Players are gathering at the Mutua Madrid Open and our photographer Jimmie48 is already in the Caja Magica with tennis stars.
Naomi Osaka, seeded second in Madrid, talked to the media on Tuesday. The Japanese is making headlines these days with new business ventures: a skincare brand specialized for darker skin tones and a bikini line.
Kiki Bertens returns as the defending champion, having won 11 of her last 12 matches in Madrid including a runner-up finish in 2018 and following up in 2019 to lift the biggest title of her career. Let me remind you, Bertens also won the virtual edition of the Madrid tournament during the coronavirus lockdown in 2020.
Simona Halep clinched the Madrid Open title in 2016 and 2017, plus she finished runner-up to Bertens at the previous staging of the tournament, in 2019. The Romanian was chatting with the media on Tuesday.
Three-time Madrid champion Petra Kvitova was spotted practicing with fellow Czech Karolina Pliskova on Wednesday.
Daria Kasatkina, who has recently came out as bisexual, is the one to watch in Madrid. A former quarterfinalist here in 2018, the Russian is back on the rise this season, having lifted two WTA singles titles already, at the Phillip Island Trophy and on home soil at the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy. She began the season ranked No.72 and now enters Madrid at No.37.
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty has arrived in Madrid on the wings of her recent Stuttgart title. The Australian is the WTA ace leader this season with 146 aces. Moreover, her six Top 10 wins this season are the most in 2021.
Sloane Stephens was spotted practicing on Wednesday.
Anett Kontaveit, who has recently ended her three-year partnership with coach Nigel Sears, is also in town.
Maria Sakkari is in good mood with her coach Tom Hill.
Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep practiced together on Wednesday.
Madison Keys was also preparing for the WTA 1000 tournament on Wednesday.
Iga Swiatek, Elina Svitolina and Belinda Bencic were giving interviews on the day before the start of main-draw action.
Keep checking back to Women’s Tennis Blog for more exclusive photos from the Mutua Madrid Open.
