- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Friday, March 29, 2024
- Elena Rybakina Edges Into Second Miami Open Final
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Thursday, March 28, 2024
- Novak Djokovic Splits with Coach Goran Ivanisevic
- Ricky’s picks for Thursday in Miami, including Alcaraz and Zverev
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Wednesday, March 27, 2024
- Alcaraz makes quick work of Musetti, Sinner and Dimitrov also win in Miami
- Victoria Azarenka Advances to Miami Open Semifinals
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Tuesday, March 26, 2024
- Andy Murray Out for “Extended Period” with Ankle Injury
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Monday, March 25, 2024
- Ricky’s picks for Monday in Miami, including Alcaraz vs. Monfils
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Sunday, March 24, 2024
- Ankle Injury Forces Tommy Paul to Retire in Miami
- Miami Open Draws and Schedule for Saturday, March 23, 2024
Mutua Madrid Open draw: Djokovic, Nadal, and Alcaraz all in top half
- Updated: April 29, 2022
By Ricky Dimon
The Mutua Madrid Open draw ceremony was held on Friday evening and the field is loaded with Rafael Nadal back in action and Novak Djokovic able to play.
Both Djokovic and Nadal find themselves in a stacked top half of the bracket that also includes Miami and Barcelona champion Carlos Alcaraz. Nadal vs. Alcaraz is a potential all-Spanish quarterfinal showdown, with the winner possibly to battle Djokovic in the semis. Of course, neither Spaniard will be looking that far ahead. Nadal’s opening match is likely to come against a red-hot Miomir Kecmanovic, while Alcaraz could run into either Cameron Norrie or John Isner in the last 16.
Djokovic can expect to see Gael Monfils in his opener before potentially meeting Denis Shapovalov, Andy Murray, or Dominic Thiem in round three. Murray vs. Thiem is one of the more intriguing first-round matchups. Casper Ruud is the other top eight seed in Djokovic’s section.
The bottom half of the draw is far less daunting, which could be just what the doctor ordered for Alexander Zverev. Although Zverev’s results dating back to late February are underwhelming, it’s not like he needs any help in Madrid. The third-ranked German is the defending champion and has won the title in two of the last three years (not including 2020, when the tournament was canceled). Zverev could go up against either Reilly Opelka or Sebastian Korda in the third round followed by a possible quarterfinal date with Felix Auger-Aliassime.
Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Andrey Rublev is the other projected quarterfinal based on seeding. Indian Wells winner Taylor Fritz could have something to say about that if he faces Rublev in the round of 16. The start of Tsitsipas’ path through the bracket could be Karen Khachanov and then Diego Schwartzman.
In addition to Murray-Thiem, other first-round matches to watch are Opelka vs. Korda, Fritz vs. Jenson Brooksby, Jannik Sinner vs. Tommy Paul, and Pablo Carreno Busta and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.