The business end of the Mutua Madrid Open has arrived. There is no more room for mistakes. Only the brave will prevail, and Tuesday is going to be a tense day in the Caja Magica with all eight round-of-sixteen ATP matches in store.
Jannik Sinner-Cameron Norrie (11:00, Manolo Santana Stadium)
The No. 1 in the ATP Rankings has only one thing on his mind in Madrid; to become the first player in history to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles. The next hurdle along the way will be Briton Cameron Norrie. The left-handed 9th seed feels very much at home on clay. It will be the first time they have crossed paths.
Rafa Jódar-Vit Kopriva (Not before 16:00, Manolo Santana Stadium)
If there is one player who is connecting with the fans this week in the Caja Magica, it’s Rafa Jódar. The 19-year-old Madrid native, Spain’s latest superstar, will be bidding to reach his first quarter-final at a Masters 1000 against an opponent who is theoretically inferior to his two previous victims, Alex de Minaur and Joao Fonseca. However, there is no script in tennis. Jódar will have to tread carefully against the 28-year-old Czech Vit Kopriva, ranked 66th in the world.
Tomás Martín Etcheverry-Arthur Fils (11:00, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario Stadium)
This encounter will see two of the most in-form members of the tour square off. The Argentine, on the one hand, has more victories than anyone on clay this season, with no fewer than 15. On the other, the Frenchman is dreaming big in Madrid after winning the ATP 500 in Barcelona a few days ago and reaching the semis in Miami. A clash of two big servers that promises fireworks.
Jiri Lehecka-Lorenzo Musetti (2nd match, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario Stadium)
Power against finesse. Flat shots against big bounces. Two-handed backhand vs one-handed. If we had to describe the meeting between the Czech and the Italian in a few words it would be ‘a match of contrasts’. Lehecka, a semi-finalist at the event two years ago, is a player whose game is a perfect match for the conditions of Madrid and he now has another golden opportunity against Musetti. The Italian eighth seed will need to rediscover his form after an under-par start to the season.
Casper Ruud-Stefanos Tsitsipas (3rd match, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario Stadium)
The big-name clash of the day. The Norwegian title-holder has lost just five games in his first two matches at the Mutua Madrid Open. It will not be easy to wrestle the crown from his grasp. Tsitsipas, for his part, arrived in Madrid plagued with uncertainty, but the Spanish capital has witnessed something of a return to form for the Greek; for the first time in a year and a half he has strung together three wins at a Masters 1000. A match to enjoy.
Francisco Cerúndolo-Alexander Blockx (Not before 19:00, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario Stadium)
A semi-finalist last year, Cerúndolo’s love affair with the Caja Magica continues. This is the tournament when the Argentine has historically performed his best. In the last sixteen he will face one of this year’s surprise packages, Alexander Blockx. Born in 2005 and ranked 69th in the world, the Belgian is enjoying the week of his life. On Monday he claimed his first win over a top ten player in Félix Auger-Aliassime. Cerúndolo, take note.
Daniil Medvedev-Flavio Cobolli (2nd match in the night session, Arantxa Sánchez-Vicario Stadium)
The adventures of Medvedev at clay tournaments are nothing if not entertaining. It seems to be a case of all or nothing for the world No. 10. However, he could be turning a corner in Madrid. On Tuesday in the last sixteen, he will face a Cobolli who he has defeated in their last two encounters. However, the Italian reached the final a few days ago in Munich and has plenty of game time under his belt on the red stuff.
Alexander Zverev-Jakub Mensik (2nd match of the night session, Manolo Santana Stadium)
The name Zverev is synonymous with success in Madrid. Champion in 2018 and 2021, and finalist in 2022, the German is one of the most imposing players in the Manolo Santana Stadium. His mere presence strikes fear into his opponents. The next player to face the world No. 3 will be Jakub Mensik. A big-hitting encounter to end the day’s play.