The third round (Round of 32) of the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open brought us plenty of excitement, as well as confirmation that the World No. 1 is slowly raising his operating temperature on the clay. Besides routine victories from the favorites, we saw a brilliant comeback fueled by experience, but also, unfortunately, a retirement due to injury that cast a shadow over an excellent match.
We singled out the four most interesting duels of this round and analyzed the statistics in detail.
🇮🇹 Jannik Sinner vs 🇩🇰 Elmer Moller: The World No. 1 is Flawless (2-0)
Result: Sinner wins 2-0 (6-2, 6-3) in 1h 18m.
After struggling quite a bit in his opening match at the tournament, Jannik Sinner showed the young Dane Elmer Moller exactly why he is No. 1. From the very start, Sinner dictated the pace, securing a routine victory without breaking too much of a sweat. Moller showed his teeth, hitting 18 winners, but also made 21 unforced errors under the heavy pressure of Sinner’s deep groundstrokes.
Key Statistics:
- Serve Stability: Sinner dominated with his initial shot. He had a 71% first-serve percentage and won an impressive 72% (26/36) of points on his first serve, as well as 68% (19/28) on his second serve.
- Break Point Control: The Italian converted 4 out of 9 break point opportunities, while Moller failed to convert his only chance (0/1).
🇦🇷 Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs 🇭🇷 Dino Prizmic: Experience Prevails Over Youth (2-1)
Result: Etcheverry wins 2-1 (2-6, 6-4, 6-3) in 2h 10m.
Young Croatian tennis player Dino Prizmic opened the match brilliantly, flying across the court and easily taking the first set 6-2. However, the experienced clay-courter Tomas Martin Etcheverry (25th seed) didn’t panic. He changed his tactics, slowed down the rhythm, and began tiring his young rival in grueling, long rallies, which ultimately brought him a massive comeback.
Key Statistics:
- Aggressiveness Paid Off: The Argentine finished the match with a whopping 34 winners, compared to Prizmic’s 20, taking total control of the initiative in the second and third sets.
- Capitalizing on Prizmic’s Second Serve: Etcheverry applied immense pressure whenever Prizmic missed his first serve, winning 47% (16/34) of return points on the second serve and securing 4 breaks in the match.
🇮🇹 Lorenzo Musetti vs 🇳🇱 Tallon Griekspoor: The Routine of the Italian Clay Master (2-0)
Result: Musetti wins 2-0 (6-4, 7-5) in 1h 41m.
The sixth seed, Lorenzo Musetti, continues his solid performances at the Caja Magica. Although Tallon Griekspoor tried to impose his attacking game, Musetti’s variation and heavy topspin were simply too much for the Dutchman. The match was decided by a few key points late in both sets.
Key Statistics:
- Success on Crucial Points: Musetti converted 4 out of 9 break points, while Griekspoor converted 2 out of 4.
- Total Points: The Italian won the baseline battle, taking a total of 70 points (54%) against Griekspoor’s 60.
🇨🇿 Vit Kopriva vs 🇫🇷 Arthur Rinderknech: Injury Cuts the Drama Short (Retirement)
Result: Kopriva advances with the score at 1-1 in sets (6-4, 3-6, 0-0) following a retirement.
What promised to be the match of the day ended in the worst possible way. Vit Kopriva surprised the 22nd seed by taking the first set. Arthur Rinderknech responded strongly, raised his serving level (11 aces in the match), and tied it at 1-1. Unfortunately, right before the start of the deciding third set, the Frenchman had to retire from the match due to a left calf muscle injury, sending Kopriva into the next round.
The third round showed us that top players like Sinner are now playing with much more confidence. On the other hand, comebacks like Etcheverry’s prove just how crucial experience is on the Madrid clay.
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