The men will play all their round of 16 matches, while the women will play their quarterfinals. In total, 62 Major singles titles are still remaining in these draws. We’re in for some blockbuster matchups on Thursday in Spain’s capital.
Dominic Thiem (5) vs. Fabio Fognini (10)
This is a battle between the winners of the two most important clay court tournaments last month. Fognini took the biggest title of his career in Monte Carlo, while Thiem prevailed in Barcelona. Both men defeated Rafael Nadal on the way to those titles. Dominic didn’t drop a set in five matches two weeks ago in Barcelona. Thiem is 2-1 against Fognini, but Fabio took their most recent encounter last year in Rome. This is the Italian’s first week of play since his title run in Monte Carlo, as he pulled out of Barcelona and Estoril with a hamstring injury. A finalist last year at this tournament, Thiem should get past this dangerous yet unpredictable clay court opposition. The winner will face the winner between Roger Federer and Gael Monfils.
Petra Kvitova (2) vs. Kiki Bertens (7)
These two just met in the semifinals of Stuttgart two weeks, with Kvitova pulling out a three-set win. Their only other clay court meeting was last year in the final of Madrid, which Petra also won in three sets. Kvitova holds the overall edge in their head-to-head, 3-2. Petra is capable of outhitting Kiki, though Bertens has groundstrokes that can push Kvitova deep and wide, taking her off the offensive. Both are two of the most confident players on tour right now, so this should be a good one. Neither woman has dropped a set so far this week. Kvitova is the defending champion, and comes into this on a seven-match win streak coming off her title in Stuttgart. However, I think Bertens is due for a win in this rivalry, and may rise to the occasion on this day.
Other Notable Matches on Thursday in Madrid:
- Novak Djokovic (1) vs. Jeremy Chardy. Chardy has never defeated Djokovic despite 12 tries, and never even taken a set.
- Rafael Nadal (2) vs. Frances Tiafoe. Rafa easily won their only previous meeting over an exhausted Tiafoe earlier this year in Melbourne.
- Roger Federer (4) vs. Gael Monfils (15). Federer owns a 9-3 advantage over Monfils.
- Kei Nishikori (6) vs. Stan Wawrinka. Wawrinka leads their head-to-head 6-4. All of those matches were on hard courts except for their first back in 2012, which Stan won in straight sets.
- Sascha Zverev (3) vs. Hubert Hurkacz (Q). This will be the first meeting between these two 22-year-olds.
- Naomi Osaka (1) vs. Belinda Bencic. Bencic upset Osaka earlier this year in Indian Wells.
- Simona Halep (3) vs. Ash Barty (9). Barty defeated Halep in January at Brisbane, though Halep was just returning from injury at the time. And clay should greatly favor Simona, who won 6-0, 6-0 yesterday, claiming 48 of 60 points played.
- Sloane Stephens (8) vs. Petra Martic. Stephens took out Martic in two tiebreak sets at this year’s Australian Open.
