Andy Murray could face Fabio Fognini and Alexander Zverev before the quarter-finals after being handed a tough draw in defence of the Internazionali BNL d’Italia.
The world no 1 claimed the title in Rome last year to kickstart his 2016 season and as the Masters 1000 Series continues in Italy next week, Murray will hope a return to familiar ground will stand him in good stead.
The Scot suffered another early exit, losing to Borna Coric in the third round in the Spanish capital last week and admitted afterwards that he has every reason to be concerned with his form.
Murray’s season has brought two finals and one title, his victory in Dubai coming after a shock fourth-round defeat to Mischa Zverev at the Australian Open.
But the Masters events have brought him precious little success with a second-round defeat to Vasek Pospisil at Indian Wells preceding an injury absence from Miami.
The clay court swing began with a third-round defeat to Albert Ramos Vinolas in Mote Carlo and while a run to the semi-final in Barcelona hinted at a return to form, he took another step back with his 6-3 6-3 reverse to Coric.
As he prepares to defend a huge number of ranking points over the second half of the season, Murray will hope for improvement at the tournament that saw him beat Novak Djokovic to the title last year but he faces a tough-looking task.
Murray will face either Fognini or wild card Matteo Berrettini, who meet in the first round when the main draw gets underway on Sunday.
After that, a possible second career meeting with Alexander Zverev looms large and the 20-year-old German is in fine form having claimed the title in Munich before his exertions caught up with him and he lost to Madrid semi-finalist Pablo Cuevas last week.
Murray could meet Milos Raonic in the quarter-finals, although given his injury problems Tomas Berdych or the elder Zverev brother could be more likely opponents.
Stan Wawrinka is a possible semi-final opponent but he has struggles of his and David Goffin or Marin Cilic could emerge in the last four.
While Murray has landed tough unseeded opposition the bottom half of the draw is loaded with Madrid semi-finalists. Djokovic, Nadal and Dominic Thiem all in the same half – Djokovic and Nadal are seeded for a repeat of their Madrid last four encounter.
Nadal and Thiem contest the Madrid final on Sunday and the pair are slated for a possible last-eight showdown in the Italian capital.
British no 4 Dan Evans meets Jiri Vesely in the first round on Sunday, while Kyle Edmund faces Portugal’s Joao Sousa and victory will see him into a second round meeting with either Grigor Dimitrov or Juan Martin Del Potro.
Another eye-catching first-round encounter is Nick Kyrgios taking on Roberto Bautista Agut, the winner a potential third round opponent for Djokovic, while two veterans meet with 39-year-old Ivo Karlovic and 38-year-old Tommy Haas battling it out in the oldest combined age match on the ATP Tour since 1982.
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