Madrid Open Draw: Swiatek, Champion, Could Face Eala and Ostapenko

The Mutua Madrid Open draw was revealed on Sunday, building anticipation for the first major clay-court WTA 1000 tournament of the season.

The tournament features a strong lineup, with almost all of the Top 30 players participating. Barbora Krejcikova, the current Wimbledon champion, is absent due to injury.

Main draw matches are set to begin on Tuesday, April 22nd. The top 32 seeded players will receive a bye in the first round and will commence play on Thursday, April 24th.

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 and top seed, enters the tournament in excellent clay-court form, having recently reached the Stuttgart final.

Sabalenka`s second-round opponent will be a qualifier, with a potential Round of 16 clash against No. 15 seed Amanda Anisimova. Anisimova previously won the Doha WTA 1000 title earlier this year and holds a 5-2 head-to-head advantage over Sabalenka.

Paula Badosa, seeded No. 9 and the top Spanish player, is also in this quarter, although concerns remain about her lower back injury, which has led to recent withdrawals from events.

If fit to play, Badosa is slated to face either Veronika or Polina Kudermetova in the second round. The sisters are set for their first WTA encounter in the opening round.

Zheng Qinwen, the No. 8 seed, is positioned at the bottom of this quarter. Her last performance on red clay resulted in an Olympic gold medal 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, the world No. 3 and top seed in this quarter, will play either Eva Lys or a qualifier in her opening match. A rematch of the 2022 Madrid final against Ons Jabeur is possible, potentially in Round of 16.

Pegula leads the tour in match wins this season with 26, despite a recent quarterfinal exit in Stuttgart. Ekaterina Alexandrova, who defeated Pegula in Stuttgart, could be a Round of 16 opponent in Madrid again.

The lower section of this quarter could see No. 6 seed Jasmine Paolini against No. 10 seed Elena Rybakina in the Round of 16. Elina Svitolina, seeded 17th and fresh off a title win in Rouen, is also a contender in this section.

Victoria Azarenka, a two-time Madrid finalist and former World No. 1, will face Olga Danilovic, the Rouen runner-up, 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 No. 7, headlines this quarter, aiming for her third WTA 1000 title this year after wins in Dubai and Indian Wells.

Madrid was the site of Andreeva`s breakthrough two years prior, reaching the Round of 16 as a wildcard on her 16th birthday. Now approaching 18, Andreeva will face either Renata Zarazua or Marie Bouzkova in the second round.

Coco Gauff, the world No. 4, is positioned at the opposite end of this quarter and may encounter challenging opponents such as 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 reigning champion, is placed at the bottom of the draw. She secured her first Madrid title last year, overcoming Sabalenka in a close final.

Swiatek`s second round could be against Alexandra Eala, the young Filipina player who defeated her in Miami. Eala must first win against Viktoriya Tomova to set up this rematch.

If Swiatek advances further, a potential Round of 16 match against No. 23 seed Jelena Ostapenko is on the horizon. Ostapenko recently defeated Swiatek in Stuttgart and has a perfect record against her.

Petra Kvitova, a three-time Madrid champion, is also in this section. She is seeking her first victory since returning from maternity leave and will play Katie Volynets in the first round.

Madison Keys, seeded No. 5 and the year`s only Grand Slam champion so far, could face Naomi Osaka in the second round, provided Osaka defeats Lucia Bronzetti in her first match.