The Madrid Open 2025 kicked off with thrilling matches as top seeds and emerging talents took to the clay courts of the Caja Mágica. Among the standout performances was Alexander Zverev, who dominated his opening match against Spain's Roberto Bautista Agut, winning decisively with a score of 6-2, 6-2. This victory marks Zverev's sixth consecutive win, showcasing his impressive form as he aims for a third title in Madrid, having previously won in 2018 and 2021.
Zverev's performance was characterized by exceptional shot-making, tallying 31 winners and achieving an impressive 81% success rate on his first serve. "I felt in control throughout the match, and it’s great to start the tournament on such a high note," Zverev commented post-match. His next challenge will be to maintain this momentum as he progresses through the tournament.
Joining Zverev in the third round is American Taylor Fritz, who also had a solid start, defeating Australian Chris O'Connell in straight sets with a score of 6-1, 6-4. Fritz's victory adds to the excitement for American tennis fans, as he looks to make a deep run in the tournament.
On the other hand, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev advanced without stepping onto the court, benefiting from walkovers due to the withdrawals of Laslo Djere and Gael Monfils. This unexpected turn of events allows both players to conserve energy for their upcoming matches.
In a surprising twist, French player Arthur Fils, seeded 13th, faced an early exit after losing to Argentina's Comesana, who had never won a main draw match at the Masters 1000 level before this tournament. Fils, despite his promising season, will need to regroup after this setback.
The Madrid Open, running from April 22 to May 4, is not just about the men’s tournament; it also features a competitive women’s draw. Aryna Sabalenka enters as the number 1 seed in the WTA tournament, following a strong showing earlier this season. Sabalenka, who was the runner-up in Stuttgart, will face off against the wild card Alexandra Eala in her second-round match.
Italian players are also making their mark at this year’s event. Matteo Berrettini, the 2021 finalist, is set to face the winner of the match between Learner Tien and Marcos Giron in the second round. Lorenzo Musetti, who recently climbed to 11th in the ATP rankings, shares a section of the draw with top players like Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alex de Minaur.
Federico Cinà, another rising star from Italy, showed promise in his first-round match, achieving his second career win on the ATP circuit against Coleman Wong. However, he was eliminated in the second round by Sebastian Korda, losing 6-3, 3-6, 6-1 in a match that lasted 1 hour and 40 minutes. Despite the loss, Cinà’s performance was commendable, as he held his own against a top 30 player for much of the match.
As the tournament progresses, fans can look forward to more exciting matches and potential upsets. The clay season is just heating up, and with players like Zverev and Sabalenka in fine form, the Madrid Open promises to be a thrilling showcase of tennis.
For those eager to catch the action, matches are being broadcast live in Italy on Sky Sport and are available for streaming on platforms like Sky Go and NOW TV. The ATP Masters 1000 matches can also be viewed on TennisTV, while the WTA 1000 matches are available on SuperTennis and SuperTenniX.
