Madrid Open tennis 2017: How to watch live, TV listings, seeding information, draw and preview

The second Masters 1000 tournament of the season on the red dirt - Madrid Open - kickstarts from 7 May at Manzanares Park Tennis Center in Madrid with superstar Men's singles players taking part in it.

While defending champion Novak Djokovic, who recently split with his full coaching team, starts as second seed behind world number one Andy Murray, four-time champion Rafael Nadal is favourite to win a record fifth title at home after beginning the clay season on a high with titles at Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open.

Nadal, on his comeback run from injury, impressed on hard courts, reaching the finals of Australian Open, Acapulco and Miami but was not able to break his title drought. However, the 14-time Grand Slam champion has hit peak form on his favourite surface and is looking unstoppable now.

Fourth seed Nadal will open his campaign against the winner of R1 clash between Portugal's Joao Sousa and Italy's Fabio Fognini and is expected to face Australia's Nick Kyrgios (16th seed) as early as in the third round.

Djokovic faces Kei Nishikori test

Djokovic, who will be playing without a coaching team, is drawn in the same half as Nadal and the two shuttlers might set up a semi-final meeting. However, the Serb is likely to meet fit-again sixth seed Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final.

Third seed Stan Wawrinka, who finished as runner-up at Indian Wells earlier this year, has been handed an easier draw with a possible quarter-final meeting against seventh seed Marin Cilic.

Murray handed easy draw

Murray, who reached the semi-final in Barcelona Open last month, will be geared up to come with a good show and the top seed also has an easier path to the semi-final as he is expected to meet eighth seed Dominic Thiem in the last-eight match.

Seeding information