The first joint ATP/WTA 1000 event of the clay season is underway in Madrid. Thursday features first round ATP matches, and second round WTA action.
In the absence of Novak Djokovic, who withdrew from Madrid for “non-medical reasons,” Italy’s Jannik Sinner is the top seed at a Masters 1000 event for the first time in his career. He is joined atop the ATP singles draw by two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. But on Thursday, five-time champ Rafael Nadal is the headliner, as he plays his first match at the Madrid Open in two years, and just his sixth match across the past 15 months.
Three-time Roland Garros champion Iga Swiatek is the top seed in the women’s singles draw , though she’s yet to win this event. Iga lost in the final a year ago to the second seed, Aryna Sabalenka, who has won this tournament twice within the last three years. But the WTA’s hottest player right now is Elena Rybakina, coming off her third title of the season last week in Stuttgart, where she beat Swiatek in the semifinals.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Thursday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Naomi Osaka vs. Liudmila Samsonova (15) – Not Before 12:30pm on Manolo Santana Stadium
It feels quite odd seeing Osaka compete on anything but a hard court. This is only her 43rd main draw WTA match on this surface. She’s been open regarding how uncomfortable she feels on clay, evident in her 4-6 record since 2020. On Tuesday, Naomi won her first clay court match since this same event in 2022, defeating Greet Minnen 6-4, 6-1.
Samsonova is currently a top 20 player, but has performed far from that level in 2024, with a record of just 4-9 on the year. She arrives in Madrid on a four-match losing streak, with one of those losses coming against Osaka, last month in Indian Wells. And like Naomi, clay is not Liudmila’s strongest surface, as she owns a losing record on clay in her career.
Osaka’s 7-5, 6-3 victory last month in Indian Wells is their only prior encounter. And with Samsonova currently lacking in confidence, I like Naomi’s chances of earning back-to-back wins on clay for the first time since 2019.
Darwin Blanch (WC) vs. Rafael Nadal (PR) – Not Before 5:00pm on Manolo Santana Stadium
Nadal is 54-11 lifetime at his home country’s biggest tournament, where during one span he reached the final in nine out of 11 years. But sadly the current version of Rafa is far from that level, as his physical limitations have only allowed him to play three events since January of 2023. When speaking to the press on Wednesday, he expressed continued frustration regarding his injuries, and doubts regarding whether he will compete at Roland Garros.
Last week in Barcelona, he defeated Flavio Cobolli in straight sets, before losing to Alex de Minaur in straights after a highly-competitive first sets. His opponent on Thursday in Madrid is a 16-year-old American who trains alongside Carlos Alcaraz at the Juan Carlos Ferrero Academy. Much is expected of Darwin Blanch, though this is just his second ATP-level match. Last month in Miami, he lost his first to Tomas Machac.
In what could easily be Nadal’s last appearance in the Madrid Open, Rafa is a slight favorite against the relatively unknown and untested newcomer. Blanch has a big game, but stepping onto a clay court against The King of Clay is one of tennis’ most intimidating premises, regardless of Nadal’s current form. And Rafa will of course have a loud and passionate stadium full of Spaniards behind him.
Other Notable Matches on Thursday:
Donna Vekic vs. Maria Sakkari (5) – Sakkari is now 11-3 since hiring David Witt as her new coach, and advanced to the semifinals last year in Madrid. Vekic is a modest 10-8 this season, but is 6-3 lifetime against Sakkari at all levels.
Coco Gauff (3) vs. Arantxa Rus – While Gauff is 19-6 on the year, she’s just 3-3 in Madrid, and has never been beyond the third round. This is her first meeting with Rus, who defeated Brenda Fruhvirtova in straight sets on Tuesday.
Iga Swiatek (1) vs. Xiyu Wang – Swiatek is 26-4 in 2024, with two WTA titles (Doha, Indian Wells). Xiyu was a finalist earlier this year in Austin, and survived an over three-hour three-setter in the first round over Ana Bogdan.
Thursday’s full Order of Play is here.
