As dominant as Rafael Nadal has been during the European clay-court swing, he is not the only player in red-hot form at this week's Mutua Madrid Open. The Spaniard has some company among favourites to lift the trophy at the clay-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event. Despite making his first appearance on the dirt this year, Juan Martin del Potro poses a significant threat at the Caja Mágica. Just six weeks removed from capturing his maiden Masters 1000 crown at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Del Potro is eyeing even more success at the elite level. And having won 15 of his past 16 matches entering the week, the Argentine is undoubtedly one to watch in the...
One year ago this week, #NextGenATP Canadian Denis Shapovalov was in the midst of a seven-match losing streak on the ATP Challenger Tour. But on Sunday, the World No. 42 won his debut at the Mutua Madrid Open, an ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event, ousting American Tennys Sandgren 6-1, 6-4 in 54 minutes. At this time last year, Shapovalov had just two tour-level victories in his young career. His win against Sandgren, the World No. 51, is his 24th since. He will next face No. 15 seed Lucas Pouille or another Frenchman, Benoit Paire. Speaking of Frenchmen, Richard Gasquet entered his first-round match in Madrid having lost six of his past seven FedEx ATP Head2Head meetings against No. 14...
