Three to See, Madrid Day 4: Rublev, Wawrinka clash; Alcaraz opens title defense; Azarenka faces Parks

TC DESK: Wawrinka chats with Prakash after edging Cressy

Andrey Rublev vs. Stan Wawrinka

You might think that the 38-year-old Wawrinka and the 25-year-old Rublev would have played more than three times. But over the last few years, as the Russian began making the later rounds at tournaments, the Swiss was recovering from injury and surgery. Now, with Wawrinka ranked 84th and unseeded, here’s a chance for these two heavy hitters to take another crack at each other in an early-round match. That should suit Rublev, since he is, somewhat surprisingly, 1-2 against Wawrinka. Beside being 13 years younger and ranked 78 spots higher, Rublev, winner in Monte Carlo and runner-up in Banja Luka, is in fine form as well. But Stan has started, ever so slowly, to look like Stan again recently. He won a tough one over Maxime Cressy on Wednesday, and he should make this tough for Rublev, too. Winner: Rublev

Carlos Alcaraz vs. Emil Ruusuvuori

Two years has been a long time in the lives of Alcaraz and Ruusuvuori. Back in 2021, when they faced off for the first and only time, in Miami, the Spaniard and the Finn were two young guys who each looked like prospective Top 10 players. In fact, that day the 22-year-old Ruusuvuori got the better of the 17-year-old Carlitos, 7-5 in the third set. Since then, of course, much has changed. Alcaraz shot up to No. 1 last year, as Ruusuvuori stagnated. Still, while he’s ranked just 41st, he has begun to make some inroads again, reaching the quarterfinals in Miami and winning two matches apiece in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. The Top 10 potential remains for Ruusuvuori, and on Friday he may push Alcaraz harder than the fans in Estadio Santana appreciate. But his chances of repeating his win from 2021 are slim. Winner: Alcaraz

Victoria Azarenka vs. Alycia Parks

Azarenka is 33, Parks is 22, but the experience difference between these two seems much vaster. Vika made the final in Madrid back in 2011 and 2012, while Parks announced herself for the first time this winter, with her shock run to the title in Lyon. Since then, the American has come back to earth. After losing five straight first-round matches, she finally recorded a win over Anna Schmiedlova on Wednesday. Parks has the game to take on, and maybe even out-hit, Azarenka as well. But I’ll go with the experience, and the known quantity, in this one. We know what Azarenka’s level from day to day is; we’re still learning about Parks. Winner: Azarenka