Venus Williams returned to clay singles for the first time since 2021 but left Madrid with a doubles plan in place. The 45-year-old lost her opening match at the Mutua Madrid Open, falling to fellow wild card Kaitlin Quevedo, 6-2, 6-4. The defeat moved Williams to 0-7 on the year.

“All these things take adjustments. I started my practice on clay a couple weeks after Miami,” she told press afterwards. “I haven’t really played on clay in years. But I enjoy the clay, it’s fun. I played against a very inspired opponent today.”

Her stay at the Caja Mágica continues in doubles. Williams will team with Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in a first-time pairing at the event. “She asked me to play, or her coach did. I would like to think she asked me to play, and I was happy to say yes,” laughed Williams.

“She’s got great energy. She’s got a great attitude. She’s a fighter. I’m looking forward to playing with her because I think our energies will really match.”

I was happy to say yes. Venus Williams on playing with Katie Boulter

Boulter is the fifth player set to join forces with Williams in 2026. Williams previously partnered Elina Svitolina (Auckland), Ekaterina Alexandrova (Australian Open), Peyton Stearns (Austin) and Leylah Fernandez (Miami). Williams and Fernandez teamed up to reach the 2025 US Open quarterfinals.

Williams also confirmed she will not play in the Internazionali BNL d’Italia in Rome. “I have other commitments, unfortunately, so I’m really super sad about that, actually,” she said. “My husband is Italian, so we feel sad that we can’t be there. So we would love to keep it going on the clay.”

Jannik Sinner arrives in Madrid as the top-ranked player and a heavy favourite to extend a remarkable run at ATP Masters 1000 level. He will compete in the Mutua Madrid Open without one of his principal rivals in the draw as he chases a fifth consecutive Masters 1000 title.

Before the tournament began, Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz met off court at the Laureus World Sports Awards, where Novak Djokovic and Lorenzo Musetti were also in attendance. “I talked with him. It’s a very big pity to not have him here and also Novak, the two biggest stars in tennis,” stated Sinner when meeting with media Tuesday . “So we still hope it’s going to be a good tournament, but of course, not seeing them, it makes a big difference.”

Alcaraz withdrew from his home event with a right arm injury and is currently wearing a brace. He nonetheless accepted the Laureus World Sportsman of the Year award on the night. Aryna Sabalenka earned Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year honors.

Sinner regained the world No. 1 ranking after prevailing in a winner-take-all final at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters. That victory ended a near four-year title drought on clay for the Italian, who had fallen to Alcaraz on clay at Rome and Roland Garros last season. The 24-year-old became the first man since Novak Djokovic in 2015 to sweep Indian Wells, Miami and Monte Carlo, and he has set his sights on completing a Career Masters 1000 collection in the Spanish and Italian capitals over the next month.

Sinner has never advanced beyond the quarterfinal stage in Madrid and missed last year’s edition while serving a three-month ban in a settlement with WADA related to two positive tests for Clostebol at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open.

His only two losses in 26 matches this season came to Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals and to 16th-ranked Jakub Mensik in the quarterfinals of the ATP 500 event in Doha. I’m just trying to figure out how to play on this surface here in Madrid. Jannik Sinner

“I think every different kind of clay court can help me as I am trying to improve as a player. Here, it might be one of the most challenging ones because of certain things and also depending on who you play,” he said. “I have never played very well here, so let’s see how it goes this year. But I’m very happy to be here.”

Gilles Cervara was observed leading a practice session for Hubert Hurkacz at the Mutua Madrid Open, a sighting that quickly circulated on social media and prompted questions about a possible new coaching link. “Did I miss that announcement?” wrote X user @FadingTramlines alongside two practice-court videos.

Neither Cervara nor Hurkacz have commented on a formal working relationship. Both were recently available on the market. Hurkacz parted ways with Nicolas Massu in March. In a social media post announcing their split, the Pole thanked Massu for his “dedication, hard work and time we spent together during the most challenging times in my career,” a reference to arthroscopic surgery on his right knee last July.

After helping Poland to a United Cup victory in January and upsetting Alexander Zverev along the way, Hurkacz endured a difficult run with seven straight losses spanning the second round of the Australian Open to a Round of 16 exit at the Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters.

Cervara ended his long partnership with Daniil Medvedev following the 2025 US Open and briefly teamed with 20-year-old American Nishesh Basavareddy. That partnership lasted under four months. In their first event together, Basavareddy reached the semifinals at the NextGen ATP Finals last fall, with the youngster saying at the time that “[he] thought that experience at the highest level could help me where I’m at in my career.” Basavareddy also said, “It’s not just the tennis; he’s interested in all aspects. He’s diligent and professional in areas such as nutrition and fitness and that will help me,” about Cervara.

By early April the Cervara-Basavareddy split was announced. Cervara wrote in a social media statement that the split came with “nothing bad or against” Basavareddy and added, “I really wish you to keep growing and improving for the best of your young career and I’m sure you will.” For now, the practice footage in Madrid remains the clearest sign of at least a short-term collaboration between a high-profile coach and a former Top 10 player.