Monte Carlo Masters draw: Andy Murray faces Alex De Minaur, top seed Novak Djokovic could meet Daniil Medvedev in semis

Andy Murray faces a tough first-round test at the Monte Carlo Masters after being drawn against 14th seed Alex De Minaur, while top seed Novak Djokovic could face Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals.

World No. 1 Djokovic is seeking a 39th ATP 1000 title on the clay courts of Monte Carlo in his first tournament appearance since February.

The Serbian will face Brandon Nakashima or Mackenzie McDonald first after a bye through the opening round, and his path to the final could take him past Lorenzo Musetti, in-form seventh seed Sinner and Miami champion Medvedev.

Medvedev will face Lorenzo Sonego or a qualifier first, while Sinner will meet Diego Schwartzmann or David Goffin and Britain’s Cameron Norrie is up against Francisco Cerundolo.

Sixth seed Holger Rune will take on Dominic Thiem or Richard Gasquet in the second round after a bye.

On the other side of the draw, former world No. 1 Murray opens the clay court season against an opponent he has lost to in both of their previous two matches in De Minaur, but this will be their first meeting on clay.

Murray made it to the final in Doha in February, losing to Medvedev, but struggled during the ‘sunshine swing’, going out to Jack Draper in the third round of Indian Wells before losing his first-round clash with Dusan Lajovic in Miami.

De Minaur didn’t fare much better, losing his first matches at both tournaments, but he won his first title of the year in Acapulco in February.

The winner will face a qualifier or Albert-Ramos Vinolas, while fourth seed Casper Ruud is a possible quarter-final opponent.

Ruud is on course to meet fifth seed Andrey Rublev in the last eight, while defending champion Stefanos Tsitsipas could face Taylor Fritz.

Britain’s Daniel Evans will take on a qualifier in the first round, with a tie against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or Karen Khachanov awaiting the winner.

Monte Carlo first round draw

• Djokovic (1) – bye
• Nakashima v McDonald
• Vacherot (WC) v Qualifier
• Kecmanovic v Musetti (16)
• Hurkacz (10) v Djere
• Baez v Draper
• Schwartzmann v Goffin
• Sinner (7) – bye
• Medvedev (3) – bye
• Sonego (WC) v Qualifier
• Bautista Agut v Ymer
• Bublik v Zverev (13)
• Norrie (11) v Cerundolo
• Cressy v Berrettini
• Gasquet v Thiem (WC)
• Rune (6) – bye
• Rublev (5) – bye
• Huesler v Munar
• Evans v Qualifier
• Davidovich Fokina v Khachanov (9)
• De Minaur (14) v Murray
• Ramos-Vinolas v Qualifier
• Van de Zandschulp v Qualifier
• Ruud (4) – Bye
• Fritz (8) – Bye
• Wawrinka (WC) v Griekspoor
• Shelton v Dimitrov
• Lehecka v Tiafoe (12)
• Coric (15) v Jarry
• Qualifier v Qualifier
• Bonzi v Zapata Miralles
• Tsitsipas (2) – Bye

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