There are just a few hours before the curtain falls on the jewel in the Mutua Madrid Open’s crown and the last match in the tournament’s 23^rd edition. Jack Draper and Casper Ruud will cross swords in a mouth-watering final. Here are seven reasons not to miss the big battle:

1. Both men are bidding for their first Mutua Madrid Open title. Neither of them has ever won the trophy in the Spanish capital. The champion will be the twelfth different player to be crowned in Madrid. The eleven ‘apostles’ to have won in the Caja Magica are looking to complete their final member: Andre Agassi, Juan Carlos Ferrero, Marat Safin, Rafa Nadal, David Nalbandián, Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Alexander Zverev, Carlos Alcaraz and Andrey Rublev have all etched their names into the trophy.
2. Draper is also looking to become just the second southpaw to win the tournament. With victory the young Briton would join the only other left-handed champion, Rafa Nadal, who won the event five times.
3. This is the Englishman’s third campaign in the Caja Magica. In the previous two editions he bowed out in round two. It is Casper’s fifth appearance in the main draw, he reached the semis in 2021, when Matteo Berrettini prevented him from reaching the decider.
4. Since the return to the courts post-pandemic, nobody has won on clay more times than Casper Ruud. He has 124 wins and 11 titles on the surface. However, he is yet to claim a Masters 1000, meaning this would be his first. The French Open doubles finalist is determined to get his hands on the biggest titles.
5. Whatever happens now, Draper will overtake Novak Djokovic in the world ranking as he breaks into the top five for the first time in his career. He is the first left-hander to reach the position since Rafa Nadal did so in 2005. He also sits second in the Race to Turin after a spectacular start to the season.
6. Jack Draper has not dropped a set all tournament and has only lost 30 games. Since Indian Wells two years ago, nobody has won a Masters 1000 without giving up a set.

1. If the Norwegian triumphs he will climb to seventh in the world ranking having started the fortnight in fifteenth place. If he fails in his mission, he will wake up on Monday morning as the world number ten.