By Telema Davies
The ATP and WTA Tour 1000 Masters Series got underway in the city of Madrid which recently made news for the right reasons. Barely days after Real Madrid and city rivals, Atletico were confirmed finalists for UEFA Champions League in Lisbon, attention has tilted to another grand sports event. The fanfare that follows on from the exploits of the two great clubs offers Mutua Madrid open an extra spring to its bounce as competition for the magnificent prize commenced yesterday.
As is the case at tournaments of such lofty profile, the big guns have all assembled and are sure to participate. Reigning champions for the men and women category, Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams are not left out. It remains to be seen if both parties can defend and ultimately retain their titles on the 11th of May when the event comes to a close. This should serve as a precursor to what is expected at the Roland Garros later in the month.
Draws for the men and women category took place on Friday (May 2, 2014), and some spicy match-ups will enliven the competition. As duly anticipated, some of the star players are Top seeds and will avoid encounters with each other until they reach the quarter-finals. It promises to be a bumper experience not just for the players, but for the fans and sponsors of the tournament. All is surely set, for the second-biggest clay court in the year.
World number 2, Novak Djokovic, was handed what was described as a ‘brutal’ draw as he comes face to face with the in-form Croat Marin Cilic, in the first round. Top seed Nadal, opens his campaign against the winner between Jurgen Melzer and Juan Monaco and is seeded to meet Tommy Haas in the third round. Finalist at the 2013 edition and the only player to win three titles this year, Stanilas Wawrinka, opens against the winner of Russian veteran Dmitry Tursunov.
In the women’s draw, Serena Williams was handed No. 5 seed Petra Kvitova in the same quarter. Both players have met in five previous meetings in which Williams triumphed over Kvitova. Though both have never met on clay prior to this encounter, Kvitova is a former champion, winning the Madrid Open in 2011. Victoria Azarenka who was a finalist, was forced to withdraw due to a foot injury.
No. 2 seed LI Na and No. 8 seed Maria Sharapova, were drawn into another quarter. Sharapova leads Li in their head-to-head, 9-5 and has actually won four of their last meetings, but they did go 1-1 last year, Li winning in Australia and Sharapova in Stuttgart. Other names to watch in what can otherwise be referred to as the ‘group of death’ are No. 9 seed Dominika Chibulkova and No. 16 seed, Sloane Stephens, as well as one of the most dangerous clay court players out there, Samantha Stosur.
We wait to see who will be crowned Masters 1000 champions in the Spanish capital.
Image source: madrid-open.com