The Mutua Madrid Open, the first WTA 1000 of the clay-court swing, has set its draw with Emma Raducanu facing Karolina Pliskova in the 1st-round, while Katie Boulter enjoys a bye as the No 26 seed. Raducanu, fresh off a quarter-final appearance at the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, will be looking to continue her form in Madrid.
Former World No 1 Simona Halep has withdrawn from the tournament due to knee pain. This opens up the draw for wild-card Caroline Wozniacki, a finalist in 2009. Top seed Iga Swiatek is celebrating her 100th week as the World No 1, a rare achievement in women’s tennis.
The draw also features players like Naomi Osaka, Coco Gauff, and Elena Rybakina, making it a star-studded event. Defending champion Aryna Sabalenka will be looking to retain her title against a competitive field. There are several exciting first-round matches to look forward to, setting the stage for an action-packed tournament in Madrid.
