2023 Madrid Open men's singles draw discussion

[Vamos Carlos Alcaraz]

For some reason wikipedia has 7 of the sections up but not section 2? I will try to find it. I think Rublev and Khachanov are in section 2?

I care most about Carlos's draw. He got Ruud instead of Tsitsipas in the top half of the draw - he got Zverev, Hurkacz, Rune, Davidovich Fokina. Dimitrov in the third round and perhaps Zverev in the fourth round. Korda is finally returning to the tour and he is in the bottom half of section 1, would potentially play Zverev in the third round.

In the bottom half of the draw are Medvedev, Fritz, Shapo, Norrie, de Minaur, Tiafoe, Auger-Aliassime, Paul, and Tsitsipas...

 

[bluetrain4]

I saw the big news that Djokovic is out. Looking at the draw realized Sinner is out too. Bleh. Korda and Paul return - that's good, especially for Korda since he's been gone much longer. Can Med do anything serious here? He seemed to put his clay hatred aside in Monte Carlo and get engaged, and Madrid's conditions would seem to suit him better.

 

[Slicehand]

with that draw, alcaraz has it in his racquet, pity that he will probably skip rome if he wins , i wanted to see him play different tournaments than last year, plus i dont think the best preparation for RG is going to madrid and then have a week off just before the gs

 

[bluetrain4]

Here's the draw:

http://www.protennislive.com/posting/2023/1536/mds.pdf

ATP Masters 1000 Madrid | Results | ATP Tour | Tennis

Results archive from tournaments in men's professional tennis on the ATP Tour.

www.atptour.com

 

[Jonesy]

That username suits you much more, OP.

 

[Topspin_80]

with that draw, alcaraz has it in his racquet, pity that he will probably skip rome if he wins , i wanted to see him play different tournaments than last year, plus i dont think the best preparation for RG is going to madrid and then have a week off just before the gs

Between Madrid's final, and the beginning of RG there are 3 full weeks.

Madrid final May 7th

RG first day May 28th

 

[Rattie]

We now have 3 threads on this subject lol

 

[Slicehand]

Between Madrid's final, and the beginning of RG there are 3 full weeks.

Madrid final May 7th

RG first day May 28th

Yeah i realized after posting that it was more like 2 weeks or so, 3 weeks without competing is a lot, no way you get to RG totally ready, its not the optimal thing to do, so if there are no injuries, he should risk getting tired to RG, axter all, if he paces himself and doesnt have horrible long matches, he could still be fine

 

[Topspin_80]

Yeah i realized after posting that it was more like 2 weeks or so, 3 weeks without competing is a lot, no way you get to RG totally ready, its not the optimal thing to do, so if there are no injuries, he should risk getting tired to RG, axter all, if he paces himself and doesnt have horrible long matches, he could still be fine

If he wins in Madrid, he'll be just 5 points behind Djokovic, so basically he'll only need to win 1 match in Rome in order
to retake the #1.

If he plays Rome (he should but maybe not the whole thing, just a couple of matches) his 1st match would be on either
Friday or Saturday, that'll give him enough time to somehow recover, then win a couple matches, retake the #1, and tank
the next match if he isn't fully recovered, and go to Paris to start training on Philippe Chatrier.

We'll see how things develop next week.

 

[Slicehand]

If he wins in Madrid, he'll be just 5 points behind Djokovic, so basically he'll only need to win 1 match in Rome in order
to retake the #1.

If he plays Rome (he should but maybe not the whole thing, just a couple of matches) his 1st match would be on either
Friday or Saturday, that'll give him enough time to somehow recover, then win a couple matches, retake the #1, and tank
the next match if he isn't fully recovered, and go to Paris to start training on Philippe Chatrier.

We'll see how things develop next week.

I dont see him tanking matches... no top player really does it, maximum it would be exiting the tournament before playing the next match, but that would be really not good looking, i really think if he enters rome he will do it taking all its consequences

 

[Topspin_80]

I dont see him tanking matches... no top player really does it, maximum it would be exiting the tournament before playing the next match, but that would be really not good looking, i really think if he enters rome he will do it taking all its consequences

All the top players, for instance the big 3, had suspicious losses, suspicious and convenient.

 

[Slicehand]

All the top players, for instance the big 3, had suspicious losses, suspicious and convenient.

I dont know, i dont think its that common, specially at 19, i dont think he would like the idea of losing a match on porpouse, more like, if youre not willing to go all the way you dont enter the tournament, but who knows

 

[Topspin_80]

I dont know, i dont think its that common, specially at 19, i dont think he would like the idea of losing a match on porpouse, more like, if youre not willing to go all the way you dont enter the tournament, but who knows

I know he is 19, but Ferrero is not 19, and he knows the drill.

