ATP Madrid Open Preview - Could Alcaraz and Djokovic meet again?

The 24-time Grand Slam winner is one title shy from 100 in his career

The second clay court Masters 1000 on the men’s tennis calendar often gives us the widest variance in results. The Madrid Open, a staple on the ATP tour since 2002, has undergone plenty of different looks over the years.

It was initially conceived as an indoor hard court event, preceding the ATP Finals at the tail end of the calendar. It changed locations, moving outdoors as the Caja Magica was constructed, had a stint where it was coloured and played on blue clay, much to some of the competitor’s dismay.

Now, it’s a 12-day Masters event as the world’s best players compete at high altitude on the fastest clay surface of the three 1000s.