WITH the first week of fantasy tennis done and dusted and the winners announced this weekend, we take a look at the Barcelona Open, an ATP500 event with some of the world’s best back again to compete on clay.

FAVOURITE

Rafael Nadal (SPAIN)

It is hard to look past anyone other than the Spanish star who is coming off a terrific win at Monte Carlo and looks to catch Novak Djokovic in the top spot on the ATP Tour rankings. Holding the highest clay court rating of any player and it is easy to see why, Nadal will be hoping to improve on his semi-final effort last year when he went down to Dominic Thiem. Nadal got the better of Thiem in the semi-final at Monte Carlo and the pair look destined to end up in another semi-final together, drawn in the same half of the draw.

CONTENDERS

Novak Djokovic (SERBIA)

The world number one will always feature as either a favourite or contender, but even Djokovic would know how tough it is to defeat Nadal on clay. But Djokovic can not afford to worry about a potential finals appearance, with a deadly draw in Barcelona meaning the Serbian will need to be at his best to ensure he gets there. A potential third round clash with Cristian Garin, and a quarter final against Alexander Zverev means that there will be no easy games, with even Milos Raonic a potential second round opponent.

Dominic Thiem (AUSTRIA)

The reigning title holder will be keen to back up his effort from 2019 when he knocked off Nadal and surged to the win with a victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final. He has a lot of points to defend here and he would want to make a final given the tightness of the competition. One would expect another semi-finals clash against Nadal is among the offering for the tournament, thought a repeat of last year’s final is set for the quarters with the third seed drawing the unlucky straw with fifth seed Medvedev in his quarter.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (GREECE)

An underrated player on the clay courts, Tsitsipas is one of a number of potential title winners after the top three. He is in the weaker quadrant of the draw with David Goffin and Roger Federer standing in his way to the semi-finals. However his toughest clash could come in the second round with Monte Carlo semi-finalist, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga the likely opponent.

ROUGHIE

Fabio Fognini (ITALY)

It would be a bitter pill to swallow for Fognini to fall outside the top 10 down to 19th after failing to back up his 2019 title at Monte Carlo. Raring to go and wanting to get back up inside the top 15, Fognini can ill-afford to drift outside the top 20. Unfortunately for the Italian, the draw has not been kind to him with a first round encounter against Kyle Edmund, and a second round head-to-head against Federer also in the works.

DARK HORSE

Kei Nishikori (JAPAN)

Last year’s fourth seed and semi-finalist had a good first outing upon return from injury at Monte Carlo. The Japanese talent reached the third round before running into Federer, and would be hoping to go deeper to avoid coughing up points from his efforts in Barcelona 12 months ago. Unfortunately for Nishikori, this time around he is unseeded with a tough encounter against Jan-Lennard Stuff in the first round before meeting fifth seed Medvedev in the second if he makes it there.