Andy Murray faces a potentially tricky opener at the Rome Masters 1000 event.
The British number one, who as fourth seed receives a first-round bye, has been drawn against either David Nalbandian or a qualifier.
Former Wimbledon finalist Nalbandian is no slouch on clay having previously reached the semi-finals of the French Open, while any qualifier will already have matches under his belt in Italy.
Murray, who has a 4-2 record on clay so far this season, is due to return to action after a back problem forced him to miss the ongoing Madrid Open.
Given the controversy over the blue clay which developed in the Spanish capital, that may turn out to have been a blessing in disguise, but Murray will now be particularly keen to get matches under his belt in Italy - his last tournament before the French Open starts on May 27.
If he progresses to the semi-finals, Rafael Nadal is likely to lie in wait, provided, that is, the Spaniard puts his shock loss to Fernando Verdasco in Madrid behind him.
Nadal is first likely to have to overcome rising star Milos Raonic in his opening match. Raonic pushed Roger Federer to a final-set tie-break in Madrid.
Federer is on the other side of the draw, alongside world number one Novak Djokovic.
Federer opens against Carlos Berlocq or a qualifier, while Djokovic could play rising Australian star Bernard Tomic first. Tomic must first see off a qualifier.
In the women's draw, top seed Victoria Azarenka faces a familiar path to the final.
The Belarusian is seeded to meet Li Na in the quarter-finals and Agnieszka Radwanska in the last four, as was the case in Madrid. She beat both players in Spain.
However, with fellow Madrid finalist Serena Williams in Radwanska's quarter, things may not unfold that way.
On the other side of the draw, Maria Sharapova is seeded to meet Petra Kvitova in the semis. Sharapova may first have to beat Sam Stosur in the last eight - a player she saw off en route to winning the title in Stuttgart recently.
