Madrid Open preview: Djokovic's new life, Rafa's streak, crunch time for Murray

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  • Djokovic at the Players' Party. (Photo credit: Mutua Madrid Open)

    The French Open is three weeks away, which means players are into the business end of their clay preparations, while also stepping up their game for the Masters 1000 tournaments in Madrid and Rome.

    The ATP draw was conducted on Friday evening, in the presence of a suit-clad Feliciano Lopez – who is from Toledo, which is just outside Madrid – making the Caja Magica practically home for him.

    Novak Djokovic is the defending champion and Madrid will be the first tournament of his new life without his long-time coach Marian Vajda, and other members of his staff.

    The Serb is seeded No2 in the Spanish capital behind 2015 champion and 2016 runner-up Andy Murray and will open his campaign against one of two home wildcards, Tommy Robredo and Nicolas Almagro.

    He is slated to potentially face 15th-seeded Gael Monfils in the third round and 10th-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or sixth-seeded Kei Nishikori in the quarters.

    Four-time champion Rafael Nadal is in the same half as Djokovic, with a highly-anticipated semi-final between them possibly in the cards.

    Nadal, the No4 seed, is on a 10-match winning streak and begins his quest for a third consecutive ATP title against either Joao Sousa or Fabio Fognini.

    He could get 16th-seeded Nick Kyrgios (who made semis here last year) in the third round and No5 seed Milos Raonic in the quarters.

    The top half of the draw will see Murray possibly face some familiar foes, who have had some success against him in the past. His first match could be against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who beat him in Indian Wells in 2012.

    The British world No1 could take on 13th-seeded Lucas Pouille or Mischa Zverev (beat him in Melbourne this year) in the third round, before possible quarter-final showdowns with either No12 seed Grigor Dimitrov (has three wins over him) or eighth-seeded Dominic Thiem, who took out Murray in the Barcelona semis last week.

    In the semis, Murray might square off with No3 seed Stan Wawrinka, who opens against either Benoit Paire or Pablo Carreno Busta.

    Projected quarter-finals (by seed)

    Andy Murray (GBR x1) v Dominic Thiem (AUT x8)

    Stan Wawrinka (SUI x3) v Marin Cilic (CRO x7)

    Milos Raonic (CAN x5) v Rafael Nadal (ESP x4)

    Kei Nishikori (JPN x6) v Novak Djokovic (SRB x2)

    Here are the main talking points ahead of Sunday’s main draw kick-off…

    LOVE AND PEACE FOR DJOKOVIC?

    The Serb will face the media on Sunday just two days following his shock announcement that he has split with his head coach Vajda, his fitness coach Gebhard Gritsch and physio Miljan Amanovic.

    Djokovic has been spotted around the grounds with his brother Marko in tow, but without the entourage he typically travels around with. Pepe Imaz, who is being referred to as a ‘guru’ by the media and has introduced Djokovic to his ‘Amor y Paz’ (love and peace) method, is on-site, but reports suggest he may be here with other players, not the world No2.

    Imaz was asked about Djokovic by Spanish television station TDP. He said the Serb is feeling happy and fresh after spending a week in Marbella prior to the tournament. He also refused to comment about Djokovic’s decision to part ways with his coaching team but said that the relationship between Djokovic, Vajda and the rest is far more than being just a professional one.

    Djokovic has a 14-4 win-loss record so far this season, with his only clay outing coming in Monte Carlo last month, where he lost to David Goffin in the quarter-finals.

    He hasn’t won a title this year since he opened 2017 by defending his Doha title.

    It’s unclear when he plans on hiring a new coach but it seems likely he’ll keep flying solo through the French Open, where he is the title holder.

    NADAL’S ON A STREAK

    The Spaniard has won his last 10 matches to pick up titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona and will be looking to keep that run going. Last year, Nadal also came to Madrid with the same two clay titles under his belt but ended up losing to Murray in the semi-finals at the Caja Magica. His form this season though implies it would take quite an effort to beat him on his beloved surface this week.

    THIRD STRAIGHT FINAL FOR MURRAY?

    The Caja Magica had never been a successful venue for Murray up until he shocked Nadal in the 2015 final to claim the title. He reached the final last year, but lost to Djokovic, and seems to have figured out, not just clay as a surface, but the right formula to tackle the altitude, flying balls, and different conditions of Madrid.

    Barring a trophy run in Dubai, the world No1’s season has had more downs than ups thus far (he is 15-5). But Madrid could be the catalyst he needs to get back on track. It’s worked for him in the past.

    IS KYRGIOS READY FOR THE CLAY?

    Nick Kyrgios 2017 has so far looked like this: R2, SF, SF, QF, SF + three Davis Cup wins and two wins over Djokovic. That is impressive to say the least. He pulled out of Estoril because his grandfather died and Madrid will be his first clay event of the season.

    He made quarters in the Spanish capital last year and beat Federer when he  made his debut here in 2015. Courts should suit him, and he could face Nadal in the third round. Make it happen, tennis!

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