Raducanu, Pliskova to Clash in Madrid Open Opener

The Mutua Madrid Open, the first WTA 1000 event of the clay-court season, promises an exciting opening round with a clash between resurgent former Grand Slam champion Emma Raducanu and ex-world No. 1 Karolina Pliskova.

Raducanu, the 2021 US Open winner, has shown signs of her former brilliance in recent weeks, reaching the quarterfinals in Stuttgart. Pliskova, meanwhile, enjoyed a strong start to 2024, winning 11 consecutive matches and claiming her first title in four years.

The projected top-half quarterfinals feature world No. 1 Iga Swiatek facing Maria Sakkari, while Coco Gauff could meet Ons Jabeur. On the bottom half, defending champion Aryna Sabalenka could face Marketa Vondrousova, who defeated her in Stuttgart.

Other notable first-round matches include 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva against Taylor Townsend, Sofia Kenin against Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, and Martina Trevisan against Sloane Stephens. Andreeva, the WTA Newcomer of the Year, made a breakthrough in Stuttgart last year, while Stephens won her eighth career WTA singles title in Rouen this week.

The tournament also marks the return of former world No. 1s Caroline Wozniacki and Naomi Osaka. Wozniacki, a finalist in Madrid in 2009, will face a qualifier, while Osaka, who reached the quarterfinals in 2019, could meet Liudmila Samsonova in the second round.

Despite being expected to play as a wild card, two-time champion Simona Halep is not in the draw.

Tags: #MutuaMadridOpen, #WTA1000, #EmmaRaducanu, #KarolinaPliskova, #IgaSwiatek