Historical challenge and déjà vu. Alcaraz and Nadal at the start of the Masters in Madrid

These Spanish tennis players are among the biggest attractions of the upcoming Masters tournament in Madrid. Both know what triumph tastes like here and both already know their potential opponents. What historic feat can Alcaraz claim and why might the tournament draw look very familiar to Rafael Nadal?

Champion Alcaraz

It’s been almost a year since he put his hands up here. Carlos Alcaraz defended his triumph in Madrid, emulating his compatriot Rafael Nadal. No one else has won two triumphs in a row here.

Alcaraz has the chance to become a legend in Madrid. A hat-trick would put him alone as the historical leader.

And the 20-year-old is doing everything he can to succeed on home soil. He hasn’t underestimated the problems with his arm and has given up his participation in previous events.

The current world number three starts the clay part of the season with one title. Alcaraz dominated the Masters tournament in Indian Wells.

At the Masters in Madrid, he will face Italian Musetti in his second match. But the biggest competitor remains another representative of Italy, Jannik Sinner, who will be the number one seed in the Spanish capital after Djokovic’s withdrawal.

Another local champion, Germany’s Zverev, will also be in Madrid. He will serve as the number four player here this year.

Nadal and his déjà vu

His return to the courts is one of the main stories of this season. Now Nadal is finally back and in prime time.

He won’t get to play many more tournaments before his expected farewell to the French Open. In Madrid he will face an acceptable opponent, just like last week in Barcelona. This time it’s the 16-year-old American Darwin Blanch.

If Nadal advances, he will play Australian De Minaur again. Just like in Barcelona. There, the player number eleven in the ATP rankings ended the short journey of the returning Spaniard through the tournament.

Nadal can thus test how his form is improving. A week ago in the aforementioned duel he fell 5:7, 1:6. His plan is to take incremental steps up. Will he make one in Madrid?

Sources: ATP, MMOpen