It has been a thrilling start to the ATP Madrid Open and the excitement is set to continue on day six in the Spanish capital. As always, we here at LWOT are offering our predictions for every match on the schedule for every match on the slate, including Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Shevchenko, but who will book their place in the last 16?
ATP Madrid Day 6 Predictions
Roman Safiullin vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Head-to-head: first meeting
What an opportunity this is for both players. Bernabe Zapata Miralles is usually much better than Roman Safiullin on clay, but we know by now that the conditions in Madrid don’t always showcase that. The edge is still with the Spaniard, even if the courts open up some possibilities for his opponent. Safiullin will need to come out firing and overwhelm Zapata Miralles, which certainly isn’t impossible.
Prediction: Zapata Miralles in 3
Pedro Cachin vs Frances Tiafoe
Head-to-head: first meeting
Pedro Cachin has finally managed to catch some form in recent weeks. Madrid seems to suit him too as just a few weeks ago, he made a Challenger final in this very city. Can he have a shot at Frances Tiafoe? It doesn’t sound impossible. Cachin’s style with an underrated serve and some fairly simple, but very efficient aggression is very effective here. The underdog doesn’t seem to be drawing dead at all, in fact he could have a very fair chance to win.
Prediction: Cachin in 3
Taylor Fritz vs Cristian Garin
Head-to-head: Garin 1-0 Fritz
Cristian Garin has been in incredible form since the Sunshine Double and has to view this as a real opportunity to supercharge his clay-court campaign. While Taylor Fritz has been extremely consistent on the ATP Tour this year (the only event he didn’t make the quarterfinals at was the Australian Open), his last two clay-court performances haven’t been quite as good as you’d usually expect from the American. Garin, who has been ranked as high as world #17, might just edge this if the American plays anything less than his best tennis.
Prediction: Garin in 3
Sebastian Baez vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 1-0 Baez
Stefanos Tsitsipas had to go to the wire with Dominic Thiem on Saturday, but his serving in that match was insane and it always felt like he was on the front foot since the beginning of the second set. Sebastian Baez is an excellent clay-courter himself, but should probably be slightly less effective in the Madrid conditions. Everything points to the fact that Tsitsipas is getting back on the right track and he should have a chance at showing this here.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 2
Main photo credit: Susan Mullane-USA TODAY Sports
