By Tony Fairbairn
- Carlos Alcaraz looks to defend his Madrid title as Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are absent from the event
- Top Seeds: Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, Casper Ruud, Stefanos Tsitsipas
- British Interest: Cameron Norrie [11], Dan Evans [19], Andy Murray, Kyle Edmund [PR]
MADRID, SPAIN – Carlos Alcaraz looks to continue his clay court momentum as he defends his Madrid title while Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are absent due to injury.
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[1] Carlos Alcaraz
Best Result: Champion (2022)
Alcaraz has produced extremely good form on clay this season and once again backed up his talent by defending his title in Barcelona last week.
Alcaraz’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Bye | H2H: N/A
- R2: Emil Ruusuvuori | H2H: Ruusuvuori leads 1-0
- R3: Grigor Dimitrov [26] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 1-0
- R4: Alexander Zverev [13] | H2H: Zverev leads 3-1
- QF: Andrey Rublev [5] | H2H: First Meeting
- SF: Casper Ruud [3] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 3-0
- F: Daniil Medvedev [2] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
The early rounds will see Alcaraz face players that he has a losing head-to-head record against such as Emil Ruusuvuori and Alexander Zverev. The match against Zverev could be a rematch of the contest they had in last year’s final which Alcaraz won so that should give him some confidence heading into that match. The last eight clash against Andrey Rublev might be Alcaraz’s most challenging in what should be a comfortable second part of the tournament for the Spaniard. If Alcaraz can negotiate the early rounds then he should win the title again and cement his status as potential favourite for Roland Garros with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic doubts for the event.
[2] Daniil Medvedev
Best Result: R3 (2021)
This is usually Medvedev’s worst time of year but such is the confidence of Medvedev that Monte-Carlo seemed to suggest that things may be changing for the second seed this year.
Medvedev’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Bye | H2H: N/A
- R2: Andy Murray | H2H: Medvedev leads 3-0
- R3: Jiri Lehecka [31] | H2H: First Meeting
- R4: Alex De Minaur [16] | H2H: Medvedev leads 4-1
- QF: Taylor Fritz [8] | H2H: Medvedev leads 1-0
- SF: Stefanos Tsitsipas [4] | H2H: Medvedev leads 7-4
- F: Carlos Alcaraz [1] | H2H: Tied at 1-1
Medvedev has a tricky opening week with Andy Murray and Alex De Minaur will likely give him awkward tests either side of a very tough third round clash with Jiri Lehecka. Should Medvedev adapt to the altitude well and overcome the first three rounds then the likes of Taylor Fritz and Stefanos Tsitsipas will be the main obstacles ahead of the final. Overall Medvedev hasn’t performed well in Madrid in the past and given his draw an early exit will probably await the second seed once again this year.
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[3] Casper Ruud
Best Results: Semi-Finalist (2021)
After winning the Estoril title, Ruud will look to bounce back after a couple of early exits in Monte-Carlo and Barcelona.
Ruud’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Bye | H2H: N/A
- R2: Qualifier | H2H: N/A
- R3: Tallon Griekspoor [30] | H2H: Ruud leads 1-0
- R4: Lorenzo Musetti [15] | H2H: Musetti leads 1-0
- QF: Holger Rune [6] | H2H: Ruud leads 4-0
- SF: Carlos Alcaraz [1] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 3-0
- F: Daniil Medvedev [2] | H2H: Medvedev leads 3-0
Ruud will have a tough third round in the form of Tallon Griekspoor, who is playing great tennis on the clay this season, before facing Lorenzo Musetti who is also in red-hot form over this clay court season. A brutal draw for the Norwegian is completed with the prospects of Holger Rune and Carlos Alcaraz awaiting in the latter stages of the tournament. A tough draw awaits Ruud who will do well to reach the quarter-finals phase and will search for some much needed wins in Madrid ahead of Roland Garros, where he is defending finalist.
[4] Stefanos Tsitsipas
Best Result: Final (2019)
Tsitsipas will look to build on his run to the final in Barcelona as he aims for consistent form heading into Roland Garros.
Tsitsipas’s Path to the Final (Ranking/Seeding)
- R1: Bye | H2H: N/A
- R2: Dominic Thiem [WC] | H2H: Thiem leads 5-3
- R3: Sebastian Baez [25] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 1-0
- R4: Tommy Paul [14] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 3-0
- QF: Felix Auger-Aliassime [7] | H2H: Tsitsipas leads 5-3
- SF: Daniil Medvedev [2] | H2H: Medvedev leads 7-4
- F: Carlos Alcaraz [1] | H2H: Alcaraz leads 4-0
Tsitsipas will consider his draw as favourable even if Dominic Thiem and Sebastian Baez will provide tough tests on clay. The Greek will then face an out of sorts Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight before a potential semi-final with arch nemesis Daniil Medvedev. Tsitsipas will be happy with his draw as he looks likely to reach a second consecutive ATP final which will give him confidence heading into the second Grand Slam of the season.
The Madrid Open takes place between 26 April to 7 May.
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