💃 Meanwhile, in Madrid...

Love-Love Letter #5 | April 21-24

Your tennis cheat sheet — for fans who like the game, but don’t want to live on Tennis Twitter.

🌍 Where in the World Are We?

We’re about halfway through clay season and everyone’s in Madrid — where the high altitude means faster, less predictable bounces that can throw even the most confident players off their game.

The Mutua Madrid Open is one of the few joint ATP + WTA 1000s (aka a clay-court double feature that very much matters). With Roland Garros just a month away and only one other major stop left, this is where the contenders start fine-tuning.

📌 What’s happening: Naomi Osaka is out early, Carlos Alcaraz withdrew before hitting a ball, and Iga Swiatek had to dig deep just to survive the second round. Madrid is living up to its reputation as one of the weirdest — and most revealing — stops on tour.

✅ Results You Should Know

Ethan Quinn def. Dušan Lajović 6–3, 6–4 (R1)
💡 Why it matters: This win against a seasoned clay-court player marks qualifier Quinn’s continued transition from college tennis to the pro tour. He’s not just a former NCAA champ — he’s looking like a future problem.

Kei Nishikori def. Aleksandar Vukic 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 (R1)
💡 Why it matters: The Japanese veteran earned his 450th career win — and his first Masters 1000 victory since returning from injury. Don’t call it a comeback?

Iga Świątek def. Alexandra Eala 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 (R2)
💡 Why it matters: Alexandra Eala, the fiery teenager from the Philippines, nearly beat Iga again after shocking her in Miami earlier this year. Iga held firm, but Eala’s for real — keep an eye on her.

Anastasija Sevastova def. Jelena Ostapenko 7–6(2), 6–2 (R2)
💡 Why it matters: Ostapenko just won big in Stuttgart — then lost to an unranked countrywoman coming off an injury. Weird?

🔥 Can’t-Miss Highlights

🎥 Fonseca with some nasty hitting
A crazy slice followed up by a massive forehand down the line. This kid can play.
▶️ Watch here (0:00)

🎥 A rally that had everything
Drop shots, lobs, massive groundstrokes… Coco ultimately prevailed.
▶️ Watch here (1:07)

🎥 Handhake? Hard pass.
Mattia Bellucci lost in three sets, then ghosted Damir Dzumhur’s handshake like it was a bad Hinge date. Tension? ✔️ Drama? ✔️ Sportsmanship? Eh, not so much.
▶️ It’ll make you uncomfortable to watch (we’re sorry)

📆 What to Watch For - Friday, April 25 on Tennis Channel

👀 Andrey Rublev [7] vs. Gaël Monfils - 2:00 PM ET
Rublev’s trying to defend his Madrid title, but Monfils doesn’t always play by the book. Expect chaos, charisma, and at least one absurd tweener attempt.

👀 Elena Rybakina [10] vs. Bianca Andreescu - 3:30 PM ET
Two Grand Slam champs, one early-round showdown. Rybakina’s firepower vs. Andreescu’s variety makes this a can't-miss clash of styles.

📰 Off-Court Happenings

Alcaraz out of Madrid. Spain’s golden boy is skipping his home tournament with hamstring and groin issues picked up in Barcelona. Sad for all.

👗 An Outfit Worth Seeing

Lucia Bronzetti showed up in a… watercolor fever dream?
Was it a winner? You be the judge.