The second clay-court ATP Masters 1000 event of the season will see the world’s best players compete at the Mutua Madrid Open, with World No.1 Novak Djokovic, Monte Carlo tiltist Stefanos Tsitsipas and Spaniards Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in action.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the tournament in the Spanish capital:

When is the Mutua Madrid Open?

The 2022 Mutua Madrid Open will be held from 1-8 May. The clay-court ATP Masters 1000 tournament, established in 2002, will take place at the Caja Magica in Madrid, Spain. The tournament director is Feliciano Lopez.

Who is playing at the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open?

The Mutua Madrid Open will feature Top 10 stars Djokovic, Tsitsipas, Casper Ruud, Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev, who is the reigning champion.

When is the draw for the Mutua Madrid Open?

The Monte-Carlo draw will be made on Friday 29 April at 6:30 p.m.

What is the schedule for the Mutua Madrid Open 1000 event?

* Qualifying: Saturday, 30 April – Sunday, 1 May at 11:00 a.m.
* Main Draw: Sunday, 1 May at 12:30 p.m. Monday, 2 May – Thursday, 5 May at 12:00 p.m., Friday, 6 May – Saturday, 7 May at 2:00 p.m., Sunday at 3:30 p.m.
* Doubles Final: Sunday, 8 May at 3:30 p.m.
* Singles Final: Sunday, 8 May at 6:30 p.m.
*View On Official Website

What is the prize money and points for the Mutua Madrid Open?

The prize money for the Mutua Madrid Open is €6,744,165 and the Total Financial Commitment is €7,499,290.

SINGLES
Winner: €1,041,570 / 1,000 points
Finalist: €568,790 / 600 points
Semi-finalist: €311,025/ 360 points
Quarter-finalist: €169,650 / 180 points
Round of 16: €90,745 / 90 points
Round of 32: €48,655 / 45 points
Round of 64: €26,960 / 10 points

DOUBLES ($ per team)
Winner: €319,570 / 1,000 points
Finalist: €173,600/ 600 points
Semi-finalist: €95,350 / 360 points
Quarter-finalist: €52,610 / 180 points
Round of 16: €28,930 / 90 points
Round of 32: €15,780 / 0 points

How can I watch the Mutua Madrid Open?

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How can I follow the Mutua Madrid Open?

Hashtag: #MMOPEN
Facebook: @mutuamadridopen
Twitter: @MutuaMadridOpen
Instagram: #MMOPEN

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Who won the last edition of the Mutua Madrid Open in 2021?

Alexander Zverev won the 2021 Mutua Madrid Open singles title with a 6-7(8), 6-4, 6-3 victory against Matteo Berrettini in the championship match (Read & Watch). Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos lifted the doubles trophy in Madrid with a 1-6, 6-3, 10-8 triumph against Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the final (Read More).

Who holds the Madrid record for most titles, oldest champion, youngest champion and more?

Most Titles, Singles: Rafael Nadal (5)
Most Titles, Doubles: Bob Bryan, Mike Bryan, Daniel Nestor (5)
Oldest Champion: Andre Agassi, 32, in 2002
Youngest Champion: Rafael Nadal, 19, in 2005
Highest-Ranked Champion: No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in 2003, Roger Federer in 2006, Rafael Nadal in 2014, Novak Djokovic in 2016, 2019
Lowest-Ranked Champion: No. 25 David Nalbandian in 2007
Last Home Champion: Rafael Nadal in 2017
Most Match Wins: Rafael Nadal (52)

View Who Is Playing, Past Champions, Seeds, Points & Prize Money Breakdown

Key Storylines

Record-Holder Rafa: Nadal has won a record five Madrid titles over the years, but his last triumph came back in 2017. The 35-year-old has not competed since American Taylor Fritz ended his perfect start to the season in Indian Wells in March. The World No. 4 will be seeking his fourth title of a standout season at the clay-court event.

Djokovic Finding Form: Three-time Madrid champ Novak Djokovic will compete in his fourth tournament of the season when he takes to court at the Masters 1000 event. The Serb, who lifted the trophy in the Spanish capital in his last appearance in 2019, played his way into form on home soil at the Serbia Open last week, earning hard-fought three-set wins over Laslo Djere, Miomir Kecmanovic and Karen Khachanov to reach his first final of the season.

Tsitsipas Aiming For Title No. 2: Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas will be aiming to win his second clay-court ATP Masters 1000 trophy of the season in Madrid, having successfully retained his Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters crown in April. The World No. 5 will be making his fourth appearance in the Spanish capital, with his best result a run to the final in 2019.

Red-Hot Alcaraz: The 18-year-old Alcaraz has broken new ground in 2022, becoming the youngest Miami men’s champion in the event’s 37-year history and the first teen to break into the Top 10 in the ATP Rankings since Andy Murray in 2007. The Spaniard will be looking to add a third title of the year to his CV on home soil in Madrid, after also clinching the trophy in Rio de Janeiro in February.

