Madrid Open 2026 Preview | Entry List, Key Contenders, History & How to Watch

The tournament is now in the semi-final stage. Follow the action round by round: R32 preview • QF preview • semi-final preview.

The 2026 Mutua Madrid Open takes place from 21 April to 3 May at the Caja Magica, with reigning champions Casper Ruud and Aryna Sabalenka returning to defend their titles. With Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic both withdrawn through injury, Jannik Sinner leads the field as top seed in a draw that has opened up significantly. The combined ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event is the second clay Masters of the season, and the unique high-altitude conditions at Caja Magica produce faster, bouncier tennis than anywhere else on the clay swing.

For full broadcast details, see our Madrid Open 2026 live stream guide. For Sinner’s Monte Carlo title run that reshaped the rankings race, see our Monte Carlo final report.

Post-final update: Sinner went on to beat Alexander Zverev 6-4, 6-4 in the Madrid Open final. Read more on Sinner’s record-breaking Madrid Open final win.

Madrid Open 2026 Key Facts

The Story So Far: Sinner Reclaims No 1, Alcaraz Under Pressure

Jannik Sinner arrives in Madrid as the world No 1 after winning the Monte Carlo Masters, beating Carlos Alcaraz 7-6(5), 6-3 in the final. The Italian extended his consecutive Masters 1000 winning streak to 21 matches, joining Djokovic, Federer and Nadal as the only players to achieve that mark. Madrid is one of his rare blank spots — he has reached two finals here without winning the title.

Alcaraz, meanwhile, will not be at Caja Magica. The two-time Madrid champion (2022, 2023) has withdrawn with the right wrist injury that ended his Barcelona campaign early — his second consecutive year missing Madrid. He is now targeting the French Open (24 May) but his participation there is also uncertain. His absence, along with Djokovic’s, transforms the men’s draw into one of the most open Masters 1000 events in years.

Men’s Key Contenders

Carlos Alcaraz: Home Hopes

Alcaraz is not playing. He withdrew on 17 April with a right wrist injury sustained in Barcelona, missing Madrid for the second consecutive year (he also missed 2025 with injury). His participation at the French Open (24 May) — where he is the defending champion — is now in doubt. The three Madrid titles (2022, 2023, 2024) underline just how significant his absence is from this draw. See our Alcaraz vs Sinner H2H for context on the rivalry.

Jannik Sinner: Chasing a First Madrid Title

Sinner is a two-time Madrid finalist (2023, 2024) but has never won the title. The fast clay conditions actually suit him well — his flat ball-striking benefits from extra bounce. Coming off Monte Carlo glory and with the No 1 ranking secured, this is his best chance yet to add Madrid to his collection.

Alexander Zverev: Two-Time Champion

Zverev has won Madrid twice (2018, 2021) and his big-serving game is genuinely effective at altitude. After reaching the Monte Carlo semi-finals where he lost to Sinner, the German arrives with form and confidence. A strong contender on this surface despite struggling on slower clay events.

Novak Djokovic: Withdrawn

Djokovic has also pulled out, citing his ongoing shoulder recovery. The three-time Madrid champion (2011, 2016, 2019) last played at Indian Wells in March and skipped both Miami and Monte Carlo. He is targeting Rome (6–17 May) as his next event, with the French Open the primary clay-season goal. His 100th career title hunt continues to wait.

Casper Ruud: Defending Champion

Ruud won his first Masters 1000 title here in 2025, beating Jack Draper in the final. The Norwegian’s consistency on clay is well-established but he struggled in Monte Carlo before retiring with an injury in the round of 16. His fitness for Madrid is a question mark.

Women’s Key Contenders

Aryna Sabalenka: The Madrid Queen

Sabalenka is a three-time Madrid champion (2021, 2023, 2025) and arrives as the world No 1 in the women’s game. The Belarusian’s power game is tailor-made for the high-altitude conditions, and she has won 19 of her last 22 matches at the venue. Expect her to be the heavy favourite.

Iga Swiatek: 2024 Champion

Swiatek won the Madrid title in 2024 and is the most prolific clay-court player on the WTA Tour. Her topspin-heavy game has historically struggled with the altitude bounce, but the 2024 title proved she can adapt. Will be looking to break Sabalenka’s recent dominance here.

Coco Gauff: Last Year’s Finalist

Gauff reached the final in 2025, losing to Sabalenka in three sets. Her improved serve and aggressive baseline play translate well to Madrid. The American has been steady through 2026 and arrives with genuine title-winning credentials.

Elena Rybakina: Power Game

Rybakina‘s heavy serve and flat groundstrokes thrive on faster surfaces, making Madrid a natural fit. The Kazakh has reached the semi-finals here multiple times. A potential semi-final or final opponent for Sabalenka.

Why Madrid is Different

Madrid stands apart from Monte Carlo and Rome despite being played on the same red clay. The reason is altitude: at 650 metres above sea level, the thinner air makes the ball travel 15-20% faster than at sea-level events. Bounces are higher, serves carry more pace, and big-hitting baseliners are rewarded more than at any other clay tournament.

This explains why hard-court specialists like Zverev and Sabalenka have multiple titles here, while traditional dirt-ball grinders like Djokovic have won less often than expected. It also explains why Sinner has been a finalist twice without yet winning at slower clay events. Madrid is the closest thing to a hard-court Masters on the clay swing.

Recent Champions

Storylines to Watch

• The open draw: With Alcaraz and Djokovic both absent, this is the most open men’s Masters 1000 draw since Madrid 2025. Sinner [1] and Zverev [3] are the clear favourites, but defending champion Ruud [13], De Minaur [7], FAA [5], Shelton [9] and the in-form Rublev all have genuine title ambitions heading to the French Open
• British contingent: Jack Draper reached the 2025 final and arrives looking to confirm his clay-court breakthrough. Cameron Norrie and Emma Raducanu are in the field. Katie Boulter looks for a clay improvement
• Rublev’s momentum: Coming off the Barcelona final (his first ATP 500 final of 2026), Rublev arrives with form and confidence. Madrid was actually his title in 2024 — defending his own points here could push him back towards the top 10
• Vacherot factor: The Monte Carlo semi-finalist returns to a regular tour event after his fairytale week. Can he sustain the level?

How to Watch in the UK

The simplest way to watch Madrid live is through the Bet365 live streaming service. Bet365 offers live coverage of ATP and WTA matches to account holders with a funded account or who have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.

Sky Sports Tennis and NOW TV broadcast the tournament live in the UK. For the full broadcast schedule and TV times, see our Madrid Open 2026 live stream and TV guide.

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FAQs

When is the Madrid Open 2026?

The 2026 Mutua Madrid Open runs from 21 April to 3 May at the Caja Magica in Madrid.

Who are the defending champions?

Casper Ruud won the men’s title in 2025, beating Jack Draper in the final. Aryna Sabalenka is a three-time champion and won the 2025 women’s title.

Why is Madrid different from other clay events?

Caja Magica sits at 650 metres above sea level. The altitude makes the ball travel faster and bounce higher, producing the fastest clay tennis on the calendar. Big servers and aggressive baseliners are rewarded more than at slower events like Monte Carlo or Rome.

How can I watch in the UK?

Sky Sports Tennis and NOW TV broadcast live. Bet365 live streaming is also available to account holders with a funded account or who have placed a bet in the last 24 hours.