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

Prediction published on 02/05/2023, 05:15  by Devesh Jaganath in Tennis Predictions

Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev will do battle for the fifth time in their careers this week when the pair meet in the Round of 16 at the Mutua Madrid Open on Tuesday. It’s a repeat of last year's final, which Alcaraz emerged victorious in, and he will be hoping that he can repeat that performance here as he eyes up back-to-back titles following his title defense in Barcelona last week. The top seed has taken on this opponent four times in the past and has lost on three occasions; however, they are currently 1-1 on the clay. Alcaraz has already reached five tournament finals this season, and he has lost only one, at the Rio Open, to Cameron Norrie. Since that loss, Alcaraz followed up with an incredible performance at Indian Wells, defeating Daniil Medvedev, and went on to reach the semi-final at the Miami Masters two weeks later. In Barcelona, Alcaraz looked formidable from the first match and was little troubled en route to retaining his title, beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in straight sets in the final. Those wins extend his record to 25-2 for the year and 15-1 on the clay. Against an opponent that has bested him in the past, Alcaraz will know that he cannot take his foot off the pedal in this one, or he may be making an unexpected exit.  

Ranked sixteenth in the world and seeded 13th here in Madrid, Zverev continues his search to reach the heights he achieved last year. Following the serious injury he sustained at Roland Garros last year, Zverev hasn’t fully found his best form just yet but has shown flashes of the brilliance he possesses that got him to his peak rank of 2nd in the world last year. The German’s best result since his return came in Dubai, where he reached the semi-final before bowing out to an in-form Andrey Rublev. Zverev stepped onto the clay court for the first time this year in Monte Carlo and looked in good rhythm, beating Alexander Bublik and Roberto Bautista Agut, but ran into Daniil Medvedev in the round of 16 and came up just short (3-6 7-5 7-6). Since his first-round exit in Munich last week, Zverev has bounced back well, beating Roberto Carballes Baena and Hugo Grenier in the earlier rounds here in Madrid. The German will still have fond memories of his win over this opponent the last time they met at Roland Garros, but he isn’t the same player he was then and may find it difficult in this one.