Reigning Champ Zverev: The 25-year-old has produced some of his best tennis in Madrid over the years, lifting the trophy in 2018 and 2021. The German, who defeated Matteo Berrettini in the championship match last year, is a five-time Masters 1000 champ and two-time Nitto ATP Finals victor, but he is still searching for his maiden trophy this year.

Ruud, Felix & Rublev Looking To Go Deep: The Top 10 members have all enjoyed strong starts to the 2022 season, winning four ATP Tour titles between them. Ruud, who triumphed in Buenos Aires, reached the semi-finals in Madrid last year, while Rotterdam champ Auger-Aliassime has never been beyond the second round in two previous appearances. Rublev, who lifted trophies in Marseille and Dubai in February and in Belgrade last week, enjoyed a run to the last eight in 2021.

Did You Know?
In 2009, the tournament switched to clay courts and moved to May after being play on indoor-hard in October from 2002-2008.

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina made a successful return on Wednesday in his first match since reaching the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters, clawing past fellow Spaniard Bernabe Zapata Miralles 6-3, 7-6(5) to reach the quarter-finals of the Millennium Estoril Open.

Davidovich Fokina made a dream run in Monte Carlo, where he stunned World No. 1 Novak Djokovic en route to his first ATP Masters 1000 final. Although he wasn’t quite as sharp in Portugal, his confidence showed in a one-hour, 57-minute victory.

“Bernabe is a tough player. He played flat balls and on clay it’s tough to play against him. In the second set he had chances to win the set and I was just there to focus on every point just to create some pressure [for] him,” Davidovich Fokina said. “I’m happy for the win.”

Zapata Miralles, who had already won three matches at the event, including two in qualifying, made his countryman work hard and held a 5/3 lead in the second-set tie-break. But Davidovich Fokina, whose trademark drop shot was not as precise as usual throughout the match, remained calm and was the more consistent player in the big moments.

The fourth seed earned seven service breaks and will next play fifth seed Frances Tiafoe or Portuguese wild card Nuno Borges. If Davidovich Fokina wins, he will move into his third semi-final in Estoril in his third appearance at the ATP 250.

Holger Rune has impressed so far in his young career on the ATP Tour, but the 18-year-old took things to another level on Wednesday in Munich.

The #NextGenATP Dane produced a high-class all-court performance against top seed Alexander Zverev at the BMW Open by American Express, breaking the big-serving German four times on his way to a stunning 6-3, 6-2 victory at the ATP 250 event.

“It was a difficult match from the beginning,” said Rune in his on-court interview. “He’s in the top three in the world and has been playing some unbelievable tennis, especially in the past year winning so many big titles. I have a lot of respect for him, and I obviously didn’t expect to win in two sets, and with a score like this. But it was a really hard match, we played a lot of rallies and I’m really happy about my performance today.”

Rune has shown glimpses of his talent in 2022, winning his opening match in four of his past five tour-level events before arriving in Munich. He had yet to win consecutive ATP Tour matches this year, however he changed that in style in Germany by completing straight-sets wins over Jiri Lehecka and top-seeded Zverev.

“I love this tournament,” added Rune. “It’s a bit at altitude, it’s similar conditions to Denmark, so I’m really happy to be here.”

The win over the German is the biggest of Rune’s career and his first over a Top 10 opponent at the fourth attempt. Prior to Wednesday’s loss, home favourite Zverev had not failed to reach the quarter-finals in Munich in his past five appearances, a streak that included lifting back-to-back trophies in the Bavarian city in 2017 and 2018.

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Rune was dialled in from the start at the Iphitos Tennis Club, surging to a 4-2 lead in the opening set as he measured a series of drop shots from deep to perfection, pulling his opponent around the court. Although Zverev found his feet after a slow start, Rune fended off two break points before converting his sixth set point in a marathon ninth game to take the set.

An early break in the second set piled the pressure on Zverev and Rune appeared unaffected by the prospect of taking out the top seed. The Dane continued to draw Zverev forward to great effect with his drop shot and struck the ball cleanly off both wings from deep as the German struggled to find his rythym, with Rune breaking again before serving out for a one-hour, 40-minute victory.

“I enjoyed it,” said Rune as he addressed the crowd. “Obviously it was tough, especially the first set when we played lots of long rallies. It was really exhausting but I tried to give the audience a great match because Zverev is an unbelievable player, so thank you very much for the support.”

Rune’s success was based on his ability to counter his opponent’s serve, one of the most feared on the ATP Tour. The Dane won 47 per cent (17/36) of return points against the Zverev first delivery in the match, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Rune’s next opponent will be Emil Ruusuvuori, after the unseeded Finn defeated Maxime Cressy, 6-3, 6-3. World No. 63 Ruusuvuori broke the American four times in a 76-minute victory to reach a first tour-level quarter-final since his run to the championship match in Pune in February.

