Hot on the heels of three days of great tennis at the Caja Mágica, Monday throws up some fascinating match-ups. In the WTA draw the second round gets underway while the ATP takes in first- and second-round games running side by side in a non-stop start to the week.
Feliciano López faces world number 42 Leonardo Mayer in the first match of the day on Manolo Santana. The two players met last year in the second round at the Caja Mágica with the Argentinean claiming victory in a close-fought two-setter. Also on centre court is an attractive Spanish derby between Guillermo García-López and David Ferrer, with a place in the second round at stake. Garbiñe Muguruza is out on the main show court again to play Irina-Camelia Begu after the Spanish number one defeated Anna Karolina Schmiedlova in two sets in her opening match on Sunday.
Among the most eye-catching encounters on day four is fourth seed Victoria Azarenka versus Alizé Cornet in the third game on Manolo Santana, following on from defending champion Petra Kvitova’s second round match against Elena Vesnina.
There will be plenty of local interest in the doubles on the opening day of the week. Four home pairs are in action on Monday, including an all-Spanish tussle pitting Anabel Medina and Arantxa Parra against Paula Badosa and María José Martínez. In the men’s draw, Fernando Verdasco and Pablo Carreno Busta play Kevin Anderson and Jeremy Chardy. The prize on offer for the victors of that duel is a second round meeting with top seeds Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut.
