Monday features the conclusion of third round ATP singles action, as well as all eight round of 16 WTA singles matches.

On Saturday, Rafael Nadal electrified the Madrid crowd with the best tennis we’ve seen from him in well over a year, as he defeated Alex de Minaur in straight sets.  Now he tries to win three consecutive matches for the first time since the 2022 US Open, against Argentina’s Pedro Cachin.

Other ATP action on Monday includes top-seeded Jannik Sinner, third-seeded Daniil Medvedev, and recent Barcelona champion Casper Ruud.

Plus, all eight fourth round WTA singles matches will be staged, and they feature eight of the top 10 seeds.  Two-time Madrid champ Aryna Sabalenka takes on the WTA’s hottest player Danielle Collins, who is currently on a 15-match win streak.  In addition, top-seeded Iga Swiatek, third-seeded Coco Gauff, and recent Stuttgart champ Elena Rybakina will all play on Monday.

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 11:00am local time.

Rafael Nadal (PR) vs. Pedro Cachin – Not Before 4:00pm on Manolo Santana Stadium

Was Nadal’s improved level on Saturday a one-off, or can he sustain it on Monday?  This will be just his eighth match of the past 15 months, but he brought back glimpses of the Rafa of yesteryear against Alex de Minaur in the last round, avenging a loss to the same player from the week prior.  In his 17 appearances in Madrid, Nadal has only twice failed to reach the fourth round.

Cachin was ranked inside the top 50 last summer, after winning a clay court title in Gstaad, his first-ever ATP crown.  But between last October and this month, the 29-year-old went on a 15-match losing streak at all levels.  His victories this past week over Sebastian Ofner and Frances Tiafoe are his first at tour level in nearly nine months.

In their first career meeting, Pedro will certainly feel a bit overwhelmed facing Rafa, especially in front of a raucous crowd in Madrid.  I like Nadal’s chances of extending his winning streak on Monday.

Danielle Collins (13) vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2) – Last on Manolo Santana Stadium

Collins has not lost a match since she faced World No.1 Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells.  Danielle won titles in both Miami and Charleston, which included nine victories over top 30 opposition.  And this past week in Madrid, she’s survived two dramatic three-setters. 

Sabalenka is 17-5 on the year, and is 14-3 lifetime in Madrid, though she’s also overcome two three-setters to this stage.  Aryna has understandably not played her best since the shocking death of her ex-boyfriend last month.  After her first 11 victories of 2024 came in straight sets, her last five matches have now all gone the distance.

Their history has been rather one-sided, as Sabalenka is 4-0 against Collins.  That includes three wins at the US Open, and one in Wuhan back in 2019.  In their first encounter on clay, I favor Aryna, especially at this event where she’s enjoyed so much success.  Plus, Danielle must be rather drained after playing so much tennis across the past six weeks.

Other Notable Matches on Monday:

Jelena Ostapenko (9) vs. Ons Jabeur (8) – This should be a fascinating encounter between two of the sport’s most streaky and unpredictable talents.  They have split four previous meetings at all levels, though Ostapenko has been the much better performer this season, with a record of 19-7, compared to just 5-7 for Jabeur.

Beatriz Haddad Maia (11) vs. Maria Sakkari (5) – Sakkari has already earned two solid straight-set victories over Donna Vekic and Sloane Stephens, while Haddad Maia defeated both Sara Errani and Emma Navarro in straights.  Beatriz is 3-0 against Maria at all levels.

Iga Swiatek (1) vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo – As per usual, Swiatek has dropped only seven games through four sets thus far.  But Sorribes Tormo is also yet to drop a set, and has already upset both Elina Svitolina and Victoria Azarenka.  Iga has beaten Sara three times within the past year, all in straight sets.

Daniil Medvedev (3) vs. Sebastian Korda (25) – Their head-to-head stands at 2-a-piece, though Medvedev defeated Korda most recently, which took place just a month ago in Indian Wells.  This is their first meeting on clay.

