Sinner lands in a favorable bracket at the Madrid Open 2026

The absence of Carlos Alcaraz or Novak Djokovic makes Jannik Sinner the top contender for the Madrid Open championship this year.

The organizing committee of the ATP 1000 Mutua Madrid Open 2026 conducted the bracket draw for participating players on the afternoon of April 20, Vietnam time. Consequently, the reigning world number one Jannik Sinner landed in a very favorable bracket on his quest to claim his first career title at Caja Magica.

As the tournament's top seed, Sinner is exempt from playing in the first round. The Italian player's opponent in the second round is expected to be relatively "soft," likely a qualifier. Sinner's potential third-round opponents are young compatriot Federico Cina, Gabriel Diallo, or Alex Michelsen—none of whom pose a significant challenge to the 24-year-old star.

In the fourth round, the challenge will be slightly tougher with players like Tomas Machac, Tommy Paul, or Cameron Norrie, but overall Sinner is unlikely to lose unless he suffers an injury.

Sinner's potential obstacles in the Madrid Open quarterfinals this year are Alex De Minaur, former champion Andrey Rublev, or the young stars Joao Fonseca and Rafael Jodar. The biggest threat to the 2001-born player in the semifinals will be Lorenzo Musetti, alongside Ben Shelton, Jiri Lehecka, or Hubert Hurkacz—names that are more dangerous under the playing conditions at Caja Magica.

Both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are absent from the Madrid Open 2026 due to physical issues, making Jannik Sinner the clear favorite for the championship. If he wins the trophy in Spain, Sinner will break numerous records: the first player to win four Masters 1000 titles early in the season, the first to win five consecutive Masters 1000 titles, and the youngest player in history to reach the finals of all nine Masters 1000 tournaments.

The current Madrid Open champion is Casper Ruud following his victory over Jack Draper in the 2025 final. Ruud is in the lower bracket with Alexander Zverev and faces several strong opponents on his title defense journey, while Draper has withdrawn due to injury.