Medvedev Reaches Madrid Open Fourth Round For Fifth-Straight Year

Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev (photo: Florencia Tan Jun/MMO

MADRID/WASHINGTON, April 27, 2026 (by Michael Dickens)

World No. 10 Daniil Medvedev has become the fourth active player to earn 10-plus wins at all nine ATP Masters 1000 events following his 6-3, 6-2 victory over 140th-ranked qualifier Nicolai Budkov Kjaer of Norway at the Mutua Madrid Open Monday afternoon.

The No. 7 seed from Russia joined Grigor Dimitrov, Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev after defeating the 19-year-old Budkov Kjaer in 69 minutes on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium. He’s 17-0 after winning the first set this season and, although clay is not his favorite surface to play on, Medvedev now has advanced to the round of 16 in Madrid for the fifth-straight year. 

The 30-year-old Medvedev, who has now compiled a 21-6 win-loss record for the 2026 season and has won two titles, found a lot of positives in his third-round win over Budkov Kjaer. It followed his second-round victory over No. 50 Fabian Marozsan of Hungary on Saturday.

“I think in general I have played very good in my first two matches,” Medvedev said in his on-court interview. “I know Nicolai very well. We have practiced a lot together in Monaco. In my opinion, he has a lot of potential and can be a top player. It’s a step-by-step process and I don’t want to be the one to give him a big win to push him through. I knew I had to be 100 percent against him – and I was – and I’m happy with my level.”

A year ago, Medvedev won the ATP Masters 1000 in Rome, which showed he has the ability to succeed on clay. “Rome basically proves that when I’m in the zone I can do it. That’s what I’m trying to do, and so far, my two matches I have been in the zone,” he said. “Let’s see what Madrid can do for me.”

Next, Medvedev will face World No. 13 and 10th seed Flavio Cobolli of Italy, who ended the run of 96th-ranked qualifier Adolfo Daniel Vallejo of Paraguay, 6-3, 6-2,  in one hour and 13 minutes on Stadium 3. Cobolli, who is through to the fourth round in Madrid for the first time, is the third Italian along with top seed Jannik Sinner and No. 6 seed Lorenzo Musetti to reach the round of 16 this week.

Reigning champ Ruud trying to recreate winning feeling

After reigning champion Casper Ruud lost just one game during his opening round victory on Saturday over Spanish No. 3 Jaume Munar, he took on Spanish No. 2 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in their seventh tour-level meeting for a berth in the fourth round Monday morning.

Breaking their 3-all tie in their head-to-head, the 12th-seed Ruud marched to a 6-3, 6-1 win over No. 20 seed Davidovich Fokina in one hour and 20 minutes on Manolo Santana Stadium for his eighth-straight victory in Madrid. Ruud’s 15th winner of the match, a nifty fourth-shot forehand put away his 11th winner of the season and it was his 14th triumph overall in the Spanish capital city.

During his on-court interview, Ruud was asked how it is that he’s only lost five games through his first two matches. He replied: “I’m asking the same question myself. I’ve been playing really solid clay-court tennis from beginning to end. I’ve been putting together some solid points, a lot of good returns and from the baseline I feel like I’m back to last year, playing on this court. It brings back memories with the surroundings Every time I step on this court I will have great memories. I’m trying to recreate what went well last year. 

“These two matches have gone quite well. … I’m enjoying it while I can.”

The World No. 15 from Norway leads the ATP Tour in clay wins (134), finals (17, tied with Carlos Alcaraz) and titles (12) since the start of the 2020 season. He has been nothing if not consistent, and against the 24th-ranked Davidovich Fokina, Ruud won 71 percent (20 of 28) of his first-serve points, converted five of eight break-point chances and outpointed his opponent 60-36.

Next, Ruud will face No. 80 Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece, who ended the run of 102nd-ranked Spanish qualifier Daniel Merida, 6-4, 6-2, in one hour and eight minutes on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium for his 14th win of the season and 100th clay victory this decade. Merida, who earned his first Top-30 win in the second round over No. 30 Corentin Moutet of France, will move into the ATP Top 100 next week after seeing his ranking rise to No. 86.

Meanwhile, after ousting World No. 11 Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan in the second round, Tsitsipas is through to the round of 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time since his run to the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters last year. He’s rediscovering the joy of playing tennis.

“When you are playing matches like that, where you are fighting and in a good mindset and constantly looking and searching for opportunities, you feel like the joy of the game on its own allows you to feel fulfilled already when you’re on the court,” Tsitsipas said during his on-court interview. “These types of moments, [regardless] of the actual result, I feel like they teach me a lot. They make me get in touch with the game.

“I really love the game when I get to discover tennis in such ways. Just hitting winners, missing a few times, but overall trying to take the most out of it. Seeing good rotation of my ball and seeing I can actually press and create some big shots, these are the types of moments that make me really enjoy the game.”

