Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Alexander Zverev face off ahead of French Open

Let’s get ready to rummmmmble! After three weeks of the ATP clay season where tennis’ prize fighters have managed to avoid each other like two heavyweight boxers in their prime, it’s finally time to slug it out in Madrid. Rafael Nadal will make his return to the ring after an injury-enforced absence, Novak Djokovic is raring to go again after battling his way to the final of the Serbia Open, Carlos Alcaraz comes in hot after winning the Barcelona Open, Stefanos Tsitsipas won Monte Carlo, then got knocked down by Alcaraz in Barcelona, but is back for more, and Alexander Zverev will be looking to find form as he defends his title. Ad/> It’s shaping up to be an intriguing tournament in the Spanish capital.

ATP MadridExclusive: Zverev still 'extremely disappointed' with shock Munich exit29 MINUTES AGO Around none of the leading contenders is there more intrigue than Djokovic. Having missed most of the first quarter of the season, the world No. 1 spent over 10 hours on court in Belgrade, grinding his way to the final where he lost to Andrey Rublev.

Djokovic said afterwards it was a positive week – and former world No. 1 Andy Roddick agreed – but raised some concern by saying his lack of fitness towards the end of the final was “worrisome”. Djokovic also faded badly in the third set of his defeat to Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in Monte Carlo, where his coach Goran Ivanisevic said he had been recovering from sickness.