The ATP 1000 in Madrid has been characterized by withdrawals from the tournament, but in two-week events that has very little impact on the first round. The depth is the same as ever, and here are five first-round matches to watch for as the main draw gets underway on Wednesday:
1. Tomas Machac vs Francisco Comesana
Tomas Machac is coming off of an incredible achievement: taking a set off of Jannik Sinner at a Masters 1000, breaking Sinner’s monumental streak. But with Machac, his form at one tournament isn’t really indicative of his form at the next, as he tends to be a very up-and-down player. Francisco Comesana can be a challenge for anyone, especially on clay which is his most comfortable surface. On paper Machac is absolutely the favorite, but both players in this matchup are unpredictable and it could go either way. The winner will take on 19th seed Cameron Norrie in the second round.
2. Zizou Bergs vs Marin Cilic
Marin Cilic’s comeback from knee surgery in 2024 has been impressive as he’s made himself something of an ATP Tour mainstay. Largely kept afloat by his serve, Cilic has picked up some quality wins this year and has made a couple decent runs. His opponent, Zizou Bergs, has been steadily improving lately and is currently just outside the Top 40 in the ATP rankings. Bergs isn’t as dominant a server as Cilic, which is something Cilic could absolutely take advantage of. The key for Bergs here is being able to return and to get long rallies going, because that’s where he’ll be favored. Whoever comes through will have a second-round match against 27th seed Joao Fonseca.
3. Botic van de Zandschulp vs Alexander Blockx
Blockx, has also a lot of Challenger Tour success this year but is of course always looking for a moment to raise his level. A first-round match in Madrid against Botic van de Zandschulp could be an opportunity to do that. Van de Zandschulp is a player who has proven he can beat just about anyone, but he doesn’t always bring that level, making his matches extremely unpredictable. Blockx has had a really solid base level of tennis lately, and if van de Zandschulp continues his more streaky play, Blockx’s consistency could win out. Whoever emerges victorious will take on 28th seed Brandon Nakashima in the second round.