The third edition of the annual Tie Break Tens exhibition will get underway later on Thursday at the Caja Magica in Madrid.
Unlike traditional tennis, the exhibition event sees players playing a series of matches with the winner being the first to reach ten points (with at least a two-point gap). Players will change ends after six points. Previous winners of the event are Kyle Edmund (London) and Dominic Thiem (Vienna).
This year will be the first time the tournament is played on clay and the first time it features women. The Caja Magica is the same venue as next week’s Madrid Open. A total of 16 players will participate in the winner-takes-all extravaganza with the champion claiming $200,000 in prize money. A further $100,000 will also be donated to the Mutua charity against domestic violence.
Who is playing
Three-time grand slam champion Stan Wawrinka heads the men’s field in what will be his Tie Break Tens debut. This season the Swiss player has reached the semi-finals at the Australian Open and the final in Indian Wells. Wawrinka has played 11 tie-breaks on the tour this year, winning eight of them.
‘This is going to be a really exciting night of tennis with some great players and a format that will create of lot of pressure moments. There is nothing in the sport like the feeling of a tie-break – both to play and to watch”
Joining Wawrinka will be Grigor Dimitrov, who has already won two ATP titles this season. The Bulgarian recently said the event ‘brings out the best’ in players due to it’s format of making players play pressure points. Tomas Berdych, Jack Sock, Dan Evans and Lucas Pouille are among other entrants.
“I’ve been playing well during the last week and I’ll try to keep this level. I can’t wait to play the Tie Break Tens and I’m sure that we will have a very good time. I’ve seen there is an spectacular field so I’ll need to give my very best from the first ball.” Said Pouille.
List of male players
Stan Wawrinka
Grigor Dimitrov
Dan Evans
Lucas Pouille
Jack Sock
Tomas Berdych
Feliciano Lopez
Fernando Verdasco
The inaugural women’s competition features an outstanding field consisting of six top-10 players, the current Olympic Champion and Maria Sharapova. Simona Halep is the highest ranked player in the field. The world No.4 has only played two tie breaks in 13 matches this season, winning both of them.
‘Tie-breaks are always tense, and with so many top players playing them in Tie Break Tens, it is going to be a great night in Madrid.’ Said Halep.
French Open champion Garbine Muguruza will be hoping to triumph in front of her home crowd as she bids to get back on track. Muguruza recently suffered a shock second round loss at the Stuttgart Open. Johanna Konta, Agnieszka Radwanska and Svetlana Kuznetsova are also participating.
‘It’s going to be different and intense. For three hours there will be 16 of us giving everything for every point. From start to finish. We are all going to be trying our utmost and that will make it very special for the fans.’ Muguruza recent stated.
Maria Sharapova will also have the opportunity to test out her form against the world’s best as she continues her comeback from a doping ban.
List of female players
Simona Halep
Johanna Konta
Agnieszka Radwańska
Maria Sharapova
Monica Puig
Garbine Muguruza
Svetlana Kuznetsova
Madison Keys
What time is it?
The event is scheduled to get underway at 19:30 GMT on Thursday, May 4th and last for approximately three hours.
The draw
Women’s:
Madison Keys V. Svetlana Kuznetsova
Agnieszka Radwanska V. Garbine Muguruza
Johanna Konta V. Simona Halep
Monica Puig V. Maria Sharapova
Men’s:
Grigor Dimitrov V. Dan Evans
Lucas Pouille V. Fernando Verdasco
Tomas Berdych V. Jack Sock
Stan Wawrinka V. Feliciano Lopez
The winner of each match progress to the next round in what will be a knock-out format.
How to watch
This year’s exhibition event has scored numerous broadcast deals. In the UK it will be shown live on Sky channel Dave. Dave has never previously broadcast a tennis event of any kind. Other broadcasters include ESPN (America) and Teledeorte (Spain). A list of broadcasters can be seen at https://www.tiebreaktens.com/madrid/broadcasters/
