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The draw has been made for the Madrid Open. And I must say, I’m pleased to see a tournament full of the big names once again. Both Djokovic and Nadal are competing in the second clay-court Masters event of the 2022 season. Believe it or not, this is the first tournament of the 2022 season where both guys are competing at the same time. But beyond these guys, we’ve also got Carlos Alcaraz, Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and many others.
Historically, the Madrid Open has always been a fun one to watch. Of course, it is a very important tournament for many reasons – not only for the points but also to see which players are finding form ahead of the French Open. And below, I’ve shared my analysis of the men’s draw by identifying three mouthwatering prospects this year!
What Games to Lookout for in the Madrid Open 2022
Contents
As I stated previously, the draw has been made now. It was released yesterday evening, and there are some very intriguing matchups that could occur this year. Without wasting any time, let me discuss these prospects right now:
Round of 32 Potential Matchup – Djokovic vs Monfils
As we all know, Djokovic is still in the process of making his comeback to the ATP Tour. In Monte Carlo, he really did seem a shadow of his former self, losing to Davidovich-Fokina in three sets. But in Belgrade, there were strong signs that the old Djokovic was coming back to the tour. However, in the Madrid Open, should Monfils squeeze through his opening round, it will be a Djokovic vs Monfils showdown.
Yet again, this isn’t exactly a great draw for Djokovic in all honesty. Monfils is a very dangerous player on his day, and he is pretty handy on a clay court. While I expect Djokovic to pull through this match, it could well be a battle!
Potential Quarter-Final – Nadal vs Alcaraz
Of all the possible games that could occur prior to the semi-finals in Madrid, this is the one that everyone is talking about. Nadal is coming back to the tour after sustaining a rib fracture in Indian Wells. And as for Carlos Alcaraz, well, he almost needs no introduction these days. He is now a top 10 player, he has won three titles this year, and many have tipped him to be a multiple Grand Slam champion.
As fate would have it, the Madrid Open is where these guys first played each other on the professional stage. On his 18th birthday, Alcaraz received a clay court lesson during the 2021 Madrid Masters from Nadal. But should they meet this year, the result could be very different.
Murray vs Thiem – A Classic First Round
Finally, I had to list this first-round clash. Andy Murray is a veteran of the tour these days. And prior to his injury, he was one of the ‘big four’. As for Dominic Thiem, again, prior to his injury, he was regarded as one of the best clay-court players in the game. Murray is also a fantastic clay court player on his day, however. So when these guys battle in the opening round, I feel it could be a fantastic game to watch!
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