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Aryna Sabalenka will be back in the Spanish capital to defend her crown at the 2024 Madrid Open, which kicks off the main draw action on Tuesday (April 23).
The Belarusian will be joined by World No. 1 Iga Swiatek, who she beat in last year’s final, former winner Ons Jabeur and a host of other title contenders.
One of the biggest stops on the Tour by virtue of being a WTA 1000 tournament, the Madrid Open presents plenty of opportunities for both the players and the fans. Here, we have compiled all the information that you need to have heading into the week:
What is the Madrid Open?
Initially a men's Masters-level tournament, the Madrid Open held its first edition on the WTA Tour in 2009. Starting in 2021, the women's tournament became an extended two-week tournament and has remained so since.
Petra Kvitova is the most decorated Madrid Open champion, having lifted the WTA 1000 trophy on three occasions — 2011, 2015 and 2018.
Other former champions include Dinara Safina, the winner of the inaugural edition, Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep, Aryna Sabalenka and Ons Jabeur.
Venue
The tournament is played on the outdoor claycourts of the Park Manzanares in Madrid, Spain.
Schedule
Main draw action for the tournament commences on Tuesday (April 26), but qualifying rounds begin four days earlier. The summit clash will be contested on Saturday (May 5).
Players and Draw
Top seed Iga Swiatek will open her campaign with a second-round encounter against either Ana Bogdan or Wang Xiyu.
The Pole’s projected semifinal opponent, Coco Gauff, also faces a tricky first opponent — the winner of a clash between talented teen Brenda Fruhvirtova and clay specialist Arantxa Rus.
Anchoring the bottom half are defending champion Aryna Sabalenka and the recently crowned Stuttgart winner Elena Rybakina.
While the former plays either Rouen finalist Magda Linette or Elisabetta Cocciaretto, the latter will open against Lucia Bronzetti or a qualifier.
Prize Money
The total prize money this year is €7,877,020. The women's singles champion is set to pocket €963,225, along with 1000 ranking points. Here's a detailed breakdown of the prize money and ranking points:
Where to watch
Viewers in the US and UK can watch the tournament live on the following channels and sites:
US: The official broadcaster in the region is the Tennis Channel.
UK: Matches will be telecast on Sky UK.