Miomir Kecmanovic earlier made it to a sixth consecutive ATP Tour quarter-final with a 6-2, 6-4 win over home favourite Daniel Altmaier. Kecmanovic’s strong form has included runs to the last eight at the ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami, and the Serb held his nerve in a topsy-turvy second set featuring five breaks of serve to record his 21st win of the season against the No. 67-ranked German.

Kecmanovic’s next opponent will be a player who is unbeaten on the Munich clay, defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili. The World No. 20 has struggled for form in 2022 and was taken the distance by Ilya Ivashka on Wednesday, but the Georgian claimed a crucial break in the opening game of the deciding set that was enough to set up the win and extend his winning record at the event to 6-0.

The first-round action was also completed on Wednesday, with Alejandro Tabilo prevailing in an all-Chilean battle with 2019 champion Cristian Garin. Tabilo’s 6-3, 6-4 victory gives him a 2-1 ATP Head2Head lead over his countryman, with the World No. 91 also prevailing in the pair’s previous meeting at their home tournament in Santiago in February.

Eighth seed Botic van de Zandschulp booked his second-round spot with a 7-6(3), 6-3 win over #NextGenATP American Brandon Nakashima. Both players were making their debut in Munich, but it was World No. 40 Van de Zandschulp who prevailed in a hard-fought 94-minute clash. He next faces qualifier Egor Gerasimov, who beat Australian John Millman, 4-6, 6-2, 6-2.

The tennis world is mourning the loss of Kristijan Schneider, former coach of Croatian Borna Coric, who has passed away aged 41.

“Rest in peace my friend and my coach. I was blessed to have you in my life,” wrote former World No. 12 Coric in tribute to his countryman on Twitter.

Schneider, also known as “Kiki”, had been battling abdominal cancer. Those involved in a fundraising effort to support his treatment included Italian World No. 197 Thomas Fabbiano and Gilles Cervara, coach of World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev.

Another Croatian, WTA star Ana Konjuh, paid tribute to Schneider on Instagram. “I’m lost for words. Until we meet again, save me a hug up there. Rest in peace Kiki,” wrote the 24-year-old. Schneider also had a stint working on the WTA Tour as coach of Serbian Olga Danilovic.

ATP World No. 29 Frances Tiafoe added his own tribute in response to Konjuh’s post. “Had nothing but love and respect for you Kiki,” wrote the American. “Thankful for our friendship.”

Rest in peace my friend and my coach.
I was blessed to have you in my life ❤️ pic.twitter.com/e2gi9tSFYs

— borna coric (@borna_coric) April 26, 2022

 

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A post shared by Ana Konjuh (@anakonjuh)

Maxime Cressy arrived at the BMW Open by American Express on a seven-match losing streak on the ATP Tour, but the American’s serve-and-volley tactics came good against sixth seed Daniel Evans in Munich on Tuesday.

Cressy enjoyed a breakthrough start to 2022 when he reached a maiden tour-level final at the Melbourne Summer Set before falling to Rafael Nadal and made the fourth round of the Australian Open, but the 24-year-old has struggled to back up that run since. Prior to Tuesday the World No. 65 had not won a tour-level match since January, but he showed no signs of a lack of confidence against Evans in damp conditions in Bavaria as he broke the Briton four times on his way to an 81-minute 6-4, 6-4 victory at the ATP 250 event.

“I feel very happy, especially after those two tough months for me,” Cressy said post-match. “I got my confidence back before the tournament. I was very well prepared mentally. I even travelled on my own to really get the confidence back and to be with myself, and it’s great to know that it paid off right away.”

“It was definitely a tough two months, but I’ve lived these moments before and I know how to handle them. The best way to handle them is to get my confidence back through meditation and through my routines… I’m very proud of myself.”

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Play resumed on Tuesday afternoon after rain forced a suspension with Cressy leading 2-0 on Monday evening. A back-and-forth opening set saw four further breaks of serve, but It was the unseeded American who crucially broke to love in the 10th game to forge ahead. Both players were more resolute behind their delivery in the second set, which appeared destined for a tie-break with Evans leading 40/15 on his own serve when 4-5 down. Cressy had other ideas, firing a pair of searing return winners to break and clinch his maiden tour-level victory on clay at the third attempt.

Cressy’s second-round opponent will be World No. 63 Emil Ruusuvuori. The Finn ran out a 6-3, 6-2 winner in the pair’s sole previous tour-level meeting at the Miami Open presented by Itau in March.

“I’m obviously expecting a very tough opponent on the baseline,” Cressy previewed. “He hits his groundies very well on both sides. I’m going to expect a very tough match and just focus on being very efficient on my serve games and what I can control.”