Tsitsipas, who is one of four finalists remaining in the draw, hit 20 winners, won 80 percent (24 of 30) of his first-serve points and saved all four break points he faced. He converted three of four break points and outpointed Merida 59-42.

Around the Caja Magica

• World No. 3 and second seed Alexander Zverev of Germany advanced to his ninth Madrid fourth round in as many appearances after holding off No. 47 Terence Atmane of France, 6-3, 7-6 (2), in one hour and 37 minutes on Manolo Santana Stadium Monday evening.

Zverev hit 17 winners, won 82 percent (32 of 39) of his first-serve points, converted three of seven break points and outpointed Atmane 71-59. He’s now 41-1 versus left-handed competition going back to 2023 at Roland-Garros.

The 29-year-old German joined World No. 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy as the only players who have reached the round of 16 at all four ATP Masters 1000 events this season. The victory was Zverev’s 27th at Madrid in his career, which places him fifth-best all-time.

Next, Zverev will face World No. 27 and 23rd seed Jakub Mensik of Czechia, who eliminated World No. 16 and 13th seed Karen Khachanov of Russia, 6-4, 7-6 (11), in one hour and 47 minutes on Arantxa Sanchez Stadium Monday evening. Mensik hit 14 aces, struck 29 winners overall and outpointed Khachanov 81-71  in advancing to the round of 16 in his first clay tournament of the season after being sidelined due to a toe injury.

• World No. 20 and 16th seed Francisco Cerundolo of Argentina, who leads the ATP Tour in clay wins since the start of 2024 season (54), reached the Madrid fourth round for the third-straight year following his 6-2, 6-3 victory over World No. 22 and 18th seed Luciano Darderi of Italy in one hour and 14 minutes on Court 4. The victory improved his 2026 win-loss record to 19-8, while Darderi dropped to 14-10. 

Cerundolo, a 2024 semifinalist and semifinalist last year, earned his first Top-30 win on clay since defeating No. 2 Alexander Zverev and No. 23 Jakub Mensik at Madrid last year. He struck 31 winners, including eight aces, won 77 percent (20 of 26) of his first-serve points and 96 percent (19 of 22) of his second-serve points. Cerundolo faced no break points on his serve. He broke Darderi’s serve three times in seven tries and outpointed his opponent 61-39.

Next, Cerundolo will face No. 69 Alexander Blockx of Belgium, who upset World No. 5 Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada, 7-6 (3), 6-3, in one hour and 33 minutes on Stadium 3. Blockx saved the only break point he faced and converted his only break-point chance against Auger-Aliassime. He outpointed the Canadian No. 1 73-57. 

“I was serving amazing from the beginning of the match,” Blockx said during his on-court interview. “I had so much confidence. I didn’t even think about panicking or losing my serve. I was playing well in the rallies, too, so I knew even if I missed a few serves, I could play the rallies.”

Blockx, who is through to his second-consecutive ATP Masters 1000 fourth round, became the first Belgian man to defeat a Top-5 player on clay since David Goffin defeated No. 2 Novak Djokovic at Monte-Carlo in 2017.

• In doubles, No. 4 seeds Christian Harrison of the United States and Neal Skupski of Great Britain advanced over Americans Robert Cash and JJ Tracy, 6-3, 3-6, 10-7, while unseeded Argentines Maximo Gonzalez and Andres Molteni and Swede/American duo Andre Goransson and Evan King advanced to the second round with their respective victories.

Meanwhile, No. 2 seeds Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool of Great Britain went down to defeat, 6-3, 6-3, against French duo Sadio Doumbia and Fabien Reboul in 67 minutes on Court 6. Also, No. 8 seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori of Italy were upset by unseeded Guido Andreozzi of Argentina and Manuel Guinard of France, 6-3, 7-6 (3), in an hour and 29 minutes on Court 6.

Monday’s Madrid Open results

Tuesday’s Madrid Open order of play

By the numbers

Since the start of the 2020 season, Casper Ruud leads the ATP Tour the most wins on clay with 134, followed by Carlos Alcaraz (108), Alexander Zverev (102), Stefanos Tsitsipas (100) and Francisco Cerundolo (92).

“Quotable …”

“Jodar is a very, very clean hitter [with] very easy power. You can hear the sound when he touches it, and it’s a good sound coming from the racquet. He’s very, very talented. He’s going to be a great, great player in the future, and he’s already showing it. I like his mentality; it’s quite calm. I don’t know him personally, but he seems very humble. He’s a very, very good player, and I wish him only the best.”

– World No. 1 and top seed Jannik Sinner of Italy, during his post-match news conference Sunday, describing #NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar of Spain.

 

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