PREVIEW | ATP Rome Open 2025 Day Three as Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Jack Draper start campaigns

The Rome Open continues on to Friday and finally in the men's draw on Day Three, we see some big names join the party in Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev and Jack Draper who are among the leading lights.

Alcaraz will be an intriguing task in itself as he is returning from injury after such a good start to the clay court season sort of ebbed away. While Zverev of course has done poorly on his chance to ascend to become the top ATP star. Draper is one of the only players who has done good business out of the past few weeks.

It is three top ties on Campo Centrale as Carlos Alcaraz will start with a pretty stock opener on his end of Dusan Lajovic who he has a 4-0 Head to Head record against. He beat him mostly back in 2023 though so it's not a recent clash but is one he will expect to win.

Zverev has less of a build against Camilo Ugo Carabelli but again given that he is defending champion, they are courts he likes and he will hope to finally click again after a poor time of it as of late.

One player who has not faltered as of late is Lorenzo Musetti who is perhaps the outstanding name in the middle of two other outstanding names. He faces Otto Virtanen. But the Italian has been one of the players of the clay court season. Reaching the final in Monte-Carlo, he also ascended in Madrid to reach the semi-final. Outside of perhaps Ruud and Draper, he has been the player to watch this clay court season.

Also of course he returns home and will have the added pressure perhaps of being their best player right now with Jannik Sinner a conundrum when it comes to what state he will be in.

But despite having those names involved today, it is still very much up and down when it comes to the schedule. Arthur Fils like Musetti is one to watch this week for his sheer court craft on clay as well as his form. He faces Tallon Griekspoor which could be match of the day in the men's draw.

Daniil Medvedev then takes on Cameron Norrie who was a lucky loser into this tournament. Medvedev has a love-hate relationship with clay admonishing it on various occasions but he seems to claim results on it. He faces Norrie hoping for a resurgence and given his Lucky Loser status, he has a second chance this week to play after losing out in qualifying.

Grigor Dimitrov had a good week in Madrid both on and off court as he seemed to confirm his romance with Hollywood actress Eiza Gonzalez. He faces wildcard Francesco Passaro on Grand Stand. While Jack Draper joins Emma Raducanu on the same court.

Draper has been one of the best players in the world and is now World No.5. Ironically too on a surface that shouldn't suit him. He faces Luciano Darderi in his opener at around 4:30pm this evening.

Other top names in action include Stefanos Tsitsipas, Holger Rune and Estoril champion Alex Michelsen. Stories across the board on Friday in Rome.