Carlos Alcaraz vs Alexander Zverev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 08/05/2022, 05:37  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 08/05/2022 at 07:01 in Tennis Predictions

Second seeded Alexander Zverev bids to retain the Madrid Masters title. He has a tough task on his hand though as he faces eighth seeded Carlos Alcaraz in the final. Zverev is the world number three, six places higher than his opponent. He's out to win his first tournament of the year. This is his second final in 2022 but he lost to Alexander Bublik in Montpellier. Prior to this event, he'd had up and down results in the European clay court season. He lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Monte Carlo Masters but then was beaten in his first match in Munich to Holger Rune. Both those losses were to the eventual title winners. He has had success in Madrid this week but it's not been easy getting to this final. Zverev had to come from behind to beat Marin Cilic, but then had a comfortable win over Lorenzo Musetti, who retired early in the second set. The German beat Felix Auger-Aliassime in the last eight and then got revenge on Tsitsipas for that Monte Carlo defeat. It was a late-night thriller as he won that match in three sets. He's had two previous matches against Alcaraz. Both took place last year with Zverev wnning in straight sets in each.

Alcaraz has come on a massive amount since those matches. For the first one, he was ranked 132nd at the time but began this tournament in ninth and will be sixth after this match. It's been an incredible week for Carlos Alcaraz. He celebrated his 19th birthday on Thursday and spent the two days that followed that by beating Rafael Nadal and then Novak Djokovic with both matches going to three sets. Those wins took him into his fourth final of the year. Each of the previous three have been won and that includes clay court title wins in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona. His other wins this week have been against Nikoloz Basilashvili and another three setter against Cameron Norrie. Only Rafa Nadal has earned more ranking points than Alcaraz this year who has won titles in Rio de Janeiro and Barcelona (both on clay) and the Miami Masters. Can he beat three of the top players in the world in successive days? How will Zverev react after his late-night Saturday emi-final? A bet on over 22.5 games is the tip here.