For the first time in nearly a year, since Roland Garros to be exact, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are playing in the same event. They are both in the top half of the men’s singles draw, along with the ATP’s biggest breakout star of the last 12 months, Carlos Alcaraz. The bottom half includes defending champion Sascha Zverev and Monte Carlo champ Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Main draw action is well underway in Madrid. The men will play first round matches on Monday, while the women are already onto third round action. The WTA draw has seen some significant upsets through two rounds, with top names like Aryna Sabalenka, Paula Badosa, Maria Sakkari, Garbine Muguruza, and Naomi Osaka knocked out of the draw.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Monday’s play gets underway at 12:00pm local time.
Coco Gauff (14) vs. Simona Halep – Not Before 4:00pm on Manolo Santana Stadium
Three years ago at Wimbledon, when Gauff made her breakthrough at the age of 15, it was Halep who ended her run, with a straight-set victory in the round of 16. They met again two months ago at Indian Wells, where the result was the same. This is not a good matchup for Coco, as per power is thwarted by Simona’s speed and defense. That will be even more true on clay, the only surface they are yet to play on. Halep was excellent in the last round, comfortably eliminating second-seeded Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-1. These players certainly will have plenty of knowledge regarding the other, as Patrick Mouratoglou works with them both. But on this day, Simona is a clear favorite to remain undefeated against the 18-year-old American.
Andy Murray (WC) vs. Dominic Thiem (PR) – Not Before 8:00pm on Manolo Santana Stadium
It is odd to have these Major champions playing in the first round, but they required a wild card and a protected ranking to get into the tournament as they both try to rebuild their ranking after extended injury layoffs. Murray seemed to be gaining momentum last fall, yet since reaching the final in Sydney to start this season, he’s failed to win consecutive matches. The 34-year-old Brit had vowed to skip the clay court season, as he’s only played one match on this surface in the past five years, since his hip issues began at the 2017 French Open. But Andy is feeling healthy and decided to get some match play on clay ahead of the British grass court season. Thiem was forced to delay his return from his wrist injury multiple times, and has lost all three matches he’s played this spring. A year ago, Dominic was a semifinalist here, though he hasn’t won a match since last May in Rome. They have split four previous encounters, with their only clay matchup going to Thiem, which occurred five years ago in Barcelona. But considering the Austrian’s lack of match play, Murray should be favored to prevail on this day.
Other Notable Matches on Monday:
Ons Jabeur (8) vs. Belinda Bencic (11) – Bencic has taken both their previous meetings, which were both on clay, and includes the final of Charleston just last month. Belinda needed nearly three hours to overcome Karolina Muchova in the last round, while Jabeur also played a three-setter, against Varvara Gracheva.
Victoria Azarenka (15) vs. Amanda Anisimova – 20-year-old Anisimova is the player who upset Sabalenka, the defending champion, in the opening round. She followed that up with another three-set win over Petra Martic. Azarenka reached back-to-back Madrid finals in 2011 and 2012, but has only contested 14 matches here since. This will be their first career meeting.
Monday’s full Order of Play is here.
