Second round matches will start on Day 3 of the ATP Mutua Madrid Open and the contests will get a lot closer and more exciting. This article features defending champion, Andrey Rublev, who will face Gael Monfils in one of the matches of the day. As always, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate, but who will advance?
ATP Madrid Day 3 Predictions
Francisco Cerundolo vs Harold Mayot
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Francisco Cerundolo reached the semifinal in Munich last week, losing a close match to Ben Shelton. The Argentine player has a 12-5 record on clay this season and played some great tennis in Madrid last year. Harold Mayot won his first main draw match in Madrid with a brilliant performance against a tricky player. Mayot got broken just once against his compatriot Corentin Moutet, who retired in the second set. This was a huge win for Mayot, but upsetting Cerundolo would be a big task.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 2
Alexander Bublik vs Alexei Popyrin
Head-to-Head: Bublik 0-2 Popyrin
Alexander Bublik ended his two-match main draw losing streak with a determined performance against Alex Michelsen. Madrid’s courts suit Bublik the most out of any clay court tournaments, and he has a quarterfinal appearance to show for it. Alexei Popyrin should also benefit from the faster conditions if he serves well. The Australian player will be looking to win a match here for the first time since 2021. Bublik served 11 aces in the first round and has to keep serving at a great rate to have a chance. Popyrin is also a good server, but has the added advantage from the baseline.
Prediction: Popyrin in 3
Ben Shelton vs Mariano Navone
Head-to-Head: Shelton 2-0 Navone
The ball flies through a lot quicker at the Madrid Masters, and Ben Shelton’s big serve could be a menace to deal with for opponents. Shelton has to still refine his game on clay, but if he can serve at a high rate and be solid on his backhand, he can be one of the dark horses in Madrid. Mariano Navone is a solid clay courter and will look to extend rallies as much as he can. However, his recent demolition by Shelton in Indian Wells can’t be overlooked, even though the surface is different. I expect a closer match this time, but the outcome should be the same.
Prediction: Shelton in 3
Andrey Rublev vs Gael Monfils
Head-to-Head: Rublev 3-1 Monfils
Andrey Rublev will start his title defense against the resurgent Gael Monfils, who made a great comeback in the first round after getting demolished in the first set against Borna Gojo. Monfils can not afford to make another slow start against a much better opponent, who is a great front-runner. These two recently met in Monte Carlo, where Rublev prevailed in two tight sets. Madrid’s quicker condition should help Monfils get more free points on his serve. The Frenchman must do a better job of protecting his second serve as well. I believe this match will go the distance, and Rublev will win.
Prediction: Rublev in 3
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
