Novak Djokovic has been seeded in the same half of the draw as second seed Carlos Alcaraz at the Madrid Mutua Open.
Djokovic leads 5-3 in his head-to-head matches against Alcaraz.
Djokovic returns to the Spanish capital for the first time in three years. Djokovic, three-time champion in Madrid, has not played in the Caja Magica since losing to Alcaraz in the 2022 semifinals.
Djokovic is aiming to join the exclusive 100-title that features Jimmy Connors and Roger Federer. The former world number 1 player won his 99th title at the Olympic Games in Paris final against Alcaraz. He has lost two Masters 1000 finals in Shanghai and Miami.
Djokovic will play against either Matteo Arnaldi or a qualifier in the second round. The 37-year-year-old player is seeded to face Frances Tiafoe in the fourth round and this year’s Indian Wells champion Jack Draper in the quarter final. Draper starts against either Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor or a qualifier.
Alcaraz won the Masters 1000 title in Monte-Carlo and finished runner-up to Holger Rune in Barcelona. The Spaniard, who won two consecutive titles in Madrid in 2022 and 2023, will face either Zizou Bergs or Yoshihito Nishioka in his opening match. Alcaraz could face Jiri Lehecka in the third round and Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. Alcaraz could potentially face Lorenzo Musetti, Alex De Minaur or Grigor Dimitrov. A clash against Musetti and Alcaraz could be a re-match of the Monte-Carlo final.
Alcaraz needed treatment on his upper right leg during the Barcelona Final.
“I’m confident it won’t affect me in Madrid. That’s what happens when you play so many matches and have so few days to rest. It’s so demanding, and you have to give 100% every day. Having played a tournament like Monte Carlo and arriving in Barcelona with few days to adapt is really tough”, said Alcaraz.
Alexander Zverev will open his Madrid campaign against either Roberto Bautista Agut or Jaume Munar. Zverev won his third title in Munich beating Ben Shelton last week returning to world number 2.
Zverev could face Arthur Fils in the fourth round and either Andrey Rublev or Shelton in the quarter final. Rublev has been drawn in the same half as Jakub Mensik.
Last week’s Barcelona Open champion Holger Rune is seeking a back-to-back title after beating Alcaraz in the Barcelona final. Rune will face this year’s Belgrade champion Flavio Cobolli or Fabian Maroszan in the second round. The Dane is seeded to face Danil Medvedev in the fourth round and 2024 US Open finalist Taylor Fritz. The US player will play in his first tournament since Miami, where he reached the semifinal.
Fritz will start his campaign against either Christopher O’Connell or Camilo Ugo Carabelli.
Last year’s Next Gen ATP Finals champion and 2025 Buenos Aires winner Joao Fonseca will start against a qualifier and could face Tommy Paul in the second round.
