Mutua Madrid Open, Madrid, Spain, ATP Masters 1000

[Moxie]

DATE: 6-13 May, 2018
SURFACE: Clay
PRIZE MONEY: €7,190,930
FIELD SIZE: 56
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Rafael Nadal

The Tournament:

From 2002, the tournament was classified as an ATP Masters Series event on the men's tour. The event was held since 2002 the Madrid Arena. The tournament was played from 2002 through 2008 on indoor hardcourts. In 2009, the surface became clay courts, the venue was changed to the Park Manzanares, and the tournament was expanded to include WTA professionals. Src: Wiki

About Madrid:

Madrid is the capital of Spain and its most populous city. Located on a high plane, at 667m (2,188 ft) it is the highest altitude of all the MS1000s. The population of the city is almost 3.2 million with a metropolitan area population of approximately 6.5 million. It is the third-largest city in the EU, after London and Berlin and its metropolitan area is the third-largest in the European Union after London and Paris. It's a sports town, home to not only the storied Real Madrid, but Atlético Madrid, a great football rivalry, and one of the most beautiful bull rings in Spain. It's wonderful picture gallery, The Prado, is one of the greatest museums in the world. But Madrid is best taken in by neighborhoods, small restaurants or tapas places. It wears it's sense of World Capital lightly, and can still feel like a rather small city, if you know where to go.

Map:

The Draw:

 

[britbox]

Djokovic draws Nishikori in the first round? Ouch.

 

[Moxie]

Djokovic draws Nishikori in the first round? Ouch.

Realistically, a bad draw for both. Nishikori's the one who's been looking better this clay season. The question is more how Kei's health is, not Djokovic.

 

[mrzz]

In the bigger picture, I actually I think it is a very good draw for Djokovic. If he loses, normal, he lost to worst players recently so nothing new there, at least he gets a chance to play a higher level player, something he is rarely doing lately. If he wins, it is a huge step forward.

 

[Carol]

Rafa and Thiem practicing together

 

[britbox]

^ They might be meeting in the Quarters looking at the draw. Not sure if Thiem gets that far.

I'm most interested in Del Potro here.

 

[Moxie]

 

[the AntiPusher]

View attachment 1783

“novak, I very happy that you showed up unlike “you know who”

 

[Moxie]

^ They might be meeting in the Quarters looking at the draw. Not sure if Thiem gets that far.

I'm most interested in Del Potro here.

Del Potro is one of the big questions, as he's one of the only choices to threaten Rafa.

 

[Moxie]

“novak, I very happy that you showed up unlike “you know who”

?? My caption would be more like, "I'm intimidated by the brawn comparison."

 

[britbox]

Pre-Tournament Interviews:

 

[Mastoor]

Yet another handpicked draw for Nole. I think the 6th in the row. He should have played on challenger tour instead where he'd have better chance to win couple of matches in a row.

His form in Barcelona was appalling and is not enough to beat Nishikori. However, he practiced hard in last several days, since Thursday last week, so I won't be shocked if he wins.

 

[Mastoor]

View attachment 1783

Moxie, that picture is older. It is not from Madrid. This is the video of the two meeting in Madrid. Rafa barely said hola:

 

[Moxie]

Hey, Mastoor. I took that picture off of Twitter. Never should have believed the internet, I guess.

 

[Carol]

Moxie, that picture is older. It is not from Madrid. This is the video of the two meeting in Madrid. Rafa barely said hola:

Come on, do you think that they had met each other in Madrid for the first time at that moment? and Novak said hola too and he kept walking, and?

 

[mrzz]

Djokovic just broke his own record on the ugliest missed overhead. Despite that, he is playing reasonably well.

[EDIT: Corrected misspelled Djokovic's name. Completely unintentional.]

 

[kskate2]

Takes out Nishi in 2 tough sets. Getting the break to win each set. Definitely helps to serve first if you've got a great return game.

 

[Denis]

Saw the result. Quite a relief to be honest, this is a promising result that may see Novak get in to quarters and semis at least. Kei is no pushover on clay.

Hope Novak stays healthy and is able to cope with the lighter racket in the matches to come.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Good to see Novak winning a tough match. Novak is sandwiched between Goffin and Grigor in a quarter. I guess not a bad place to be in, considering the other seeds.

 

[Mastoor]

Come on, do you think that they had met each other in Madrid for the first time at that moment? and Novak said hola too and he kept walking, and?

Yes, it was the first time they met in Madrid because the day before Novak was in Belgrade. Everyone would walk off if they see the other guy doesn't feel like chatting.