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Emma Raducanu has a mountain to climb to reach the third round of the Madrid Open, with world No. 1 Iga Swiatek set as her first opponent.
Swiatek headlines the top of the draw and will face the winner of the first-round tie between Radukanu and Qualifiers.
The Stuttgart champion is 2-0 at Radukanu and recently won the 2021 US Open title in the round of 16 at Indian Wells this season.
No. 1 seed Swiatek has only competed once in Madrid, in the round of 16 in 2021. Current World No. 1 and eventual finalist Ashley Barty.
Swiatek was forced to withdraw from last year’s event due to a shoulder complaint.
If the seeding is held, Swiatek will face Wimbledon champion and seventh seed Elena Rybakina in the last eight. 2021 Roland Garros winner Barbora Krejcikova is in a loaded class and could face Rybakina in the round of 16.
At the other end of the draw, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka suffered a disappointing loss in her third straight championship match in Stuttgart.
Her first opponent will be Lauren Davis or Sorana Cirstea, the former Australian Open champion.
Cirstea shocked Sabalenka in the quarter-finals in Miami last month but will have to get past the experienced American.
The bottom quarter also includes tenth seed Petra Kvitova, who will be competing in her 100th WTA 1000 main draw at the event she previously topped. Kvitova is a three-time Madrid Open champion, winning the tournament in 2011, 2015 and 2018.
Kvitova will face No. 5 Caroline Garcia in the round of 16. 13th seed Betriz Haddad Mia and 2021 US Open finalist Leila Fernandez are also in the quarter-finals and will meet in the second round if they both win their opening matches.
The second quarter title was clinched by third seed Jessica Pegula.
Pegula, who was a finalist in this tournament last season, will either play Jasmine Paolini or play a playoff game following a first-round bye.
Based on her seeding, Pegula’s quarterfinal opponent should be Russian No. 1 Daria Katkina.
Former world No. 3 Elina Svitolina will compete in the WTA 1000 tournament for the first time since returning from maternity leave. Svitolina, who will meet Pegula in the third round, has never made it past the second round of Madrid in her seven previous main draw appearances.
Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka, who was seeded 15th at the 2023 Madrid Open, could face either Pegula or Svitolina in the round of 16.
Ons Jaber, the defending champion and fourth seed, is the top player in the third quarter. Jaber’s title defense will begin in the second round against Anna Bogdan or Anna Bondar if she can overcome the injury that halted her run in Stuttgart.
Read more: Andy Murray scores a tough Madrid Open draw
If they hold seeds, 6 seed Coco Gauff and 9 seed Maria Sakkari could meet in the round of 16 this quarter. This quarter, Jelena Ostapenko and Sofia Kenin are both Grand Slam champions.
Barbora Strycovam returns to singledom this week after maternity leave. Strycova, who hopes to compete in a few events this season, will face Elisabetta Cociaretto in the first round.
