Musetti vs. Griekspoor, Fils vs. Nava

Seeded gamers begin going head-to-head in Madrid on Sunday, and one such third-round matchup pits Lorenzo Musetti in opposition to Tallon Griekspoor. Barcelona champion Arthur Fils and unseeded Emilio Nava are additionally taking the court docket.

(29) Tallon Griekspoor vs. (6) Lorenzo Musetti

Musetti and Griekspoor shall be squaring off for the third time of their careers once they collide in spherical three of the Mutua Madrid Open on Sunday. Griekspoor has gained each of their earlier encounters — 6-4, 7-6(8) in 2020 Australian Open qualifying and 3-6, 7-6(7), 7-6(3) on the 2024 Rotterdam match.

A transfer to clay ought to give Musetti an enormous enhance. The ninth-ranked Italian was unimaginable all through all the 2025 dust swing and desires this 12 months’s April-May stretch to resurrect his season on the heels of an Australian Open leg harm. Musetti superior to the Barcelona quarterfinals and opened in Madrid with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win over Hubert Hurkacz. Griekspoor has additionally struggled with bodily issues, and he’s simply 8-9 this 12 months after beating Damir Dzumhur 6-3, 6-4 on Friday. Musetti could be anticipated to enhance as he will get increasingly matches beneath his belt, so the Thirty third-ranked Dutchman could possibly be in hassle.

Pick: Musetti in 2

(21) Arthur Fils vs. Emilio Nava

Fils gained the Barcelona title final week and appears like an actual contender to achieve the French Open closing if — with Carlos Alcaraz sidelined —he lands within the backside half of the draw. For now, the Twenty fifth-ranked Frenchman is concentrated on Madrid. He prolonged his present successful streak to 6 matches and improved to 19-5 for the season with a 6-7(4), 7-6(3), 7-5 defeat of Iganacio Buse on Friday.

Up subsequent for the 21-year-old is a second showdown in opposition to Nava, who gained their earlier assembly 6-2, 3-6, 6-2 at a 2022 clay-court Challenger occasion in Blois. It has already been a breakthrough keep in Madrid for the 24-year-old American, who has superior with victories over Jenson Brooksby and Valentin Vacherot. Nava is enjoying nicely, however high-flying circumstances in Madrid will not be simple for a participant who infamously caught 80 unforced errors in a single match on the 2026 Australian Open. Nava’s actual downside, although, is that Fils is just on fireplace.

Pick: Fils in 2