Top five men's singles players to watch at Madrid Open 2024

With Novak Djokovic pulling out, here are all the players to watch out for in men’s singles.

The Madrid Open kicked off its inaugural edition in 2002 as a hard court event and transitioned to clay courts in 2009. Rafael Nadal and fellow Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz have kept the Spanish flag flying in Madrid. Nadal has five titles at the event and Alcaraz has two. 

Alcaraz is in with a chance to make it three in a row at the Madrid Open 2024 after wins in 2022 and 2023, which is something no man has achieved in the history of the tournament. Nadal came close when he picked up the title in 2013 and 2014. Both Spaniards will be looking to do well in front of the home crowd at the Caja Magica and give them something to cheer about.

Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are the other two active players with multiple wins in Madrid to their name. Djokovic, a three-time champion, will not be participating at the Madrid Masters. Fellow tour veteran Andy Murray, who is nursing an ankle injury also won’t feature at the tournament.

With the main draw getting underway on 24th April, here are some of the top contenders to keep an eye on:

Men’s singles players to watch at Madrid Open 2024

Rafael Nadal

Rafael Nadal claimed the Madrid Open title in 2005 when it was played on hard courts and four times after the surface switch in 2010, 2013, 2014 and 2017. The Spaniard, who is in the midst of his final year on tour, is yet to make a significant impact this season.

However, it would be imprudent to dismiss the former World No. 1, especially when competing on his favoured surface.

Nadal will be eager for one last triumphant moment before retiring his racquet. While his sights are set on Roland Garros, a victory in Madrid could build just the momentum he needs heading into the Paris event.

Carlos Alcaraz

Carlos Alcaraz’s forearm injury made him withdraw from two back-to-back tournaments at Monte-Carlo and Barcelona. He was a two-time defending champion at Barcelona. Alcaraz enjoys a similar status at the Madrid Open, with two straight wins in 2022 and 2023.

Alcaraz has a lone title this year with a win at Indian Wells. The World No. 3 will be eager to get his hands on a second trophy this year. He will be one of the contenders for the title.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

Although Stefanos Tsitsipas is yet to clinch the Madrid Open title, his recent performances make him a top contender for the championship. The Greek player won the Monte Carlo Masters last week and reached the finals of the ATP 500 Barcelona Open, which concluded over the weekend.

He joined an elite group of players, including Rafael Nadal, Ilie Nastase and Bjorn Borg who have won a minimum of three titles in the Principality. Tsitsipas was a finalist at the ATP Masters 1000 Madrid in 2019 and reached the semifinals in 2022.

Alexander Zverev

Alexander Zverev, a multiple title holder is also in contention for the Madrid Open trophy, having won it in 2018 and 2021. The German has reached the semifinals four times this season and possesses the skills to excel on the big stage.

In 2022, Zverev reached the finals in Madrid but lost to Alcaraz and a similar outcome followed in 2023, this time in the Round of 16. Ranked World No. 5, Zverev is eager to claim the title and end his season’s title drought.

Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner has enjoyed an impressive season so far, winning all three finals he has reached. Although all his titles have come on hard courts, he did reach the semifinals in Monte-Carlo. However, Sinner has had limited success in Madrid, failing to advance beyond the fourth round at the last two editions he participated in.

The 2024 version of Sinner is markedly different from the player who last appeared in Madrid in 2022. Since then, he has clinched his maiden Grand Slam title, risen to World No. 2, and boasts an impressive record with 25 wins and only two losses this year.

If Sinner maintains his current form, there’s every reason he can secure a clay court Masters title and claim his second ATP 1000 title of the year after the Miami Open.

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