Carlos Alcaraz is back from injury to try to win a third consecutive Madrid Open this week, with Rafael Nadal also in Monday's draw, but top-ranked Novak Djokovic missing.
Alcaraz will be competing in his first European clay-court event of the season after skipping Monte Carlo and Barcelona because of🐓 a right arm injury. The 20-year-old Spaniard begins his title defence﷽ against Alexander Shevchenko or Arthur Rinderknech.
Nadal, a record five-time champion in Madrid, continues his comeback from injury by facing American wild-card Darwin Blanch in the first round. The 22-time Grand Slam champion will then meet 10th-seed Alex de Minaur if he advances.
Nadal lost to De 🍬Minaur in the second round at the Barcelona Op💫en last week in his first tournament in more than three months.
The 37-year-old Nadal last won the Madrid title🔯 in 2017, when he beat Dominic Thiem in the final.
Three-time champion Djokovic will not play for a second consecutive year in Madrid, reducing his൲ clay-court preparations for his French Open title defence.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner is still likely to have the Italian Open in Rome to hone his clay game in mid-May before the even𝓡t at Roland Garros starts on May 26.
Djokovic is yet to win a title this season after losing in the ♕semi-finals of Monte Carlo.🔯 He also skipped the Miami tournament in March.
Top-seeded Jannik Sinner, who beat Djokovic in the Australian Open final, will open his🅰 Madrid campaign against L🌄orenzo Sonego or a qualifier.
Casper Ruud, wh♉o won the Barcelona title, fac𒉰es Zhizhen Zhang or Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round.
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek and defending champion Aryna Sabalenka lead the women's field, with S🌌wiatek looking to win her first title at the clay-court tournament. She will also be out to capture a third consecuti♑ve French Open title.
After a first-round bye, Sꦏwiatek meets Wang Xiyu or Ana Bogdan. Sabalenka plays Elisabetta Cocciaretto or Magda Linette in the second round.
