The first joint ATP/WTA 1000 event of the clay season is underway in Madrid.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are both absent due to injury, leaving defending champion Carlos Alcaraz as the headliner of the ATP singles draw in his country’s biggest event. Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, and Stefanos Tsitsipas are the other top seeds.
The WTA singles draw sees Stuttgart champion Iga Swiatek as the top seed, with Stuttgart finalist Aryna Sabalenka as the second seed. Are they headed for a rematch in the final of Madrid? Not if other top names such as Jessica Pegula or Elena Ryabkina have anything to say about it. Unfortunately, Ons Jabeur is not present to defend her title, after injuring her calf in Stuttgart.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Thursday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Jule Niemeier vs. Petra Kvitova (10) – 11:00am on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium
Kvitova is 17-5 on the year, and is coming off a title run in Miami, her biggest title since she won this event in 2018. Petra is a three-time champion in Madrid, with a career record of 32-9, compared to only an 8-8 record at the other WTA 1000 event on clay in Rome.
Niemeier was a surprise quarterfinalist last summer at Wimbledon, but is only 4-11 on the year, at one point going on a six-match losing streak between February and April. She defeated Xin Yu Wang in the first round in straight sets.
Kvitova claimed their only previous meeting by a score of 6-2, 6-1, last year on a hard court in St. Petersburg. On Thursday in the high elevation of Madrid, which has enhanced Petra big ball striking in the past, Kvitova must be considered a strong favorite. However, that’s assuming her foot injury, which was the reason she withdrew from Stuttgart last week, is not a significant issue.
Sorana Cirstea vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2) – Not Before 7:00pm on Manolo Santana Stadium
Despite her loss in Sunday’s Stuttgart final to Swiatek, Sabalenka is having a fantastic year. Aryna is 23-4, with two titles, which of course includes her first Major in Melbourne. Sabalenka won this event two years ago, beating Ash Barty in the final.
However, one of Aryna’s four losses this season came at the hands of Cirstea, who defeated her in straight sets last month in Miami. Sorana had a great run on North American hard courts in March, reaching the quarterfinals at Indian Wells and the semis in Miami. She eliminated Lauren Davis in the opening round in three sets.
The aforementioned Miami quarterfinal is their only prior encounter. On Thursday, Sabalenka will be the favorite to avenge that loss. While some of Cirstea’s best career results have come on clay, including a WTA title two years ago and her only Major quarterfinal back in 2009, Aryna has been one of 2023’s best performers, and is fully comfortable on this surface.
Other Notable Matches on Thursday:
Kyle Edmund (PR) vs. Dominic Thiem (WC) – Thiem is a two-time runner-up in Madrid, and reached the semis on two other occasions, but is just 6-12 on the year at all levels. Similarly, injuries have sidetracked Edmund’s career, as he’s only 2-7 this season at all levels. Their only previous meeting occurred six years ago in this same country, as Thiem defeated Edmund in straight sets in Barcelona.
Coco Gauff (6) vs. Irene Burillo Escorihuela (Q) – Gauff is 17-6 in 2023, and as per Sports Illustrated’s Jon Wertheim, is rumored to now be working with Jermaine Jenkins, the former coach of Naomi Osaka, and former hitting partner of Venus Williams. Burillo Escorihuela is a 25-year-old Spaniard ranked 318th in the world who upset Kaia Kanepi on Wednesday.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs. Paula Badosa (26) – Badosa is the top-ranked Spanish woman, even though she is currently outside the world’s top 40. Cocciaretto is a 22-year-old Italian who won an ITF-level clay court tournament just a few weeks ago.
Andrea Vavassori (Q) vs. Andy Murray – Murray played pretty terribly by his own admission in his only other clay court match this season, two weeks ago in Monte Carlo. Vavassori is a 27-year-old Italian who has won 17 matches on clay this year at all levels.
Thursday’s full Order of Play is here.