Alex de Minaur, who reached the title match at the ATP 500 last season, starts against David Goffin and will play Jakub Mensik or Alexander Bublik in the second round if he advances. Seventh seed Arthur Fils is in the same section as De Minaur. The 20-year-old Frenchman opens against a qualifier.