The
Madrid Open will continue on Wednesday with the ATP tournament seeing four ties to decide who will reach the Quarter-Finals.
Already confirmed is Francisco Cerundolo, the Argentinian clay king facing Jakub Mensik, the Miami Champion. While Casper Ruud tangles with Daniil Medvedev. It is the other side of the draw today with
Jack Draper,
Alex de Minaur among others aiming to reach the latter stages. Our
Preview looks into all of the ties ahead.
Frances Tiafoe v Matteo Arnaldi - American showman v Djokovic conqueror
The first match of the day at around midday is
Frances Tiafoe taking on Matteo Arnaldi. It sees the American showman aiming to fly the flag alongside Tommy Paul for his nation take on the Novak Djokovic conqueror.
It is the second time they will face off. Their only previous meeting came at Wimbledon back in 2024 when Tiafoe came back from two sets down to prevail 6-7(5), 2-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-3.
The rematch sees neither in spectacular form but both seem to have hit lightning in the bottle this week. Tiafoe finished runner-up in Houston so has some clay court form this season. He has seen off Luciano Darderi and Alexandre Muller in straight sets.
Arnaldi upset Novak Djokovic having seen off also Borna Coric and Damir Dzumhur. The latter perhaps in bizarre circumstances as it was just before the blackout and technically his result was not confirmed until later that day despite winning. Albeit he perhaps holds the edge as Italian's are more adept to clay and given the confidence he takes from this week it is very much one he will expect to win.
Match Info:
Frances Tiafoe - Matteo Arnaldi
Start time (local):
Wed, 30 Apr, 1:00 PM
Start time (your time):
Wed, 30 Apr, 7:00 PM
Court:
Arantxa Sanchez Stadium
Tournament:
Mutua Madrid Open
Round:
Round of 16
Head-to-Head
|
Tiafoe |
Arnaldi |
Total Wins |
1 |
0 |
Win Streak |
1 |
0 |
Official Ranking |
17 |
44 |
Race Ranking |
42 |
62 |
Live Ranking |
16 (+1) |
42 (+2) |
Live Race Ranking |
37 (+6) |
56 (+12) |
Age |
27 (20 Jan 1998) |
24 (22 Feb 2001) |
Birthplace |
Hyattsville, Maryland, US |
Sanremo, Italy |
Residence |
Orlando, Florida, US |
- |
Height |
6'2" (188cm) |
- |
Weight |
190lbs (86kg) |
- |
Plays |
Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Turned Pro |
2015 |
- |
Coach |
David Witt (July 2024-), |
Alessandro Petrone |
YTD W/L |
10-9 (53%) |
10-9 (53%) |
YTD Titles |
- |
- |
Career Titles |
3 |
0 |
Prize Money |
US $13,474,884 - 62nd all-time in earnings |
$3,513,918 |
F Tiafoe d M Arnaldi
Wimbledon - Round of 128
6-7 | 2-6 | 6-1 | 6-3 | 6-3
1 Jul 2024
|
Jack Draper v Tommy Paul - Brilliant Brit aims to continue run on less preferred surface
Jack Draper has called clay his least preferred surface and the same could probably ring true for Tommy Paul, but both have made superb strides this week to reach the Last 16.
Draper and Paul will be facing off for the sixth time in their careers when they battle for a spot in the Quarter-Finals. The Head-to-Head stands 3-2 in favour of Draper who is 3-1 against Paul on outdoor hard courts and 0-1 on grass with their last meeting coming on Draper's main surface.
Draper has had a superb year winning Indian Wells and has been red hot since his loss to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the Monte-Carlo Masters. Paul has also had a great year but since reaching the Australian Open Quarter-Finals and Dallas semi-finals, it has not been as easy. He beat Joao Fonseca in two tiebreakers and Karen Khachanov in three sets. Draper has defeated Tallon Griekspoor in straight sets and then got a retirement from Matteo Berrettini last round.
Paul has the more experience on clay and results but beating a man in form like Draper will be a tricky beast.
Match Info:
Jack Draper - Tommy Paul
Start time (local):
Wed, 30 Apr, 4:00 PM
Start time (your time):
Wed, 30 Apr, 10:00 PM
Court:
Manolo Santana Stadium
Tournament:
Mutua Madrid Open
Round:
Round of 16
Head-to-Head
|
Draper |
Paul |
Total Wins |
3 |
2 |
Win Streak |
0 |
1 |
Official Ranking |
6 |
12 |
Race Ranking |
4 |
15 |
Live Ranking |
6 |
11 (+1) |
Live Race Ranking |
4 |
15 (-1) |
Age |
23 (22 Dec 2001) |
27 (17 May 1997) |
Birthplace |
London, England, UK |
- |
Residence |
London, England, UK |
- |
Height |
6'2" (188cm) |
6'0" (185cm) |
Weight |
165lbs (75kg) |
181lbs (82kg) |
Plays |
Left-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Right |
Turned Pro |
- |
2015 |
Coach |
James Trotman (2021–present) |
- |
YTD W/L |
15-3 (83%) |
17-6 (74%) |
YTD Titles |
1 |
- |
Career Titles |
3 |
- |
Prize Money |
US $6,788,612 |
- |
T Paul d J Draper
ATP London - Quarterfinal
6-3 | 5-7 | 6-4
21 Jun 2024
|
J Draper d T Paul
ATP Acapulco - Round of 32
|
T Paul d J Draper
Australian Open - Round of 64
6-2 | 3-6 | 6-3 | 7-5
18 Jan 2024
|
J Draper d T Paul
ATP Adelaide - Quarterfinal
|
J Draper d T Paul
ATP Adelaide 2 - Round of 16
|
Grigor Dimitrov v Gabriel Diallo - Veteran Bulgarian faces rising Canadian
Gabriel Diallo has had one of the best tournaments of his career thus far in Madrid. He fell to Borna Coric in the final round of qualifying but as ever, this lucky loser position gives a new lease of life. He got into the main draw when Yoshihito Nishioka withdrew.
