The WTA Mutua Madrid Open gets underway at the Caja M\u00e1gica, and the first clay WTA 1000 of the season never disappoints for storylines. Day 1 features a Colombian clay specialist looking to build on a strong season, an 18-year-old wild card getting a crash course in WTA level, and one of the most compelling comeback stories on the women\u2019s tour stepping out in front of a home crowd. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance?<\/p>\n
WTA Madrid Day 1 Predictions
\nAnastasia Zakharova vs Camila Osorio<\/p>\n
Head-to-Head: First meeting<\/p>\n
Zakharova has had a solid season on hard courts, posting a 15-9 record in 2026, but clay is a different proposition entirely. Osorio, on the other hand, is right at home on the surface. The Colombian won a title in January and has notched notable wins over some seasoned competitors earlier this season, and her patient, high-bouncing baseline game is built for these conditions. Zakharova is a capable ball-striker but has not shown enough on clay to suggest she can match Osorio\u2019s comfort and consistency here. The Colombian\u2019s movement and her ability to redirect pace should prove decisive.
Prediction: Osorio in 2<\/p>\n
Tatjana Maria vs Laura Samson<\/p>\n
Head-to-Head: First meeting<\/p>\n
This match also has a significant age gap\u2013Maria, 38, had already been playing professional tournaments for seven years when wild card Laura Samson, 18, was born in 2008. But age is not the story here; form is. Maria reached the Rouen semifinals last week without dropping a set across three matches, beating Elsa Jacquemot, Dominika Salkova, and Iryna Shymanovich before losing to Marta Kostyuk. It was her first genuinely positive showing of the season, and she arrives in Madrid with her confidence visibly restored. Samson is a promising young Czech player with good clay instincts at ITF level, but this is a significant step up. Maria\u2019s experience, her signature slice and variety, and the momentum she carries from Rouen should be enough to see her through.
Prediction: Maria in 2<\/p>\n
Paula Badosa vs Julia Grabher<\/p>\n
Head-to-Head: Badosa 1\u20130 Grabher<\/p>\n