Persistent rain delayed play in Bavaria and only four matches were completed in a reduced schedule, but there was still time for home favourite Oscar Otte to complete a quickfire 6-1, 6-2 win over 18-year-old Serb Marko Topo. The No. 2-ranked German Otte is making his debut at the Munich event, and his second-round opponent will be third seed Reilly Opelka.

Hugo Gaston also enjoyed a successful first appearance at the Iphitos Tennis Club, but the Frenchman was made to dig deep before completing a 6-4, 6-7(4), 7-5 win over Marcos Giron. There were just two breaks of serve across a two-hour, 32-minute clash but both went the way of Gaston, who next faces the winner of the all-Chilean first-round matchup between Alejandro Tabilo and 2019 champion Cristian Garin.

Ilya Ivashka advanced to a second-round meeting with defending champion Nikoloz Basilashvili after the World No. 44 defeated Mackenzie McDonald, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. It is the second year in a row the pair has met in Munich, with Ivashka also prevailing against the American in three sets at the second-round stage in 2021.

Dominic Thiem grew into his opening-round match Tuesday at the Millennium Estoril Open, but World No. 58 Benjamin Bonzi was up to the challenge as he saved three set points in a second-set tie-break to advance, 6-3, 7-6(9). 

The Austrian former World No. 3 was competing in just his second ATP Tour event of the 2022 season after recovering from a right-wrist tear he sustained last June. After a loss in a Marbella ATP Challenger Tour event and three-set defeat last week against John Millman at the Serbia Open, Thiem was seeking the first victory of his return.

That seemed unlikely after an error-strewn opening set in which Thiem battled through three lengthy service games and won only four points on the return. But after saving a break point in his second service game of the second stanza, Thiem found his footing as he began to dominate on serve to force a tie-break against the Frenchman.

In a dramatic tie-break, Thiem saved a match point on serve at 5-6 then had three chances to send it into a decider, including one on serve. But the Austrian could not find the decisive stroke in several rallies, and Bonzi ultimately took the initiative to close the match out by winning the last three points.

Bonzi did not face a break point in the match and protected his delivery well behind a 79 and 70 per cent win rate on first and second serves, respectively. The 25-year-old entered Estoril at a career-high ATP Ranking of No. 58 after qualifying for Monte Carlo. His two best results of 2022 came in consecutive February weeks on home soil: After winning an ATP Challenger Tour title in Cherbourg, he reached the semi-finals of the ATP 250 in Marseille, where he took a set off eventual champion Andrey Rublev.

The Frenchman next faces eighth seed Sebastian Korda, after the American closed Tuesday’s play with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Frances’s Pierre-Hugues Herbert.

“He’s a difficult opponent; you never know what you’re going to get out of him,” Korda said of Herbert. “He serve-and-volleys, plays well from the back. So it’s very difficult. I’m very happy with the way I played today, a great match for me.”

Assessing his 2022 season on the whole, which includes a Delray Beach quarter-final and a three-set battle with Rafael Nadal in Indian Wells, Korda added: “The year’s been good so far. I’m learning a lot, having a lot of close, tight matches. I’m just trying to take the next step now, just staying patient and working hard, and it’ll come.”

His match against Bonzi will be the first ATP Head2Head meeting between the pair, though Korda won a 7-6(5), 7-6(1) semi-final in a Quimper Challenger last January — an event he went on to win.

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Another unseeded Frenchman, Richard Gasquet, scored a Tuesday upset against seventh-seeded American Tommy Paul. After his 7-5, 6-2 victory, the 35-year-old will face Hugo Dellien in the second round. The Bolivian qualifier was a 6-3, 6-3 winner over Jiri Vesely earlier in the day.

Spain’s Albert Ramos-Vinolas also advanced on Tuesday with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 result over Aussie Jordan Thompson. He’ll face Soonwoo Kwon in the second round after the South Korean defeated Benoit Paire, 6-4, 7-5, on Monday.

Novak Djokovic fell short in the Serbia Open final on Sunday against Andrey Rublev, but the World No. 1 still enjoyed a feel-good moment after the match.

Djokovic welcomed former team members Marian Vajda, Milan Amanovic and Gebhard Gritsch for a special commemoration of their work together. Nikola Cilic, whose academy Djokovic trained at as a junior, was also on court.

“We have achieved a lot together,” Djokovic said according to a press release. “I wanted to celebrate that and this was an ideal opportunity.”

In March, Djokovic announced that he had split with Vajda, who had worked with him since 2006. The Slovakian spoke to the Belgrade crowd.

“I thank Nole for the past 15 years. I’ve enjoyed everything most of the time. Half of the time,” Vajda joked. “Secondly, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Djokovic family who selected me at the beginning of Novak’s career and I also thank my family for their support… I’ll always be by Novak’s side at key moments and when key decisions are made. Thank you all very much.”