Alex de Minaur is ready for a second battle royal with the king of clay within the house of every week because the Madrid Open draw supplied up the tantalising alternative for the Australian No.1 to earn a uncommon double over Rafael Nadal.
The pair will meet within the second spherical of the Masters 1000 occasion ought to Nadal, on his comeback from damage after three months on the sidelines, swat apart the 1028th-ranked American wildcard Darwin Blanch in his opener. De Minaur has been given a first-round bye.
The 16-year-old Blanch was amazed to listen to of his draw, reflecting like several wide-eyed teenager may as he declared on social media: “Guys I play Nadal wtf”
Five-time Madrid champ Nadal returned to motion final week in Barcelona however although he gained his opening match there, de Minaur then produced an excellent show to knock out the 22-time grand slam champ within the second spherical.
It could be a uncommon previous feather in his cap if the Sydneysider may beat the best clay-courter in historical past on his residence courts for the second week in a row.
De Minaur shall be accompanied in the principle draw by 5 different Australians, whereas a resurgent Thanasi Kokkinakis is hoping to make it a seven-strong contingent after profitable his first-round qualifier in opposition to France’s Gregoire Barrere 6-2 6-2 on Monday.
Kokkinakis, who’s endured a troublesome opening to his 2024 marketing campaign, has a troublesome task to make the principle draw as he should face former US Open champion Dominic Thiem within the closing spherical of qualifying on Tuesday.
Adelaide’s Kokkinakis was buoyed by his triumph in a Challenger occasion in Sarasota, USA, eight days in the past – a victory achieved whereas nursing a foot drawback – which ensured he certified for the French Open, his most profitable grand slam, and which additionally pushed him again inside the highest 100 at No.93.
If Kokkinakis beats Thiem, the 28-year-old will be part of de Minaur, Jordan Thompson, Chris O’Connell, Max Purcell, and Aleksandar Vukic within the event which additionally options the return of Carlos Alcaraz from damage as he seeks his third straight title in Madrid.
Top-ranked Novak Djokovic, nonetheless with no trophy in 2024, shall be lacking, deciding as an alternative to scale back his clay-court preparations for his French Open title defence. He’ll prepare for the large one by taking part in within the Italian Open.
In the ladies’s occasion, headed by world No.1 Iga Swiatek and reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka, there are two Australians battling to make it into the principle draw, having made it into the ultimate spherical of qualifying.
Daria Saville, the nation’s top-ranked girls’s participant, beat Russian Anastasia Zakharova 6-1 5-7 6-2 on Monday, whereas Aussie No.4 Astra Sharma earned a notable come-from-behind win 4-6 6-1 6-4 over American twenty first qualifying seed Katie Volynets.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
