Madrid, here’s the draw: Djokovic and Nadal together, Sinner with Tsitsipas and Zverev

Nobody is missing, or rather, almost nobody. In fact, there are 8 Top 10 who will attend Spain at the fourth Masters 1000 of the season, the Mutua Madrid Open. The only illustrious absentees are Daniil Medvedev and Matteo Berrettini, both still stuck in the pits due to their respective interventions during the week of the Miami Open.

The big ones

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A challenging upper part even for the most experienced champions the one drawn in Spain, in which there are decidedly close names such as those of Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal. Fresh from elimination in the first round in the Monte Carlo tournament and from perhaps even more scorching defeat against Andrey Rublev in the final of the Serbia Open, the number 1 in the world is preparing for his second appearance in a 1000, with just eight games on his shoulders from early season. For the Serbian champion, who will benefit from a bye in the first round, on his debut there will be one between the Frenchman Gael Monfils and the wild card Carlos Gimeno Valero. For clay ace Rafa Nadal this is the first tournament after the rib injury in Indian Wells. Awaiting him will be an important test on his debut with the winner of the match between Miomir Kecmanovic and Alexandr Bublik. In the lower part of the draw, the top seed is covered by the German number 3 in the world Alexander Zverev, who awaits one between Marin Cilic and Albert Ramos Vinolas. No less demanding was Stefanos Tsitsipas’ first, who in all probability will have to contend with the Russian Karen Khachanov, clearly favored over Pouille in the initial round.

Italians

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While waiting to find out the outcome of the qualifiers, in which Lorenzo Musetti is involved (he made his debut at 11 against the Japanese Nishioka), there are three blues on the draw: Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini. The South Tyrolean, no. 12, drawn in the lower part of the board, will face the American Tommy Paul in the first round. For Jannik, a clash in the quarter-finals with the German Alexander Zverev is likely, just as happened in Monte Carlo. For Lorenzo Sonego from Turin, on the other hand, if he were to pass the first test with the Wild Card Draper, he would face a complex challenge with the Russian Andrey Rublev in the second round. Finally, in the upper part of the board, the Ligurian Fabio Fognini will inaugurate his campaign against the Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili and then find, if successful, the young home talent Carlos Alcaraz.