April 22–24: tournament kick-off and early exits
The tournament commenced with high anticipation, featuring a stellar lineup including Novak Djokovic, Iga Swiatek, and Aryna Sabalenka. However, the excitement was tempered by the withdrawal of local favorite Carlos Alcaraz due to a right adductor injury and a left hamstring issue. Alcaraz cited the need to prioritize his recovery ahead of Roland Garros, leaving a significant void in the men’s draw.
April 25: the competition gets off… to a bad start for some
Arthur Fils, quarter-finalist in Monte-Carlo and semi-finalist in Barcelona (both times beaten by Alcaraz in Monte Carlo and in Barcelona), was knocked out in the first round by Francisco Comesana 7-6(4), 6-4. Hubert Hurkacz, who withdrew from the previous tournaments, also failed to launch his clay-court season with confidence. The 28-year-old Pole lost 6-4 7-5 to France’s Bonzi.
On the women’s side, the day proved fatal for Jabeur, who was beaten by the surprising Uchijima (4-6, 6-3, 6-3), while world number 8 Zheng was eliminated by Potapova (6-4, 6-4).
April 26: Djokovic bites the dust
Novak Djokovic’s 2025 Mutua Madrid Open campaign ended abruptly with a straight-sets defeat to Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi, 6–3, 6–4, in the second round. This loss marked Djokovic’s third consecutive early exit, following defeats to Alejandro Tabilo in Monte Carlo and a prior loss in the Miami final against Mensik. The 37-year-old Serbian, who has yet to secure a clay-court victory this season, committed 32 unforced errors and was broken three times during the match.
Post-match, Djokovic acknowledged the challenges he faces, stating, “It’s kind of a new reality for me…. trying to win a match or two, not really thinking about getting far in the tournament.” Arnaldi, ranked 44th, expressed his admiration for Djokovic, saying, “He’s my idol, he’s always been,” and celebrated the victory by writing “OMG” on the camera lens. Following this defeat, Djokovic withdrew from the Rome Masters, a tournament he has won six times, citing the need to reassess his preparation ahead of Roland Garros. This decision means he will enter the French Open without a clay-court win this season, a first since his debut in 2005.
April 27: defending champion rublev falls
Defending men’s singles champion Andrey Rublev faced an early exit, losing to Alexander Bublik in a three-set battle in the third round. After a bye and Monfils’ withdrawal, Rublev would not have won a match in this tournament. Bublik’s 6-4, 0-6, 6-4 victory marked his 10th Top 10 win, showcasing his ability to challenge the game’s elite.
April 28: power outage disrupts play
A significant power outage across parts of Spain, Portugal, and southern France led to the suspension of several matches. Only two WTA Round of 16 matches were completed, with Coco Gauff defeating Belinda Bencic and Mirra Andreeva overcoming Yuliia Starodubtseva. The outage also affected players’ routines. Matteo Berrettini, for instance, had to walk two hours back to his hotel due to transport disruptions. In contrast, Jack Draper, who remained at his hotel during the outage, advanced to the last 16 after Berrettini retired from their match due to abdominal pain.
April 29: top seeds exit and emotional reactions
Alexander Zverev, despite a strong start to the clay season, lost to Francisco Cerundolo 5-7, 3-6. This defeat marked already Zverev’s third consecutive loss to Cerundolo, highlighting a challenging matchup for the German. In the early rounds, young talents began to assert themselves. Czech teenager Jakub Mensik continued his impressive form, defeating Alexander Bublik 6-3, 6-2 in just 57 minutes. Mensik’s performance left Bublik exasperated: ““Mohamed [the chair umpire], remember when tennis was easy? Like five years ago it was super easy to play tennis”. Stefanos Tsitsipas also faced elimination, falling to Lorenzo Musetti 5-7, 6-7(3). Post-match, Tsitsipas expressed his frustration, stating, “I’m a bit lost, I need to take some time.”
In the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek advanced to the quarterfinals after a hard-fought victory, improving her impressive win percentage in WTA 1000 clay events to 89.7%. Despite the earlier power outage, Swiatek remained unfazed, using the downtime to rest. Moyuka Uchijima reached her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal by upsetting No. 21 seed Ekaterina Alexandrova. This victory marked Uchijima’s fourth Top 30 win of the year and extended her winning streak in Madrid to nine matches. World No1 Aryna Sabalenka also progressed to the quarterfinals, aiming for her third final appearance in Madrid. Elina Svitolina reached the Round of 16 for the first time in Madrid after ten attempts and will face Uchijima in the next round.
