The next four weeks on the ATP Tour will be pivotal as the top players compete at two major clay-court events: the Mutua Madrid Open and the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. With ATP Masters 1000 titles, valuable prize money, and crucial PIF ATP Rankings points on the line, all eyes are on the road to Roland Garros.
These tournaments won’t just crown champions — they’ll also determine the all-important seedings for the year’s second Grand Slam. The rankings after Rome will set the stage for Paris, where the Top 4 and Top 8 seeds enjoy significant advantages in the draw. Top four seeds avoid each other until the semi-finals, while the top eight can’t meet until the quarters.
🎾 The Battle for Seeding Heats Up
As of 22 April, Taylor Fritz holds the No. 4 spot, but Novak Djokovic — just 595 points behind — is within reach. Meanwhile, Holger Rune sits on the edge at No. 8, narrowly ahead of a tight pack of contenders.
🧮 Current PIF ATP Live Rankings (22 April):
| Rank | Player | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jannik Sinner | 9,730 |
| 2 | Alexander Zverev | 7,995 |
| 3 | Carlos Alcaraz | 7,860 |
| 4 | Taylor Fritz | 4,725 |
| 5 | Novak Djokovic | 4,130 |
| 6 | Jack Draper | 3,800 |
| 7 | Alex de Minaur | 3,545 |
| 8 | Holger Rune | 3,440 |
| 9 | Lorenzo Musetti | 3,160 |
| 10 | Tommy Paul | 3,120 |
| 11 | Daniil Medvedev | 3,100 |
| 12 | Ben Shelton | 2,980 |
| 13 | Arthur Fils | 2,920 |
Rune, who was seeded 13th at last year’s Roland Garros and fell to Zverev in a thrilling five-set fourth-round battle, must hold onto or improve his current ranking to avoid facing heavyweights like Sinner, Alcaraz, or Zverev early in Paris.
Close behind Rune are Musetti, Paul, and Medvedev, all within 340 points — making the Madrid and Rome results even more critical.
🧗♂️ Outside Threats
Several big names just outside the Top 10 could still break into the top eight with deep runs in both events. These include:
- Casper Ruud (No. 14) – 2022 RG finalist
- Andrey Rublev (No. 17) – defending Madrid champion
- Stefanos Tsitsipas (No. 18) – two-time Grand Slam finalist
Rublev, in particular, faces pressure after dropping nine spots following the expiration of his Madrid title points. A successful title defense could catapult him back into top seeding territory.
🏆 Points Breakdown – Masters 1000 Events:
- Champion: 1,000 points
- Finalist: 650 points
- Semi-finalist: 400 points
At the top, Sinner, Zverev, and Alcaraz look comfortable for top-four seeding. But with Djokovic’s strong record in Madrid (3 titles) and Rome (6 titles), Fritz will need to stay sharp to hold him off.
