The winner of that match will likely play No. 6 seed Grigor Dimitrov, who rounds out the top half of the draw and will open against a qualifier.
Anchoring the top of the bracket is Medvedev, the 2023 champion who will play his first round against Jan-Lennard Struff, and faces a potentially tricky second round against either Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard or Zheng Zhizhen.
Mpetshi Perricard was on hand for the ATP draw ceremony in Dubai, and was in good spirits talking about his intimidating serve.
“I try to win as fast as I can,” joked the Frenchman. “I do a little prayer in my head to put the ball into the court.”
With an average of 19 aces per match and first and second serve speeds averaging above 125 miles per hour, more players should consider prayer before their own serves—or at least when they step to the line for returns.