April 30: rising stars on clay
British No. 1 Jack Draper achieved a significant milestone by defeating 11th seed Tommy Paul 6–2, 6–2, reaching his first Masters 1000 quarterfinal on clay. This victory is also his first over a top-30 opponent on the surface, highlighting his growing confidence and adaptability. Draper is now poised to break into the ATP Top 5 rankings, potentially surpassing Novak Djokovic. Canadian lucky loser Gabriel Diallo continued his remarkable run by saving three match points to defeat Grigor Dimitrov 5–7, 7–6(7), 6–4, reaching his first ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal. Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi maintained his impressive form by defeating 16th seed Frances Tiafoe 6–3, 7–5. Arnaldi, who previously upset Novak Djokovic, will face Draper in the quarterfinals.
On the WTA tour, World No. 2 Iga Swiatek showcased her resilience by overcoming a rare 0–6 first set to defeat Madison Keys 0–6, 6–3, 6–2, securing her spot in the semifinals. This was only the third time in her career she lost a set 0–6 on clay, ending a streak of 625 consecutive sets without such a loss. Swiatek’s victory marks 20th WTA 1000 semifinal appearance out of 36 events, second only to Serena Williams in efficiency. Coco Gauff also advanced to her first Madrid Open semifinal by defeating 18-year-old Mirra Andreeva 7–5, 6–1. Gauff’s performance was particularly impressive given the challenges posed by a recent power outage in Madrid, which disrupted her routine. She rated her quarterfinal performance a “nine” and is set to face Swiatek in the semifinals, aiming to improve her record against the Polish star.
Top seed Aryna Sabalenka edged out Marta Kostyuk in two tight tiebreaks, 7–6(4), 7–6(7), to reach the semifinals. She will face Elina Svitolina, who advanced after a convincing win over Moyuka Uchijima. Both players are vying for a spot in the final, with Sabalenka seeking to regain the title after 2023.
May 1: Gauff’s statement win, Sabalenka’s consistency, and ATP’s new faces
In a commanding performance, Coco Gauff defeated defending champion Iga Swiatek 6–1, 6–1 to advance to her first Madrid Open final. Gauff dominated the match, winning 11 consecutive games and visibly unsettling the top-seeded Swiatek, who admitted to struggling with movement and intensity. This victory marked Gauff’s first win against Swiatek on clay, improving her head-to-head record to 4–11. World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka continued her strong form, defeating Elina Svitolina 6–3, 7–5 to reach her fourth Madrid Open final. Sabalenka’s performance included 30 winners and a solid first-serve percentage. She will face Gauff in the final, aiming for her third Madrid title.
Norwegian Casper Ruud secured his first victory over Daniil Medvedev, winning 6–3, 7–5 to advance to the semifinals. Ruud’s solid baseline play and effective serving were key factors in the match, as he won 76% of his first-serve points and broke Medvedev’s serve twice. Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo overcame a set deficit to defeat Jakub Mensik 3–6, 7–6(5), 6–2, reaching his first Masters 1000 semifinal. Cerúndolo’s resilience and tactical adjustments allowed him to turn the match around, tying him with Carlos Alcaraz and Alex de Minaur for the most tour-level wins in 2025, with 24. British No. 1 Jack Draper delivered a dominant performance against Matteo Arnaldi, winning 6–0, 6–4 to reach his first Masters 1000 semifinal on clay. This victory propels Draper into the ATP Top 5 rankings, making him the first British man to achieve this since Andy Murray and the first left-handed since Rafael Nadal. Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti advanced to the semifinals with a 6–4, 6–3 win over Canada’s Gabriel Diallo, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser and made an impressive run to the quarterfinals.
May 2: Ruud advances to the final
Norwegian tennis star Casper Ruud has reached his first Mutua Madrid Open final after a hard-fought 6–4, 7–5 victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerúndolo. In the semifinal match, lasting nearly two hours, Ruud saved 15 of 18 break points, including 7 in a marathon 14-minute game in the second set. This victory marks Ruud’s third appearance in an ATP Masters 1000 final and ensures his return to the Top 10 in the ATP rankings. He becomes the first player born in 1990 or later to reach 30 tour-level semifinals on clay and may become the first Norwegian to win a Masters 1000 title since the series’ inception in 1990.
Jack Draper continued his breakout run in Madrid with a confident 6–4, 6–3 win over Lorenzo Musetti, securing a spot in his first ATP Masters 1000 final. The 22-year-old Briton delivered a clinical performance, firing 22 winners and saving all five break points he faced. Draper now becomes the first British man to reach the Madrid final since Andy Murray in 2016, and is projected to rise to a career-high World No. 4 on Monday. “It’s unbelievable,” Draper said post-match. “To beat Lorenzo, who’s been playing amazing on clay, gives me real belief going into the final.”
Jack Draper will face Casper Ruud in what promises to be a battle of baseline endurance and mental strength.