Sebastian Baez vs Taylor Fritz Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Mutua Madrid Open

Prediction published on 27/04/2024, 08:02  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 27/04/2024 at 09:02 in ATP Mutua Madrid Open Predictions

12th seeded Taylor Fritz looks to continue his good run against 18th seed Sebastian Baez. This is a third round match in the Madrid Masters with the winner facing either eighth-seed Hubert Hurkacz or unseeded Daniel Altmaier. Fritz has won all four of his previous matches against Baez but they were played on hard courts. This however is an outdoor clay court tournament so Baez is likely to be a more difficult opponent this time. Fritz has shown recent good form on clay though. Last weekend saw him get to the final of the BMW Open in Munich, losing to Jan-Lennard Struff. That was his first ever clay court final. Fritz is 13th in the world rankings and only a couple of places lower in the ATP Live Race. Round two of this tournament saw him beat Luciano Darderi in straight sets. A win here will take him into the fourth round in Madrid for the second successive year.

Sebastian Baez has already won two ATP Tour clay court tournaments this year. He recorded back-to-back wins in Rio and Santiago. Baez also made the semi-finals in Cordoba and the last eight in Buenos Aries. His form in Europe hasn't been so consistent with early defeats in Monte Carlo and Barcelona. He got his first win in this year's European clay court season with victory over Luca van Assche in round two. He had to go to three sets though after losing the second on a tie-break. He's up to 18th in the live rankings and is 14th in the ATP Race. Fritz has improved on clay and we tip him to win this match.