That makes it hard to pick a victor for the tournament that starts this weekend, with Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska now the top seed, while five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova is still in the wilderness after failing a drugs test at Melbourne Park in January.
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Kvitova did beat Williams on her way to the title in the Magic Box last year-their most recent meeting-though the American, like herself, has revelled in the fast conditions of Madrid.
Konta has a tricky first-round encounter in Madrid with France’s Caroline Garcia, the world No 51.
Williams was upset by Svetlana Kuznetsova in the round of 16 of the Miami Open.
Williams has played only three tournaments this season and is yet to win a title, losing in the final of the Australian Open and at Indian Wells before a fourth-round exit in Miami a month ago. She was also a finalist in Rome previous year.
It is no exaggeration to say that 2016 is proving to bring an impressive renaissance for No4 seed Azarenka.
Azarenka will face Briton Laura Robson, playing under her protected injury ranking, in round one.
The two time champion in 2012 and 2013 said in a statement that she had a fever, and was not feeling 100%, but hoped to return soon. Last year Victoria Azarenka lost to Serena Williams in the last 32. However she then went on to win the French Open, and her clay comeback will indeed be at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia. It will be their first meeting. Ivanovic is a third-round possible, with Kvitova in the quarters.
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Heather Watson and Naomi Broady are both hoping to join their compatriots in the main draw but will have to come through qualifying in order to do so.
