Raducanu debut, Djokovic seeks form, Nadal and Murray return - things to watch in Madrid

The Madrid Open kicked off on Thursday with the start of the WTA main draw, while the ATP tournament is set to get underway on Sunday. The mixed 1000-point tournament is already an intriguing one with the return of some faces who haven't been seen on the tour in a while and the absence of some others. Express Sport takes a look at six things to watch at the Madrid Open.

Rafael Nadal is back in action for the first time since Indian Wells after a six-week injury layoff when he fractured his rib in the semi-final. The world No 4 announced earlier this week that he would be making his comeback in Madrid but admitted he was not yet exactly what he wanted to be, having only returned to a tennis court for the first time in a month last Monday.

"Despite arriving just before preparation and being difficult, I really want to play and play at home since the opportunities are few," he tweeted on Tuesday. "To try to do it in the best possible way. See you in Madrid." The Spaniard went on a 20 match-winning streak to start his 2022 season, fresh off the back of a six-month injury layoff, in which he won Melbourne, Acapulco and a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.

He lost his last match to Taylor Fritz in the Indian Wells final but will be a favourite to go on to extend his Major title lead to 22 at the French Open, where he is already a record 13-time champion. But it all depends on how well Nadal recovers from his stress fracture, and everyone will be keeping an eye on his level in Madrid in the early stages of his comeback with the French Open less than a month away.

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Emma Raducanu continues her first professional outing on the clay