A jam-packed Monday at the ATP Madrid Open will see a host of intriguing matches on offer. As always we predict every match on slate, with four of them in this article. In addition, we split the other matches between two more articles. One features Reilly Opelka vs Dominik Koepfer, and the other features Ugo Humbert vs Aslan Karatsev.
ATP Madrid Open Day 2 Predictions
John Isner vs Miomir Kecmanovic
Head-to-head: first meeting
You could make a case of John Isner falling from lofty heights, but he is yet to disappear completely. Two years ago, the towering American was firmly entrenched inside the world’s Top 10. However, a dire run of results has seen his ranking take a substantial hit. At #38 in the world, this is his lowest ranking since 2011. Isner will likely use the tune-up events to confirm a seeding spot for Roland Garros, which serves him right. He opens up against Miomir Kecmanovic at the Madrid Masters.
The Serbian NextGen star is yet to exhibit a level of consistent results this year, but he has performed admirably on the clay of Buenos Aires and most recently in Belgrade, so he should be the favorite here. But the big factor revolves around the 2,200 feet of altitude in the Spanish capital. The conditions in Madrid are completely different from the French Open and other clay court tournaments which even this match. Isner could claim an unlikely win here.
Prediction: Isner in 3
Adrian Mannarino vs Carlos Alcaraz
Head-to-head: first meeting
At 17, Carlos Alcaraz’s rise has been positively meteoric. There have been many pretenders to the throne, but the young Spaniard looks like the heir to Rafael Nadal. He has been a breath of fresh in the men’s game and unsurprisingly he received a wild card for his tournament debut. A win over Adrian Mannarino on Monday will earn him an opportunity for a cross-generation match against Nadal in the second round.
Mannarino arrives in Madrid with a reputation for being one of the weakest clay courters in the top 100. He has a measly six wins on the surface since 2018, and on current form, it would be a major shock if he is to turn things around in this one.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Marcos Giron vs Pablo Andujar
Head-to-head: first meeting
Marcos Giron has a dismal record on clay, but he defied the odds to reach the main draw of a Masters 1000 tournament on clay for the first time. The 27-year-old American beat Brazilian clay courter Thiago Monteiro in qualifying, and benefitted from Yoshihito Nishioka’s retirement in the second round to advance. It will get tougher by the round from hereon for Giron. He starts against another qualifier in the shape of Pablo Andujar.
Both these two players have had special comeback stories from career-ending injuries in the past. Andujar on clay just shades it, but the manner in which Giron has accumulated confidence from his limited experience on the dirt could pose some serious questions for the veteran.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Fabio Fognini vs Carlos Taberner
Head-to-head: first meeting
Things boiled down spectacularly for Fabio Fognini in Barcelona. The mercurial Italian was disqualified midmatch in the second round after he was alleged to have abused a lines judge. Fognini has since appealed the decision and demands closure. It has all gone awry for the 33-year-old after his Monte Carlo title defense came to a juddering halt last month. He could be vulnerable to succumb to an early exit against Carlos Taberner if headspace continues to dictate his matches.
Taberner came through qualifying with a pair of solid wins over Jordan Thompson and Lorenzo Musetti. As the man himself proclaims, he plays in typical Spanish style. He hits with heavy topspin off the forehand wing, and is looking to attack on his next shot. Fognini will play without the handbrake and that will make him extremely dangerous.
Prediction: Fognini in 2
Main Photo from Getty.
