First-round action continues on day two at the ATP Madrid Open with some intriguing matches on schedule. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Cristian Garin vs Marc-Andrea Huesler and Lorenzo Sonego vs Jan-Lennard Struff. But who will secure their spot in the second round?
ATP Madrid Day 2 Predictions
Mackenzie McDonald vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Head-to-head: first meeting
Bernabe Zapata Miralles has been a huge letdown in recent weeks. His performances have been erratic which is so unlike him on clay. But Mackenzie McDonald, at least on paper, is hardly a threat on the surface and arrives in Madrid without any momentum after back-to-back first-round losses in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. That lack of clay-court prowess should tilt this matchup decsively in the Spaniard’s favour. As long as Zapata Miralles remains steady from the baseline (not exactly a cast iron guarantee given his recent form), it’s hard to see the American’s counter-punching style having any major effect on Zapata Miralles.
Prediction: Zapata Miralles in 2
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Nuno Borges vs Marcos Giron
Head-to-head: first meeting
Marcos Giron has a solid enough record on the clay, with his cause helped with the way he’s able to grind and construct points. His displays in Munich, particularly against seventh seed Roberto Carballes Baena took many by surprise. He may even have surprised himself at how well he can swing on this surface against the non-elite performers. He should have had a fair chance of continuing that recent spell of good form in Madrid. However, Nuno Borges looks primed to get his clay-court season up and running after drawing the short straw against Carlos Alcaraz in Barcelona. The Portuguese’s court coverage is excellent and he has one of the cleanest forehands in the top 100. That combination should give him the edge here.
Prediction: Borges in 3
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Christopher O’Connell vs Filip Krajinovic
Head-to-head: first meeting
Christopher O’Connell has found form at the right time, reaching back-to-back semifinals at his last two tournaments (Split Challenger and the ATP Munich Open). He walks into this match as the clear favourite as a result. Particularly as Filip Krajinovic has completely lost his way, with his 2023 plagued so far by inconsistency and imperfection. The Serb is without a main draw win since Montpellier at the start of February. He is getting closer to ending that barren run,having lost a couple of three-setters in recent weeks, but it is highly unlikely he’ll snap his losing streak in Madrid with O’Connell playing at such a high level.
Prediction: O’Connell in 2
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Kyle Edmund vs Dominic Thiem
Head-to-head: Thiem 1-0 Edmund
Has Dominic Thiem gotten better? Let’s save that question for another day, but he appears to have received a huge slice of good fortune as far as the draw goes. Kyle Edmund, a force on the clay himself at the peak of his powers, is still working his way back to match fitness after a career-threatening knee injury, a process Thiem knows only too well after his own struggles over the the past couple of years. Ultimately, given Thiem’s greater quality on this surface, even in this relatively diminished state, and his far superior match fitness, it’s hard to see the Briton having a shot in this match.
Prediction: Thiem in 2
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
