Here at the Mutua Madrid Open, we’ve been having  some interesting conversations with ChatGPT, asking for its favourites for the tournament, getting it to analyse as many factors as possible (draw, current form, recent performances, past edition, etc.). With a touch of humour, of course, the AI chatbot has presented us with its predictions for this year’s event. Below are the artificial intelligence forecasts for the next two weeks. As you would expect, the answer we received was written in first person. Make of it what you will:

“I’ve been asked to play fortune teller, and of course, I’ve accepted. Not out of overconfidence, but because there’s always time to make a mistake in style. The 2026 Mutua Madrid Open is here, and the Caja Magica has once again become that marvellous laboratory where the clay behaves like clay… but not entirely. The ball flies faster, the serve inflicts more damage, the favourites have less room to yawn, and the underdogs find cracks through which to slip into history.

So here’s my prediction. I won’t promise absolute scientific rigour, although there are some data: previous results in Madrid, clay performance, form, tactical profile, and that unacademic but necessary thing called intuition. If I get it right, you can call me the official oracle of the Caja Magica. If I’m wrong, I’ll note for the record that in tennis, the blame always lies with the draw, the wind, the altitude, or an untimely net cord.

That said: get your notebooks ready, prepare your screenshots, and come laugh at me in two weeks. Here are my champions, finalists, semi-finalists and an upset or two likely to turn up unannounced”.

Champion: Jannik Sinner

It’s not the most romantic pick, but certainly the most solid. In a Madrid without Alcaraz or Djokovic, Sinner has a huge opportunity. The altitude favours his flat shots, his first strike after serve, and his ability to rush an opponent. Although he comes off a win in Monte Carlo, the question is whether his clay tennis commands the same authority as on hard courts, but Madrid is the ‘hardest’ clay of the calendar. You don’t need to be Kuerten here; you need to hit cleanly, take control early and not give away space.

Finalist: Alexander Zverev

Madrid suits him like a tailor-made suit. He’s won here before, the altitude boosts his serve, and his backhand withstands pressure very well. His emotional management in long matches doesn’t always win me over, but in these conditions, he has a clear competitive path as long as he doesn’t get lost in his own head.

Semi-finalists: Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Casper Ruud and Alexander Zverev

Musetti is my aesthetic choice: if he has a fine week, his backhand, changes of height, and touch can do a lot of damage. He’s not at his best after injury, but he must be considered, no matter what. Ruud, meanwhile, is the reigning champion: he won Madrid 2025 against Jack Draper, and the tournament recalled that since 2020 he’s had the most wins, finals and titles on clay.

Possible upsets in the men’s:

Joao Fonseca, because in Madrid the ball flies off his racket and he’s not afraid of anyone; Arthur Fils, if he strings together first serves and forehands; Alejandro Davidovich, because at home and amidst chaos he can always catch fire; and Hubert Hurkacz, who isn’t a clay specialist, but in Madrid his serve can turn any match into a toss of a coin.

My imaginary draw would be:

Sinner beats Musetti in the semi-finals. Zverev beats Ruud. Sinner beats Zverev in the final.

My women’s prediction

Champion: Aryna Sabalenka

Here I’m backing the queen of the castle. Sabalenka has won Madrid in 2021, 2023 and 2025, and last year she beat Coco Gauff in the final. The WTA also includes her among the historic multi-champions of the tournament. In Madrid, her power doesn’t get as unruly as it does elsewhere on clay: it’s turned into an advantage. If she’s healthy and confident, every forehand seems to come with an express delivery stamp.

Finalist: Elena Rybakina

In terms of conditions, she’s probably Sabalenka’s most dangerous rival. Serve, first strike, little need to build twenty-shot rallies and a ball that, at altitude, flies through the court. It’s not always easy to gauge her fitness, but if she arrives intact for the second week, she has championship-level tennis.

Semi-finalists: Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina

Swiatek always deserves to be in the clay conversation, but Madrid isn’t her most natural venue; the ball flies faster, play is faster, and big hitters force her to rush. Still, her competitive base level is very high. Gauff, finalist in 2025, has a draw to grow into and a tremendous ability to survive tough matches.

Possible upsets in the women’s:

Mirra Andreeva, because she already plays with maturity beyond her years and on clay can mix rhythm, defence and audacity; Naomi Osaka, because if her serve is firing in Madrid she doesn’t need anyone’s permission; Diana Shnaider, who’s already knocked out Bouzas and has a tricky left-handed game; and Cristina Bucsa, not as champion, but certainly capable of causing a serious upset if she finds momentum. Bucsa arrives as a Spanish seed and is fresh off winning Mérida, though Madrid has never been her most fruitful tournament until now.

My imaginary draw would be:

Sabalenka beats Swiatek in the semi-finals. Rybakina beats Gauff. Sabalenka beats Rybakina in the final.

Crystal ball summary

ATP

Champion: Jannik Sinner

Finalist: Alexander Zverev

Semi-finalists: Sinner, Musetti, Ruud, Zverev

Dark horses: Fonseca, Fils, Davidovich, Hurkacz

WTA

Champion: Aryna Sabalenka

Finalist: Elena Rybakina

Semi-finalists: Sabalenka, Swiatek, Gauff, Rybakina

Dark horses: Andreeva, Osaka, Shnaider, Bucsa

My safest bet is Sabalenka as champion . My least risky bet is Sinner as champion . My indulgence would be a big week from Musetti or Andreeva.