It’s time for the WTA Madrid Masters Masters event, which these days, almost feels as big as a major event (sadly in my opinion). Here is my quick preview:
Jess Pegula is the only top ten player who will miss, as she apparently ‘got hurt’ this week. Not much more is known for now.
Obviously the top seed, Iga Swiatek will be expected to perform well, and she looks to have a fairly good section of the draw to navigate through early on.
However, she was upset in Stuttgart by Elena Rybakina, who is proving more and more, that she is a threat in every event. After taking care of Marta Kostyuk in the final, she may face the Ukrainian again in round 3!
Caroline Wozniacki is still trying to find some consistency in her comeback. She’ll face a qualifier in the opening round, before a match up with Brazilian, Beatriz Haddad Maia. I’d like to see her take it up to a top 20 player this week.
Sloane Stephens is coming off a 250 title, and is almost back in seeding territory for Wimbledon, so she’ll be hoping for a big result here. Couple of tricky early matches, but if she can navigate to the third round, Maria Sakkari awaits.
After her first event on clay last week, Coco Gauff will be an interesting watch this week. Seems to have a reasonably favourable draw up to the semis, so I expect her to go deep into week 2.
Brenda Fruhvirtova receives a WC this week (as does her older sister Linda), and if she can defeat Arantxa Rus in round 1, she will take on Gauff. She hasn’t played a lot this year, but her three losses, are to Gauff, Sabalenka, and Boulter. Am keen to see her play more events later in the year.
Also handed a WC, is Emma Raducanu, who looks like she’s started to find her game again. Looked impressive in Stuttgart last week. With a first round against K. Pliskova, and potential follow up matches against V Kudermetova, and Jelena Ostapenko, we’ll get another good idea of how her comeback is progressing.
I’ve been very impressed with Jasmine Paolini’s year so far. It’s easy to have a good run at the Australian Open, and fall into a slump, but she has been consistent all year. I think she can win two or three matches here. A 4th round potential clash with Marketa Vondrousova will be a test.
Danielle Collins doesnt play as much on clay, as on the hard courts, but you might be surprised to know that her win percentage is actually 63% on clay, and 62% on hard. Tough draw here though, with potentially Barbora Krejcikova, in round 3, and Aryna Sabalenka in round 4.
Sabalenka has won this event twice in the last three years, so you would expect another strong performance.
Semi-final predictions (absolutely no surprises here)
Swiatek v Gauff
Rybakina v Sabalenka
