Third round action in Madrid features big names like Dominic Thiem, Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev. We have all your previews and predictions including for Rafael Nadal’s match from the Masters 1000 clay court tournament.
Dominic Thiem vs Alex de Minaur
Thiem leads the h2h 2-0 and just won his first match in 2 months in routine fashion. de Minaur has more matches on his resume this season but this surface doesn’t suit him best and defeating Thiem on clay is always difficult. Look for Thiem to continue to find his range here. Thiem in 2
Andrey Rublev vs John Isner
In his first two matches on clay of 2021 Isner has been solid, including a three set tiebreak win over home player Roberto Bautista Agut in the last round. Rublev has made the quarterfinals or better of his last three tournaments however, which includes the Monte Carlo final and Barcelona quarterfinals. Rublev struggled with Tommy Paul and needed three sets in his opening match but given the surface I like Rublev, perhaps in two tiebreaks. Rublev in 2
Casper Ruud vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
A semifinalist in both Monte Carlo and Munich, Casper Ruud has already made his mark on the clay court season in 2021 and both of his Madrid wins to this point were routine victories. He would be the favourite against most players, but he’s come up against the player of the clay court season thus far, Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Greek world #5 is won Monte Carlo, was a finalist in Barcelona, and then dominated his opening match in Madrid. This is a cracking matchup with Tsitsipas at an advantage. Tsitsipas in 3
Dan Evans vs Alexander Zverev
Evans beat Zverev at the 2016 US Open and with strong recent form on clay will back himself to do it again. The top British men’s player has backed up a semifinal in Monte Carlo with two three set wins in Madrid to reach this point. Zverev has struggled in the transition to clay after winning Acapulco, he was respectable against Kei Nishikori in his first Madrid match, but this feels like an upset in the making. Look for Evans to get an upset win. Evans in 3
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