Shapovalov v. Felix Headlines Opening Day At Mutua Madrid Open; Read Preview

#NextGenATP Canadians Denis Shapovalov and Felix Auger-Aliassime are close friends off the court, but they’ll take the court as opponents on Sunday at the Mutua Madrid Open. Aussie Nick Kyrgios also headlines Day 1 against Jan-Lennard Struff of Germany.

Shapovalov won their only previous FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting at last year’s US Open, which ended with Auger-Aliassime retiring in the third set due to cramping. Both men have established their clay-court prowess early in their careers. Shapovalov was a semi-finalist last year in Madrid and Auger-Aliassime reached his first ATP Tour final this February at the Rio Open presented by Claro (l. to Djere).

Who will win the latest @FedEx ATP Head2Head meeting between these players?@MutuaMadridOpen

— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) May 4, 2019

Kyrgios starts his clay-court season in Madrid after missing last year’s event due to injury. The Aussie has scored high-profile wins before in Madrid, including a second-round upset over then World No. 1 Roger Federer in 2015. Struff arrives in top form after reaching the quarter-finals two weeks ago at the Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell.

Dominic Thiem of Austria, Grigor Dimitrov of Bulgaria and Karen Khachanov of Russia are among the top singles players to hit the doubles court on opening day. All seven final-round qualifying matches will also take place.

ORDER OF PLAY – THURSDAY, 28 MARCH 2019

COURT MANOLO SANTANA start 11:00 am
Four WTA matches

Not Before 7:00 pm
Denis Shapovalov (CAN) vs [WC] Felix Auger-Aliassime (CAN)

COURT ARANTXA SANCHEZ start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [3] Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs [WC] Roberto Carballes Baena (ESP) Marcelo Melo (BRA) vs [3] Bob Bryan (USA) / Mike Bryan (USA)

Not Before 12:30 pm
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Three WTA matches

STADIUM 3 start 11:00 am
Qualifying – [7] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs Marius Copil (ROU)
Two WTA matches

Not Before 4:00 pm
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) / Karen Khachanov (RUS) vs [4] Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL) / Robert Farah (COL)
[WC] David Marrero (ESP) / Fernando Verdasco (ESP) vs Diego Schwartzman (ARG) / Dominic Thiem (AUT)

COURT 4 start 11:00 am
Three WTA matches
Qualifying – [1] Pierre-Hugues Herbert (FRA) vs [11] Robin Haase (NED)
WTA match

COURT 6 start 11:00 am
Two WTA matches
Qualifying – Juan Ignacio Londero (ARG) vs [8] Reilly Opelka (USA)
Qualifying – [5] Adrian Mannarino (FRA) vs [9] Martin Klizan (SVK)
WTA match

COURT 7 start 11:00 am
Two WTA matches
Qualifying – Guido Andreozzi (ARG) vs Hugo Dellien (BOL)
Two WTA matches