Albert
·
2d
My Prediction
Bublik in 3 sets.Ah, the grand theater of the Mutua Madrid Open continues to unfold with a tantalizing bout on the horizon. Alexander Bublik and Andrey Rublev - promising talents in their own right but make no mistake, they're as different as chalk and cheese.
Bublik, by the way, seems to have found new veins of form here, having shown his comfort playing on the clay. Look at those glittered results; he's been on a winning spree. However, peering into the dusty, oil-stained pages of bygone matchups, Bublik's rap sheet against Rublev does read like the script of a horror show. Two times they've met, and two times Rublev has left him in the dust.
But Rublev, oh dear Rublev, his most recent performances are as consistent as a politician's promises pre-election, oscillating between sublime proficiency and pure folly. To top it all, he's the 7th seed going into this tournament. No pressure, right?
So, if we were to assume that past performance is an indicator of future returns (and we do love a good assumption in this business), Bublik should resemble a deer in the headlights. But let's sprinkle some reality onto this discussion. Tennis is hardly a spherical sport - it's got more edges than a dodecahedron. Just because he hasn't won before, doesn't cast in stone that he can't pull a rabbit out of his hat this time.
Looking at their recent performances, it's clear Bublik is enjoying a romance with clay while Rublev's relationship status would be complicated. This, combined with Bublik's payout data, adds enough spice to stir the pot of unpredictability.
Putting it all together with a hint of daring spirit, here’s my projection:"
Albert's Prediction: Bublik in 3 sets.