Alcaraz and Medvedev kept apart in Miami draw; Spaniard could play Andy Murray in third round

Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, the two most in-form players on the men’s Tour, have been drawn in opposite halves for the Miami Open, which begins this week.

Defending champion Alcaraz, who beat Medvedev in the Indian Wells final on Sunday to regain the No 1 ranking, is seeded to face Holger Rune in the quarter-finals, with either Casper Ruud, Alexander Zverev, Jannik Sinner or Andrey Rublev a potential semi-final opponent.

Medvedev, who won consecutive titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai before falling in the Indian Wells final, is in the same half as No 2 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe.

Alcaraz must win the title in Miami to stay No 1. If he fails to win, then Novak Djokovic will regain the top ranking. Djokovic is not able to enter the Miami Open because US rules say non-citizens must be vaccinated against Covid-19. The Serb is not vaccinated.

Top seed Alcaraz has a bye into round two and will begin his title bid against either Facundo Bagnis or a qualifier/lucky loser. He could then face former world No 1 Andy Murray in the third round, with Tommy Paul a potential last-16 opponent.

The women’s event begins in Miami on Tuesday, with the men getting underway on Wednesday.

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