Coco Gauff (3) vs. Madison Keys (18) – Gauff has lost only five games through four sets, while Keys defeated the 15^th seed, Liudmila Samsonova, in the last round.  Their head-to-head also stands at 2-2, though they also have never played on this surface.

Sara Bejlek (Q) vs. Elena Rybakina (4) – Rybakina is now 28-4 on the season, and is on a six-match win streak.  Bejlek is an 18-year-old qualifier from the Czech Republic who won 42 matches last year at all levels.

Cameron Norrie (29) vs. Casper Ruud (5) – Ruud leads the ATP with 30 match wins in 2024, and is 12-2 on clay.  Norrie is a modest 13-8 this year, and is 1-3 lifetime against Casper, but Cam’s one win came just a few months ago at the Australian Open.

Jannik Sinner (1) vs. Pavel Kotov – Sinner is now 26-2 this year, and thumped his fellow countryman Lorenzo Sonego in the second round by a score of 6-0, 6-3.  Kotov upset the 32^nd seed Jordan Thompson on Saturday.

Monday’s full Order of Play is here.

Juan Martin Del Potro has spoken about the future of tennis as well as Rafael Nadal’s pending retirement.

The Argentinian retired in 2022 when he played his last match against Federico Delbonis in Buenos Aires with Del Potro struggling with a knee injury during his last tournaments.

Del Potro spoke about competing against ‘the big four,’ expectations while playing on the tour and having no regrets over his last match, “Having won a Grand Slam in the best of the big three has special value,” Del Potro told Punto De Break.

“Now that speaks of the big three but between us we always talked about the fantastic four because Andy Murray has always been the closes to the best in all of history. Any victory against them was of impressive value.

“Having won a Grand Slam may sound little, but it’s not. Playing quarters and semis against the best gives me the peace of mind that, despite not having achieved big tournaments, I always fought them and that’s enough for me.”

Having experienced big success in the sport, Del Potro knows how tough it is physically to stay at the top.

Also the Argentinian knows how hard it is to retire on your own terms and that’s a dilemma that Rafael Nadal faces as the Spaniard is set to end his illustrious career this season.

Del Potro discussed Nadal’s impending retirement as well as some of the memories he had on the court against the Spaniard, “I think we have to start assimilating that a tennis stage is going to end. Roger is no longer there, but his legacy was very marked forever. And now Nadal is giving himself the pleasure of retiring in his own way and under his own conditions,” Del Potro stated.

“And it’s something that unfortunately I couldn’t do for my health. Rafa’s thing is impressive. Seeing him play and seeing that passion for competing and that energy he has is something unique and I don’t know if there will be something similar in the coming years.

“I hope I’ll cross it now and say hello and I’ll keep watching it on TV. I’m not watching much tennis, but if Rafa or Novak plays, of course I look at it.

“Rio’s match was emotionally very strong and spectacular, as an Argentine in Brazil and against Rafa. Another game I remember was the semifinals of the 2009 Us Open, but there is one that I lost against Nadal who was at Wimbledon 2018. I lost that game, but at the end we gave each other a hug. It was super emotional and when I see images of that game and that moment I don’t care about having lost because that moment is already winning.

“The result doesn’t matter, but that hug, the emotion, the fans. It was an unforgettable day and those were the great memories I have with Rafa.”

Finally Del Potro reflected on the future of tennis with Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner expected to have a fierce rivalry at the top of the game.

The former US Open champion compared it to rivalries of the past and is excited for what they can bring to tennis, “I love seeing Alcaraz because he has a freshness and a naturalness to walk on the track that looks like a 30-year-old guy who has been on the circuit for 10 and is super young,” Del Potro explained.

“It’s going to be very good for tennis, that face to face against Sinner. He is going to build a rivalry that tennis constantly had. First it was Agassi-Sampras, then Roger-Rafa, then Novak. And now it will be the two of them.”

Sunday features third round singles matches from both the ATP and WTA draws.

On Saturday, a red-hot Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned by a talented clay court player from Brazil, Thiago Monteiro.  On Sunday, Carlos Alcaraz plays another Brazilian, Thiago Seyboth Wild, who won 56 clay court matches at all levels last season. 