After dismissing Zizou Bergs, he faced a lucky loser as a result of Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing late from the tournament and then saw off Kamil Majchrzak 7-5, 4-6, 6-4. He then saw off resurgent Brit, Cameron Norrie 2-6, 6-4, 6-4.
But Grigor Dimitrov is a different beast. With murmurings of his new Hollywood girlfriend in the stands, Dimitrov has a new impetus and guile to win. He has been in fine form when he is healthy. That is a big but. He reached the semi-finals in Brisbane and Miami as well as the Quarter-Finals in Monte-Carlo. He appears to be better in Madrid and is thriving as a result. He has seen off Nicolas Jarry and Jacob Fearnley and will be favourite to book a Quarter-Final meeting with Alex de Minaur v
Lorenzo Musetti, the last tie.
Match Info:
Grigor Dimitrov - Gabriel Diallo
Start time (local):
Wed, 30 Apr, 7:30 PM
Start time (your time):
Thu, 1 May, 1:30 AM
Court:
Arantxa Sanchez Stadium
Tournament:
Mutua Madrid Open
Round:
Round of 16
Head-to-Head
|
Dimitrov |
Diallo |
Total Wins |
0 |
0 |
Win Streak |
0 |
0 |
Official Ranking |
16 |
78 |
Race Ranking |
25 |
85 |
Live Ranking |
15 (+1) |
65 (+13) |
Live Race Ranking |
24 (+1) |
71 (+27) |
Age |
33 (16 May 1991) |
23 (24 Sep 2001) |
Birthplace |
Haskovo, Bulgaria |
Montreal, Canada |
Residence |
Monte Carlo, Monaco |
- |
Height |
6'3" (191cm) |
- |
Weight |
179lbs (81kg) |
- |
Plays |
Right (one-handed backhand) |
Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Turned Pro |
2008 |
- |
Coach |
Daniel Vallverdu,, Jamie Delgado |
Martin Laurendeau |
YTD W/L |
12-4 (75%) |
14-12 (54%) |
YTD Titles |
- |
- |
Career Titles |
9 |
0 |
Prize Money |
US$29,655,319 - 16th all-time in earnings |
US $1,068,518 |
|
Alex de Minaur v Lorenzo Musetti - the standout tie
Madrid is shaping up to be another superb tournament for Lorenzo Musetti. He defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur en route to reaching the final where he lost to Carlos Alcaraz.
He gets another chance to complete the second round of that today when he faces De Minaur again in a repeat or revenge scenario. The 11th seed saw off Tsitsipas again on Tuesday 7-5, 7-6(3) and he will now face De Minaur during the fourth round.
He leads the Head-to-Head 2-1 with his victory over De Minaur who stunned before that seeing him gain the lead 1-6, 6-4, 7-6(4). De Minaur has seen off Lorenzo Sonego and Denis Shapovalov this week and should be able to maintain that momentum.
He should have a better time of it after his poor loss to Musetti in Monte-Carlo with the quicker conditions of Madrid likely to benefit him more than the Italian who excelled in Monte-Carlo due to the slower conditions.
Both are at the top of their game though and given the close Head to Head, it could be the tie of the tournament. With the open nature of the tournament too, the winner could come from this tie. The winner faces Dimitrov v Diallo. While Draper v Paul faces Tiafoe or Arnaldi.
Match Info:
Alex de Minaur - Lorenzo Musetti
Start time (local):
Wed, 30 Apr, 9:30 PM
Start time (your time):
Thu, 1 May, 3:30 AM
Court:
Manolo Santana Stadium
Tournament:
Mutua Madrid Open
Round:
Round of 16
Head-to-Head
|
de Minaur |
Musetti |
Total Wins |
1 |
2 |
Win Streak |
0 |
2 |
Official Ranking |
7 |
11 |
Race Ranking |
5 |
16 |
Live Ranking |
7 |
10 (+1) |
Live Race Ranking |
5 |
16 |
Age |
26 (17 Feb 1999) |
23 (3 Mar 2002) |
Birthplace |
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Carrara, Tuscany, Italy |
Residence |
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia,Alicante, Valencia, Spain |
Monte Carlo, Monaco |
Height |
6'0" (183cm) |
6'0" (183cm) |
Weight |
152lbs (69kg) |
165lbs (75kg) |
Plays |
Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
Right-handed (one-handed backhand) |
Turned Pro |
2015 |
- |
Coach |
Adolfo Gutierrez, Peter Luczak |
Simone Tartarini |
YTD W/L |
23-8 (74%) |
13-5 (72%) |
YTD Titles |
- |
- |
Career Titles |
9 |
2 |
Prize Money |
US $16,435,900 |
US $8,638,674 |
L Musetti d A de Minaur
ATP Monte Carlo - Semifinal
1-6 | 6-4 | 7-6
12 Apr 2025
|
L Musetti d A de Minaur
ATP London - Round of 32
1-6 | 6-4 | 6-2
18 Jun 2024
|
A de Minaur d L Musetti
Australian Open - Round of 128
3-6 | 6-3 | 6-0 | 6-3
18 Jan 2022
|