Djokovic and Alcaraz get direct entry into Round of 64 of Miami Open

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic and 2022 champion Carlos Alcaraz both find themselves in the same half of the Miami Open's main draw, which begins on March 19. Djokovic returns to the Miami ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the first time since 2019. Between 2011 and 2016, the Serbian sensation won five out of the six editions. His Miami comeback begins with either his compatriot Hamad Medjedovich, the 2023 ATP Finals champion, or Australian Rinki Hijikata.

The 40-time Masters 1000 title winner could face a former No. 1 in the quarterfinal round in the form of Daniil Medvedev. 2023 Miami champion Medvedev will be facing Jaume Munar or Arthur Rinderknech in his opening match. Djokovic will look to bounce back after losing three matches in a row, including an opening loss against Botic van de Jandschulp at Indian Wells. The 37-year-old has a 44-7 record at Miami, according to the ATP report.

Second seed Alcaraz, who is 13-3 at the tournament according to the ATP Win/Loss Index, will begin his event against either David Goffin or Aleksandar Vukic. He could face 31st seed Brandon Nakashima in the third round and other seeds in the Spaniard's quarters include fifth seed Casper Ruud, Grigor Dimitrov, and 12th seed Tommy Paul. As in Indian Wells, Alexander Zverev is the top seed. The German has not won more than two matches in a row since reaching the Australian Open final and will look to bounce back in Miami, where he made the semi-finals last year.

Zverev will begin his tournament against Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi or a qualifier. The 27-year-old could play dangerous 28th seed Giovanni Mpetsi Pericard in the third round, while 16th seed Frances Tiafoe and 17th seed Arthur Fils are potential fourth-round opponents. Jack Draper, who has secured his first Masters 1000 win, is seeded sixth. The Briton is in Zverev's quarter and will face either former top 10 player Roberto Bautista Agut or NextGenATP Czech Jakub Mencic in the second round.

Third seed Taylor Fritz advances to the other quarter of the draw and will play either Mariano Navone or Lorenzo Sonego in the second round. 27th seed Denis Shapovalov, who beat Fritz in Dallas last month, is a potential third-round opponent for the American.