Other third round action on Sunday includes 2024 WTa titleholders Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, and Danielle Collins, as well as a WTA matchup between two top 20 seeds who are both having good seasons: Daria Kasatkina and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. 

Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule.  Sunday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.

Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (20) vs. Daria Kasatkina (10) – Not Before 1:00pm on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium

Kasatkina is 17-9 on the year, having reached three finals (Adelaide, Abu Dhabi, Charleston).  She’s only 9-7 lifetime in Madrid, and had to come from a-set-and-two-breaks down in the last round against Cristina Bucsa.  But clay is certainly Daria’s best surface, as she holds nearly twice as many wins at Roland Garros than any other Major.

Pavlyuchenkova went all the way to the final at Roland Garros just three years ago, then was sidelined by injury in 2022, but returned to the quarterfinals again in 2023.  She’s 19-9 this season, and advanced to the semis in Madrid the same year as her French Open final.  Anastasia defeated Daria Saville in straight sets on Friday.

Kasatkina is 4-2 against Pavlyuchenkova, and also took their only clay court meeting, which was a straight-set victory at this same tournament a year ago.  I expect this contest to be tighter, though I still consider Daria a slight favorite.

Thiago Seyboth Wild vs. Carlos Alcaraz – Not Before 4:00pm on Manolo Santana Stadium

Alcaraz wore a sleeve on his injured right arm in his opening round, after withdrawing from both Monte Carlo and Barcelona due to the injury.  But it did not appear to at all impact his performance, as he beat Alexander Shevchenko 6-2, 6-1.  Carlitos is the two-time defending champion in Madrid, and is on a 12-match win streak at this event.

Seyboth Wild won a total of 61 matches last year at all levels, with only five of those not coming on clay.  He reached five Challenger finals on this surface in 2023, winning four of them.  Thiago is just 10-11 at tour level in 2024, and lost his first six matches of the year, though he scored a nice win in the last round over Lorenzo Musetti.

In their first career meeting, of course Alcaraz should be favored.  But this is a dangerous draw on clay, especially for a player who is not currently at their physical best.

Other Notable Matches on Sunday:

Mayar Sherif vs. Elena Rybakina (4) – Rybakina ousted Italy’s Lucia Bronzetti in straight sets on Friday.  On the same day, Sherif upset the 25^th seed, Marta Kostyuk.  When these players met two years ago in Cincinnati, Elena won in straights.

Andrey Rublev (7) vs. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (27) – Rublev arrived in Madrid on a four-match losing streak, as his on-court outbursts have resulted in a dip in form.  Davidovich Fokina is just 9-9 on the year, but the Spaniard did advance to the fourth round of this event a year ago.  Andrey is 3-0 against Alejandro, which includes two clay court victories.

Marketa Vondrousova (7) vs. Mirra Andreeva – The Wimbledon champ is now 4-1 on clay in 2024, and she upset Sabalenka in Stuttgart a week ago.  Andreeva came from a set down to eliminate another Czech player, Linda Noskova, on Friday. 

Robin Montgomery (WC) vs. Aryna Sabalenka (2) – Sabalenka overcame Magda Linette in three sets on Friday, while Montgomery, a 19-year-old lefty, ousted Katie Boulter. 

Danielle Collins (13) vs. Jaqueline Cristian (Q) – Collins is now on a 14-match win streak, after surviving a third-set tiebreak in the last round.  Cristian came through qualifying and has won four matches to reach this stage, which included an upset of Roland Garros champ Barbora Krejcikova. 

Denis Shapovalov (PR) vs. Sascha Zverev (4) – Zverev comfortably defeated Borna Coric in his opening round.  Shapovalov is currently ranked outside the top 100, as he’s struggled with injury since last season, but he earned an impressive win on Friday over Tomas Martin Etcheverry.  Sascha leads their head-to-head 5-3, and claimed their only meeting on this surface.

Sunday’s full Order of Play is here.