Scouting Report: Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal compete in Madrid | ATP Tour

Scouting Report

Scouting Report: Alcaraz, Sinner and Nadal compete in Madrid

A detailed summary of this week’s action

April 22, 2024

Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Rafael Nadal compete at the Mutua Madrid Open.
By ATPTour.com/es Staff

The clay season continues at the Caja Mágica, where the world’s biggest stars will battle for the fourth ATP Masters 1000 title of the season at the Mutua Madrid Open.

The champion of the last two editions Carlos Alcaraz will try to complete a triplet in the Spanish capital, where five-time winner Rafael Nadal will continue his return. Top seed Jannik Sinner can close the gap on Novak Djokovic in the battle for No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings.

ATPTour.com reviews 10 details to follow on the Madrid clay.

1) Alcaraz is looking for three consecutive ones: Alcaraz will try to become the first player to win three titles in a row in the Spanish capital. The Murcian, who will start as second seed against Alexander Shevchenko or Arthur Rinderknech, has not competed since Miami in March due to an injury to his right arm. Carlos has won seven of his 13 titles on the clay circuit, five of them in the ATP Masters 1000 category.

2) Nadal extends his return: The five-time Madrid champion continues his return to the clay courts. At 37 years old, the Spaniard returned to the circuit last week in Barcelona, ​​where he defeated Flavio Cobolli before losing to the Australian Alex de Miñaur in two sets. Nadal will debut against American guest Darwin Blanch.

3) Sinner heads the table: Jannik Sinner leads the tour with three titles in 2024, including his first Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open and his second ATP Masters 1000 trophy in Miami. The Italian would move within 330 points of world No. 1 Novak Djokovic if he wins his third Masters 1000 crown in Madrid. However, Jannik has never managed to display his best level in the Spanish capital, falling in the second round of 2021 and in the third round of 2022.

4) Ruud and Tsitsipas arrive in shape: Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas arrive in Madrid after playing the final in Barcelona. Ruud avenged his recent loss in the Monte Carlo final against Tsitsipas in the Spanish city, where he beat the Greek to lift his first ATP 500 crown. Tsitsipas is 10-1 on European clay this season, while Ruud has lifted an 11-2 record on the surface in 2024.

5) Will Medvedev and Rublev be able to find the level? Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev have yet to display their best tennis on clay this season. Medvedev lost in the third round in Monte Carlo, while Rublev lost in his first match in the Principality and Barcelona. Rublev’s best result in Madrid came in 2022, reaching the quarterfinals. Medvedev, who won his only clay cup in Rome last year, has twice reached the second round in the Spanish capital (2021, 2023).

6) Zverev knows the terrain: Alexander Zverev has often shone in Madrid, winning the title in 2018 and 2021 before reaching the final in 2022. The German, who has a record of 19-4 in the tournament, will debut against Borna Coric or an opponent from the phase previous.

7) Climbers in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin: Alex de Minaur, Grigor Dimitrov and Hubert Hurkacz are sixth, eighth and 10th, respectively, in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin. De Minaur, winner in Acapulco, reached the Monte Carlo quarterfinals weeks ago, while Dimitrov reached the final in Miami last month. Hurkacz captured his first ATP Tour trophy on clay in Estoril in early April. All of them will be looking for a great performance in Madrid to strengthen their chances of qualifying for the Nitto ATP Finals.

8) #NextGenATP stars in action: A total of eight #NextGenATP figures will compete during this fortnight in Madrid. Arthur Fils, No. 1 of the PIF ATP Live Race To Jeddah, will start against the Spanish #NextGenATP Martín Landaluce or Daniel Altmaier.

American Alex Michelsen will face Brazilian Joao Fonseca in the first round, while Czech Jakub Mensik will face Yannick Hanfmann. The Chinese guest Shang Juncheng will meet a player from the qualifying phase and the Frenchman Luca van Assche will meet Zizou Bergs. 16-year-old American Drawin Blanch will debut against five-time champion Nadal.

9) Local hopes: There are six Spaniards in the draw, not counting the previous phase. Alcaraz and Nadal are the biggest names, with No. 27 seed Alejandro Davidovich Fokina also in action. Jaume Munar will debut against Nuno Borges, Landaluce will play with Altmaier and Roberto Carballés Baena will start against Dominik Koepfer.

10) The doubles event begins in Madrid: The new doubles format, announced by ATP this month, will be tested on the ATP Tour for the first time in Madrid. The changes include a table of 32 couples that will have 16 places reserved for couples that enter with individual ranking. The doubles event will take place over five days in the second week (Tuesday to Saturday).