Master 1000 Madrid - Day 1

Djokovic D. Gasquet R.
Djokovic is a player who is emerging this year, primarily due to the sheer power of his shots and at the same time for his agility on the court, which could be advantageous on this surface. He faces an experienced player like Gasquet, who is likely playing these tournaments to prepare for his last Roland Garros. The French player has an excellent backhand but a service that lacks power, which might lead to numerous breaks in the match, making it a competitive affair, possibly with Gasquet emerging victorious.


Coria F. Kukushkin M.
Coria, a very experienced player, is perfectly comfortable on clay, as evidenced by his recent results. His constant variations and typical South American trajectories are his trademarks. He faces the Kazakh player, Kukushkin, who, despite primarily playing in challengers, has proven himself against higher-caliber opponents. However, there's some doubt due to his withdrawal from the challenger in Madrid last week.


Gaston H. Medjedovic H.
Gaston, a player with constant variations, is always challenging on clay courts, albeit a bit slower. Playing at altitude might expose his weak service percentages and the heaviness of his shots. Considering his opponent's tendency to seize control of the game whenever possible, despite preferring faster surfaces, this one might suit his style more than the French player's. The match could see the Frenchman initially taking the lead, only to be overturned later.


Goffin D. Bagnis F.
Two experienced players who excel on clay and have faced each other many times in their careers, often having closely contested matches. Unlike Goffin, Bagnis has chosen to play challengers for the past couple of years. It could be a closely fought match that, in my opinion, will be decided more by responsiveness than stamina, potentially favoring Goffin in the end.


Halys Q. Garin C.
This seems to be a very one-sided match, with Garin coming off a semifinal in Munich, played under conditions similar to these Spanish ones, against Halys, who hasn't been fond of clay even when he was more involved in the circuit, let alone now that he's taken a step back to be closer to his family. I believe Garin will take control of the match from the start and steadily dominate until the inevitable conclusion.

Kokkinakis T. Barrere G.
This match is a rematch of their encounter in Romania last week, which saw Barrere prevail with a double 6-4. Kokkinakis certainly prefers faster surfaces, but on a consistent and faster surface like Madrid's, his serve and powerful shots might at least win him a set against Barrere, who is adept at varying his game and disrupting opponents' rhythm but hasn't mastered this surface either. Much will depend on the approach of both players, especially Kokkinakis'.

Martinez P. Albot R.
Martinez, a Spanish player experienced on clay, utilizes a kick serve to push opponents back and then closes points either with drop shots or forehands, usually used on the counter. He faces Albot, who, while experienced, has never been among the world's best and prefers grass to clay. However, he can be tricky on clay due to his excellent retrievals and weightless shots. Despite this, I believe the in-form Martinez may come out on top.

Meligeni Alves F. Thiem D.
Meligeni, a Brazilian player who thrives on clay, tends to unleash his powerful forehand on slightly slower courts, often opting for defensive play that drains his energy without yielding points. Thiem, although no longer the former world number 3, still possesses the ability to make a difference against such opponents, especially by attacking and using his heavily loaded backhand.

Mochizuki S. Muller A.
The Japanese player Mochizuki strongly prefers faster surfaces and hasn't played on clay since last year, despite being in good form then. His lack of variety and power often make him vulnerable to opponents' shots. On the other hand, Muller showed his prowess on clay in Barcelona, despite preferring hard courts, displaying excellent shot variety and precise drop shots followed by net approaches. Again, I predict a lopsided match in favor of the Frenchman.

Moutet C. Atmane T.
Moutet, a specialist on clay, is known for his unpredictable play but sometimes struggles due to mental lapses. He faces his compatriot Atmane, who finds it difficult to impose his power game on clay, often disrupted by Moutet's changes of pace. Both players' serves aren't their strongest suits, so there could be many breaks in the match. While I lean towards Moutet for the win, much will depend on his mental freshness after recent matches in Romania.

Schwartzman D. Ramos A.
A match between two experienced and competent players on clay, both nearing the end of their careers, where a win would mean a lot to either. They excel in aggressive play and strong returns compared to a slow and attackable serve. Ramos, who lost in the first round in Barcelona to Muller, showed his worth in the Madrid challenger two weeks ago, although he experienced some physical decline. Similar circumstances apply to his opponent, who, despite recent positive results, often has moments of lapse in matches.

Tirante T.A. Dronguet T.
Tirante, a promising young player, won the Mexican Challenger on clay this week. He employs high trajectories and weightless shots to unsettle opponents or set up easy attacking opportunities. Dronguet, on the other hand, struggles to be effective on these courts due to numerous unforced errors and poor service percentages, forcing him into a defensive game, which is not his forte.

Vacherot V. Rodionov J.
Both players are tall and powerful, with potent serves and forehands that make them dangerous on clay. They come off two positive weeks respectively in Monaco and Bucharest, which have boosted their confidence. Their serves and related percentages will be crucial on a surface where they're not inclined to defend much. Therefore, I foresee a match that could go to a third set, perhaps with the more rested and experienced Rodionov prevailing.

Vavassori A. Comensana F.
Both players have distinct styles but are equally challenging on clay. Vavassori, known for his doubles prowess, utilises a well-placed kick serve to set up net points or unleash his forehand. Comensana, being an Argentine player, relies on rhythm, mixing weightless shots with tight balls to control the pace. Fatigue might be a factor for Comensana, coming off a challenger win in Portugal under somewhat different conditions.