The Mutua Madrid Open draw was revealed on Sunday, marking the start of the WTA 1000 clay-court season.
A strong field is set for Madrid, with 29 of the world`s top 30 players competing. Barbora Krejcikova, the Wimbledon champion, is absent due to injury.
Main draw matches begin on Tuesday, April 22nd. Seeded players have a first-round bye and will start on Thursday, April 24th.
Draw Highlights
First Quarter
Top seeds: [1] Aryna Sabalenka, [8] Zheng Qinwen, [9] Paula Badosa, [15] Amanda Anisimova
Notable first rounds: Emma Raducanu vs. Suzan Lamens; Veronika Kudermetova vs. Polina Kudermetova
Aryna Sabalenka, a two-time Madrid champion, leads this quarter. She recently reached the Stuttgart final on indoor clay and is in good form for the clay season.
Sabalenka will play a qualifier in the second round and could face Amanda Anisimova in the round of 16. Anisimova won Doha this year and has a 5-2 head-to-head record against Sabalenka.
Paula Badosa, seeded 9th, is also in this quarter, but her participation is uncertain due to a back injury.
If Badosa plays, she will face either Veronika or Polina Kudermetova in the second round, as the sisters play each other in the first round.
Zheng Qinwen, seeded 8th, is at the bottom of this quarter. She won an Olympic gold medal on clay at Roland Garros.
Second Quarter
Top seeds: [3] Jessica Pegula, [6] Jasmine Paolini, [10] Elena Rybakina, [14] Daria Kasatkina, [17] Elina Svitolina
Notable first rounds: Victoria Azarenka vs. Olga Danilovic; McCartney Kessler vs. Bianca Andreescu
Jessica Pegula, ranked No. 3, tops this quarter and will play either Eva Lys or a qualifier in the second round. She might face Ons Jabeur, the 2022 Madrid champion, in a rematch of that final.
Pegula leads the tour in match wins this year (26). Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated Pegula in Stuttgart, is a potential round of 16 opponent in Madrid.
Jasmine Paolini (No. 6 seed) and Elena Rybakina (No. 10 seed) could meet in the round of 16. Elina Svitolina, seeded 17th and fresh off a win in Rouen, is also in this section.
Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Madrid finalist, will face Olga Danilovic in an intriguing first-round match.
Third Quarter
Top seeds: [4] Coco Gauff, [7] Mirra Andreeva, [12] Karolina Muchova, [16] Beatriz Haddad Maia
Mirra Andreeva, seeded 7th, is at the top of this quarter, aiming for her third WTA 1000 title this year after wins in Dubai and Indian Wells.
Andreeva made her breakthrough in Madrid two years ago, reaching the round of 16 as a wildcard. She will play Renata Zarazua or Marie Bouzkova in the second round.
Coco Gauff, ranked No. 4, is positioned at the bottom of this quarter and has potential tough opponents like Clara Tauson and Belinda Bencic.
Fourth Quarter
Top seeds: [2] Iga Swiatek, [5] Madison Keys, [11] Emma Navarro, [13] Diana Shnaider
Notable first rounds: Naomi Osaka vs. Lucia Bronzetti; Katie Volynets vs. Petra Kvitova
Iga Swiatek, the world No. 2 and defending champion, is in the bottom quarter of the draw. Last year, she won her first Madrid title, defeating Sabalenka in the final.
Swiatek could face Alexandra Eala in the second round, a rematch of their Miami quarterfinal where Eala won. Eala needs to defeat Viktoriya Tomova first.
If Swiatek advances, Jelena Ostapenko, seeded 23rd, is a potential round of 16 opponent. Ostapenko recently beat Swiatek in Stuttgart and has a 6-0 head-to-head record against her.
Petra Kvitova, who holds the record for most Madrid titles (three), is also in this section. She is seeking her first win since returning from maternity leave and will play Katie Volynets in the first round.
Madison Keys, seeded 5th and this year`s Grand Slam champion, could face Naomi Osaka in the second round if Osaka defeats Lucia Bronzetti.
