Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Madrid Masters match.
It’s an intriguing twist of fate that Alexander Zverev and Francisco Cerundolo will square off once again at the Madrid Masters – exactly one year after their previous meeting at this very event. Some may be surprised to remember that it was Francisco Cerundolo who claimed victory on that occasion, winning in straight sets (6:3, 6:4). That match took place in the fourth round, while this upcoming clash is a third-round fixture.
Francisco Cerundolo
This means Francisco Cerundolo is at risk of dropping 150 ranking points if he fails to progress, having reached the quarter-finals here last season. Even more notably, he holds another clay-court win over Alexander Zverev – earned earlier this year in Buenos Aires, his home tournament – coming from a set down to win (3:6, 6:3, 6:2).
Alexander Zverev
Overall, Alexander Zverev has a strong record on clay, arguably matching his performance on hard courts, with a win rate exceeding 70%. Still, he now faces a particularly uncomfortable opponent. Adding to his challenge, Zverev spent over an hour more on court than Francisco Cerundolo in the previous round. Pushed to the edge by Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, he eventually prevailed (2:6, 7:6, 7:6) in a gruelling battle that lasted 2 hours and 45 minutes.
Alexander Zverev vs Francisco Cerundolo Prediction
That level of physical exertion could prove costly against a well-rested and confident opponent. While Alexander Zverev remains the favourite, it’s difficult to see him breaking his losing streak against Francisco Cerundolo without a tightly contested affair.
