Seeded players start going head-to-head in Madrid on Sunday, and one such third-round matchup pits Lorenzo Musetti against Tallon Griekspoor. Barcelona champion Arthur Fils and unseeded Emilio Nava are also taking the court.
(29) Tallon Griekspoor vs. (6) Lorenzo Musetti
Musetti and Griekspoor will be squaring off for the third time in their careers when they collide in round three of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday. Griekspoor has won both of their previous encounters — 6-4, 7-6(8) in 2020 Australian Open qualifying and 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) at the 2024 Rotterdam tournament.
A move to clay should give Musetti a massive boost. The ninth-ranked Italian was incredible throughout the entire 2025 dirt swing and needs this year’s April-May stretch to resurrect his season on the heels of an Australian Open leg injury. Musetti advanced to the Barcelona quarterfinals and opened in Madrid with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Hubert Hurkacz. Griekspoor has also struggled with physical problems, and he is just 8-9 this year after beating Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. Musetti can be expected to improve as he gets more and more matches under his belt, so the 33rd-ranked Dutchman could be in trouble.
Pick: Musetti in 2
(21) Arthur Fils vs. Emilio Nava
Fils won the Barcelona title last week and looks like a real contender to reach the French Open final if — with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined — he lands in the bottom half of the draw. For now, the 25th-ranked Frenchman is focused on Madrid. He extended his current winning streak to six matches and improved to 19-5 for the season with a 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-5 defeat of Iganacio Buse on Friday.
Up next for the 21-year-old is a second showdown against Nava, who won their previous meeting 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at a 2022 clay-court Challenger event in Blois. It has already been a breakthrough stay in Madrid for the 24-year-old American, who has advanced with victories over Jenson Brooksby and Valentin Vacherot. Nava is playing well, but high-flying conditions in Madrid are not easy for a player who infamously stuck 80 unforced errors in a single match at the 2026 Australian Open. Nava’s real problem, though, is that Fils is simply on fire.
Pick: Fils in 2