Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: World No. 1 Jannik Sinner will headline the Madrid Open as he sets his sights on a fifth consecutive ATP Masters 1000 title, with the draw for the prestigious clay-court event unveiled. The Italian, who has been in dominant form across the Masters circuit, will open his campaign against a qualifier. If he progresses as expected, he could run into Canada’s Gabriel Diallo in the third round. Further challenges may come from Tommy Paul in the fourth round, while Alex de Minaur looms as a potential quarter-final opponent.
De Minaur’s section, however, features a mix of emerging and experienced players. Brazil’s Joao Fonseca and Spain’s rising prospect Rafael Jodar are both placed in the same quarter. Jodar, just 19, arrives in Madrid on the back of strong performances, including a title in Marrakech and a semi-final showing in Barcelona, and could face De Minaur in the second round if he gets past Jesper de Jong. Fonseca, meanwhile, begins against either Zizou Bergs or former US Open champion Marin Cilic.
Looking deeper into Sinner’s potential route, the semi-final stage could pit him against a formidable trio comprising Ben Shelton, Lorenzo Musetti or Arthur Fils. Shelton and Fils both arrive in red-hot form after title-winning runs in Munich and Barcelona, respectively, and are projected to meet as early as the fourth round. Musetti, last year’s semi-finalist in Madrid, opens against either Hubert Hurkacz or a qualifier, with possible later clashes against Jiri Lehecka or Jack Draper. Sinner’s recent dominance has been remarkable, having lifted Masters titles in Paris, Indian Wells, Miami and Monte-Carlo.
