The second day of second-round action in Madrid is headlined by a showdown between Tommy Paul and Joao Fonseca. Jack Draper and Tallon Griekspoor are also aiming for a place in the last 32 of this Masters 1000 event.
Joao Fonseca vs. (11) Tommy Paul
No seed wants to draw Fonseca in an opening match at any tournament, but that is the unfortunate fate that is upon Tommy Paul at the Mutua Madrid Open. They will be squaring off for the first time in their careers when second-round competition wraps up on Saturday. Fonseca may not be the highest-ranked unseeded player at No. 65, but–even at 18 years old–he is certainly the most talented. The Brazilian has won 10 ATP-level matches in 2025–including a title in Buenos Aires–after easing past Elmer Moller 6-2, 6-3 on Thursday.
Paul has cooled off in a big way since a hot start to the season. The 12th-ranked American got blown out by a slumping Daniil Medvedev in the Indian Wells fourth round, lost his second match in Miami to Francisco Cerundolo, and was upset by Jenson Brooksby in the Houston semifinals. Paul is decent on clay but far from amazing, so he probably can’t even be considered the favorite to win this match.
Pick: Fonseca in 3
(5) Jack Draper vs. Tallon Griekspoor
Draper and Griekspoor will be going head-to-head for the second time in their careers on Saturday. Their only previous meeting came two years ago on the hard courts of Winston-Salem, where Griekspoor led 7-6(8) before Draper retired. Physical problems have continued to be an issue for the 23-year-old Brit, but those are the only things that have held him back at all in recent seasons. When healthy, Draper has been great. He is up to No. 6 in the world thanks to a title in Indian Wells, a runner-up performance in Doha, and last summer’s semifinal run at the U.S. Open.
Clay, however, has never been a good surface for Draper. He is 25-20 lifetime as a professional on this surface. By comparison, Griekspoor is 163-90. Moreover, the 34th-ranked Dutchman already has a match under his belt in the unique conditions of Madrid–having defeated Vit Kopriva 6-1, 6-4. That advantage combined with his own outstanding form (17-9 record) means an upset could be in the cards.
Pick: Griekspoor in 3
