The Mutua Madrid Open offers unique conditions within the context of the European clay season, with the relatively high altitude of the Spanish capital contributing to plenty of fast-paced, exhilarating tennis on the 'red dirt’.
So how have the world’s finest players been capitalising on the quick conditions at the ATP Masters 1000 event? From swivel forehands to reflex volleys and around-the-net-post magic, ATPTour.com rounds up the best Hot Shots so far from the 2026 Mutua Madrid Open.
Jannik Sinner produced many striking first-set moments of magic in his semi-final win over Arthur Fils on Friday, but perhaps the standout one came to break serve for a 4-1 lead. The Italian absorbed Fils’ pace and redirected with ease before ending the 24-shot rally with a fearless forehand winner from out wide.
Alexander Blockx brought several magic moments to his quarter-final upset of Casper Ruud on Thursday in Madrid. Perhaps the highlight of the 21-year-old ‘s victory was the stunning drop shot he pulled off to break serve in the third game, with the slow-motion replays of the winner highlighting the combination of athleticism and racquet skill shown by the Belgian.
Jannik Sinner was down break point against Spaniard Rafael Jodar in the second set of the pair's quarter-final in Madrid but found a moment of brilliance on the backhand to fend off the danger. Jodar looked in pole position when he tracked down a Sinner drop shot, only for the World No. 1 to flick a backhand winner past him.
Jodar once again showed fans what he is capable of with his run to the last eight and laid down the hammer against Sinner in the second set. The 19-year-old struck a devastating blow with the forehand, leaving the Italian flapping at thin air.
Casper Ruud found himself on the back foot in his fourth-round match against Stefanos Tsitsipas but delivered when it mattered most when he found a stunning lob to win the second set against the Greek. The defending champion hung in the rally before he produced a perfect backhand lob to level. Ruud would go on to save two match points and earn victory in three sets.
Jiri Lehecka produced a wow moment in the first set of his straight-sets win against Lorenzo Musetti in the fourth round. Charging to a ball out wide on the forehand, the Czech ripped a stunning forehand winner past the Italian, who could do nothing but watch.
Francisco Cerundolo found himself in a tricky moment during his third-round clash with Luciano Darderi, but handled it with both style and ingenuity. When Darderi’s return just dropped over the net but then began drifting bouncing back towards the Italian's side, Cerundolo reached across to execute an instinctive-yet-crucial touch that earned him the point. A bizarre-looking shot, but perfectly legal.
Lorenzo Musetti is finding his rhythm again in Madrid after an injury-hit start to 2026, with his one-handed backhand once more underpinning his game. The 24-year-old produced another exquisite winner off that wing in his third-round clash against Tallon Griekspoor, leaving both players impressed.
Tommy Paul helped usher in the start of the men’s doubles event in Madrid with a stunning piece of instinct-based play on Sunday afternoon. Competing alongside his fellow American Ethan Quinn, Paul left both his partner and his opponents Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic scratching their heads by pulling off a remarkable around-the-net-post winner.
Jiri Lehecka had not one, not two, but three attempts at breaking through Alejandro Tabilo after the Chilean advanced to the net when set point down in the pair’s second-round clash on Friday. Tabilo kept himself in the point by repelling Lehecka’s first two passing shots and then had the crowd on its feet with a remarkable point-winning reflex volley on the third.
Ben Shelton has a habit of keeping the in-stadium energy high during his matches and the American certainly did that while saving a break point against Dino Prizmic on Friday. Shelton responded to his opponent’s rasping forehand with a half-volley dropper to leave his opponent in visible disbelief.
Daniel Merida came back from the brink to notch his first main-draw win at his hometown tournament, where he saved the first of two match points against Marco Trungelliti with a forehand struck from so far wide that he was nearly out of range for the TV camera. Argentine Trungelliti could only stand and applaud, and Merida went on to secure an emotional victory.
Yannick Hanfmann followed a cat-and-mouse exchange at the net with Marcos Giron by producing one of the more unlikely winners of Day 2 in Madrid. The German met Giron’s smash with a perfectly angled backhand slice to clinch the point.
The sight of #NextGenATP star Rafael Jodar slamming forehand winners quickly became a familiar one to fans this year in Madrid. The 19-year-old produced a typically clean example of his trademark shot, only this time on the turn, en route to defeating Jesper de Jong for his first win at his hometown Masters 1000.
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