It’s one more step as Roland-Garros approaches. Five weeks before the big Paris meeting, the ATP and WTA circuits are stopping off in Madrid to compete in the Masters 1000 at the Caja Magica from Wednesday. On the men’s side, if Novak Djokovic preferred to give up, choosing to begin his rise to power in Rome the following week, all the best players in the world are present. Starting with world number two and winner of the first Grand Slam of the season in Australia: Jannik Sinner. The Italian, semi-finalist in Monte-Carlo at the beginning of April, will begin a tournament of this level for the first time in his career as the number one seed.
Facing him will be the two local stars: Carlos Alcaraz, double title holder whose start to the clay court season was hampered by a forearm injury, and the legend Rafael Nadal, who has started his comeback. -back from Barcelona last week. The Bull of Manacor will begin his tournament against the very young Darwin Blanch (16 years old, 1068th player in the world) before potentially meeting up with Alex De Minaur, his tormentor in Catalonia.
On the French side, eyes will once again be on Ugo Humbert, recent quarter-finalist in Monte-Carlo and French number one (14th in the world), Arthur Fils, who will start the tournament with the status of seed number 31, and towards the eternal Gaël Monfils. The 40th player in the world will start against the Italian Luciano Darderi before meeting Taylor Fritz in the event of victory for an explosive duel.
Among the women, the three-time winner of Roland-Garros Iga Swiatek will undoubtedly be revengeful. The boss of the circuit will seek her first title in Madrid, the only WTA 1,000 on clay missing from her record. Beaten by Aryna Sabalenka in the final in 2023, the Pole remains on the back of a failure in Stuttgart and a defeat against Elena Rybakina in the semi-final. Coco Gauff, Ons Jabeur, Maria Sakkari and the other big names in the top 10 will also be present in a tournament where the best French chance will be Caroline Garcia, seeded 21.
The Masters 1000 Madrid 2024 will be followed from Wednesday April 24 to Sunday May 5 from 11 a.m. on the various Eurosport channels.
