Scouting Report: Djokovic & Medvedev Lead Dubai & Acapulco Fields; Garin In Action In Santiago

Editor’s Note: This story has been updated to reflect Carlos Alcaraz and Reilly Opelka’s withdrawals from the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC.

Another busy week on the ATP Tour will see action take place in Acapulco, Dubai and Santiago.

Novak Djokovic returns to action as the top seed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, while Daniil Medvedev leads the field at Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC in Acapulco, with both of those events classed as ATP 500s. Reigning champion Cristian Garin returns to home soil at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open, an ATP 250 clay-court event held in Santiago.

With plenty to look out for, ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each event.

View Draws: Acapulco | Dubai | Santiago

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN ACAPULCO
1) Medvedev Leads The Field: Medvedev came within one set of capturing his second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January, falling to Rafael Nadal in a five-set classic. The Russian returns to court for the first time since at the Abierto Mexicano Telcel presentado por HSBC, where he will make his debut. The World No. 2 will open against Benoit Paire.

It is a critical week for Medvedev, who controls his destiny in the battle for the No. 1 ATP Ranking with Djokovic. If the Russian lifts the trophy in Acapulco, he will become the third Russian to accomplish the feat by climbing to the top spot on 28 February. Learn all the No. 1 scenarios here.

2) Defending Champion Zverev: Alexander Zverev has fond memories in Acapulco, having triumphed in Mexico last year. The German, who did not drop a set en route to the title, reached the final in Montpellier earlier this month. The World No. 3 will face American Jenson Brooksby in a promising first-round match.

At last year’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Zverev needed three sets to dispatch the American. This will be their second ATP Head2Head clash.

3) Rafa Is Back: Rafael Nadal reminded everyone what he is capable of at the Australian Open in January as he soared to his record-breaking 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne. Fully rested, the Spaniard is back in action at a tournament he has enjoyed success at in the past, lifting the trophy in Acapulco in 2005, 2013 and 2020.

The 35-year-old, who owns a 20-2 record in Acapulco, takes on lucky loser Denis Kudla in his opening match.

4) Berrettini & Tsitsipas Aiming To Go Deep: Matteo Berrettini and Stefanos Tsitsipas will both be targeting their first title of the season in Mexico. Berrettini is making his debut and will begin against Tommy Paul, while Tsitsipas will be aiming to go one step further than last year, when he lost in the final. The Greek, who advanced to the championship match in Rotterdam earlier this month, faces Laslo Djere in the first round.

5) New Venue: The action in Acapulco will take place at the Arena GNP Seguros this year, a new venue that holds six courts and stadium seating of more than 10,000. The tournament site has increased by eight hectares after construction took place over the past two years.

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FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN DUBAI
1) Djokovic Returns: World No. 1 Djokovic will compete for the first time this season when he takes to court at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The Serbian, who has lifted the trophy at the ATP 500 event five times (2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2015), opens against #NextGenATP Italian Lorenzo Musetti.

It is a key week in his battle for top spot in the ATP Rankings with Medvedev. If the Russian wins the Acapulco title, he will climb to World No. 1. But Djokovic can put the pressure on Medvedev with a deep run in Dubai. Learn all the No. 1 scenarios here.

2) Canadian Threat: Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov have enjoyed strong starts to the season, helping guide Canada to the ATP Cup title in Sydney, before Auger-Aliassime lifted his maiden tour-level title in Rotterdam.

Shapovalov reached the semi-finals in Dubai last year and begins his 2022 tournament against Marton Fucsovics as he looks to set the wheels in motion for another deep run. In their only previous clash, the Hungarian triumphed in four sets at the 2020 Australian Open. Auger-Aliassime is making his Dubai debut and will face Doha finalist Nikoloz Basilashvili in the first round.

3) Can Rublev Maintain Strong Form? Andrey Rublev arrives in Dubai off the back of a run to the title in Marseille. The Russian, who also reached the last four in Rotterdam earlier this month, advanced to the Dubai semi-finals in 2021. The second seed plays Briton Daniel Evans in his opening match.

4) Hurkacz & Sinner Aiming For First Title In 2022: Hubert Hurkacz and Jannik Sinner both enjoyed standout 2021 seasons, winning seven tour-level titles between them. They are both still searching for their first crowns in 2022 and will hope to triumph in Dubai. Fourth seed Sinner starts against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, while Hurkacz takes on Montpellier champion Alexander Bublik.

5) Mektic/Pavic Top Seeds In Doubles: Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic will continue their bid for their first title of the season as the top seeds in Dubai. American-British tandem Rajeev Ram and Joe Sailsbury are the second seeds, with John Peers and Filip Polasek seeded third. Tim Puetz and Michael Venus are the fourth seeds.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN SANTIAGO
1) Garin Strong In Santiago: Chile’s Cristian Garin will compete on home soil at the Chile Dove Men+Care Open aiming to regain his top form. The 25-year-old captured the title in Santiago in 2021, defeating Facundo Bagnis in the final. So far this year, Garin’s best result came at the Australian Open, where he advanced to the third round. The top seed, who owns a 5-1 record at this event, will begin his campaign at the ATP 250 clay-court tournament against Chilean wild card Alejandro Tabilo or a qualifier.

2) Tabilo On The Move: If Tabilo reaches the second round, it will set a blockbuster clash for the home fans. The home favourite has steadily climbed over the past several months and is approaching a Top 100 breakthrough. Currently at a career-high No. 111 in the ATP Rankings, the lefty advanced to his first ATP Tour final in Cordoba. He started his season by representing his country at the ATP Cup and qualifying for the main draw at the Australian Open, where he lost against Alcaraz in the first round.

3) Spanish Standouts: In a strong field, Spaniards Albert Ramos-Vinolas, Pedro Martinez and Jaume Munar are aiming for a deep run. Ramos-Vinolas clinched his fourth tour-level title in Cordoba in February and is a former semi-finalist in Santiago (2020). The second seed will face Juan Manuel Cerundolo or Carlos Taberner in his first match.

Fourth seed Martinez is making his debut at the clay-court tournament and could play Munar in his first match if the World No. 89 defeats Daniel Elahi Galan Riveros. Munar has never been beyond the first round in Chile in his two previous appearances. Martinez has won a match in all five of his tournaments this year.

4) Milan Competitors Chase A Title: Three competitors from the 2021 Intesa Sanpaolo Next Gen ATP Finals will try to triumph in Santiago: Cerundolo, Sebastian Baez and Holger Rune. Cerundolo claimed his first ATP Tour title last year in Cordoba last year, while Baez and Rune are trying to earn glory at this level for the first time.

5) Brazilians Pursue Second Doubles Title: Rafael Matos and Felipe Meligeni Rodrigues Alves claimed their first ATP Tour doubles title together last year in Cordoba. This week, they will chase their second tour-level trophy as the top seeds in Santiago. The second seeds are Pedro Martinez and Andrea Vavassori. Another team to watch is Maximo Gonzalez and Nicolas Jarry. Gonzalez has earned 11 tour-level doubles crowns, including three last year alongside Simone Bolelli.