Roberto Carballes Baena vs Alexander Zverev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 28/04/2023, 04:15  by Devesh Jaganath in Tennis Predictions

Round 2 of the Mutua Madrid Open will continue on Friday, and in the last match of the day, we will see Roberto Carballes Baena take on Alexander Zverev for a place in the Round of 32. Following his title-winning run in Marrakech, Baena has seen his rank improve significantly from 82nd at the start of the month to 53rd coming into this tournament. After an underwhelming start to the season, the Spaniard stepped up in a big way in Marrakech, overcoming the likes of Tallon Griekspoor and Daniel Evans en route to the final against Alexandre Muller, which he won in three sets (4-6 7-6 6-2). However, following that effort, Baena was unable to follow up in Munich last week, making a first-round exit against the lower-ranked Marcos Giron. Baena is now 10-10 for the year, 8-5 on the clay, and will be hoping that last week’s failure was just a temporary blip, which he can rectify in this one. 

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. Currently ranked 16th, 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 after an almighty struggle, came up just short (3-6 7-5 7-6). Like his opponent in this one, Zverev was unable to deliver in Munich last week, exiting in the first round to Christopher O’Connell, and is now 10-11 for the year and 2-2 on clay. The German is heavily fancied to win this one but cannot underestimate Baena, who has already earned a major title this year.