If he wins Madrid he'll be just 10 points shy of getting back to #1, so he'll only need to win 1 match.

Of course, if Madrid is an easy win, he might try and win Rome, Nadal did it twice.

 

[Slicehand]

I know he is 19, but Ferrero is not 19, and he knows the drill.

If he wins Madrid he'll be just 10 points shy of getting back to #1, so he'll only need to win 1 match.

Of course, if Madrid is an easy win, he might try and win Rome, Nadal did it twice.

But if djokovic doesnt win rome and alcaraz wins madrid, he could still be number one right? I dont think a win from nole at rome is secured by any means

 

[Topspin_80]

But if djokovic doesnt win rome and alcaraz wins madrid, he could still be number one right? I dont think a win from nole at rome is secured by any means

Me neither, but then last year Djokovic didn't look too good after losing to Alcaraz, and he went on to win Rome.

We are just thinking hypothetical situations, and in that realm everything is possible, even injuries.

We'll see in a couple of weeks.

 

[DSH]

Alcaraz should play Rome even if he is successful in Madrid.
It would be disrespectful of him to miss the most important Masters 1000 on clay again.

 

[Deleted member 791948]

Medvedev has a good chance of winning this, Alcaraz has a tough draw plus will be tired.

 

[neytron]

Medvedev has a good chance of winning this, Alcaraz has a tough draw plus will be tired.

Why should he be tired? In Barcelona all his matches ended in two sets. And draw isn't that tough.

 

[Deleted member 791948]

Why should he be tired? In Barcelona all his matches ended in two sets. And draw isn't that tough.

Because if you add Barcelona to him playing Dimitrov, and either Zverev or Korda, I think he'll be tired..... or lose to Korda because Madrid conditions favor Korda and they're 1-1 H2H on clay. And he'd play Rublev in the SF. Sounds like a nightmare lead-up to playing Medvedev in the Final.

 

[Rattie]

Because if you add Barcelona to him playing Dimitrov, and either Zverev or Korda, I think he'll be tired..... or lose to Korda because Madrid conditions favor Korda and they're 1-1 H2H on clay. And he'd play Rublev in the SF. Sounds like a nightmare lead-up to playing Medvedev in the Final.

This is of course, if the draw pans out according to ranking which it commonly never does.

 

[neytron]

Because if you add Barcelona to him playing Dimitrov, and either Zverev or Korda, I think he'll be tired..... or lose to Korda because Madrid conditions favor Korda and they're 1-1 H2H on clay. And he'd play Rublev in the SF. Sounds like a nightmare lead-up to playing Medvedev in the Final.

Korda will lose in the first match, he hasn't played for 3 months.

 

[Deleted member 791948]

Korda will lose in the first match, he hasn't played for 3 months.

Very possible, Zverev vs. Alcaraz QF instead, another grindfest, and Zverev leads 3-1 H2H over Alcaraz.

 

[Rattie]

Very possible, Zverev vs. Alcaraz QF instead, another grindfest, and Zverev leads 3-1 H2H over Alcaraz.

The first time they played two years ago, Alcaraz‘s ranking was 132 in the world. The second time he had risen to 42. It’s only really the last two meetings that you can take much from but since then Zverev is not at his 2022 form while Alcaraz is looking really strong and is world No 2.
Zverev is very much the under dog going into Madrid.

 

[Deleted member 791948]

The first time they played two years ago, Alcaraz‘s ranking was 132 in the world. The second time he had risen to 42. It’s only really the last two meetings that you can take much from but since then Zverev is not at his 2022 form while Alcaraz is looking really strong and is world No 2.
Zverev is very much the under dog going into Madrid.

Yeah I know, that's why I said "grindfest" instead of "Zverev will win".

 

[Vamos Carlos Alcaraz]

I want Carlos to play the Rome Open so he can make up points and take over the #1 ranking. I am hoping he does well here in Madrid - if he wins he will be 5 measly points behind you know who. Djokovic will be defending 1000 points at Rome and Carlos none. The math is on Carlos's side. I just need for Carlos to make it through the draw here in Madrid. Potentially he would play after Dimitrov tomorrow Zverev and Rublev to make it to the final. Then - who knows who the finalist would be from the bottom half of the draw? That first set yesterday was an aberration and he will be steadier - I don't buy the "he will be tired" fantasies of the Carlos detractors. Carlos will find a way to win!