Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Draper in 3 setsHmm, so we've got Jack Draper squaring off against Tommy Paul in the bout of the day at the Mutua Madrid Open. You've got two guys with a history that reads like a see-saw. They've met twice in the past, with Draper coming up trumps in their last outing despite being down in the overall head-to-head.
The recent form of both players doesn’t obviously tip the scales in either’s favor. Draper seems to be the man of the moment, having had a slightly better run lately including an impressive victory against Berrettini. And then there's Tommy Paul; resilient, with notable wins against Garin and Khachanov. A stumble against Brooksby could be seen as a minor hiccup.
But hey, who am I kidding? Seeding matters in this sport, folks, and Draper, seeded 5, has the upper hand against Paul's humble 11. While seeds are not always the most dependable indicator of victory, it's like an insurance policy: it's good to have it when you need it.
Pardon my dry humor, but it's not all love here, it's mostly hard serve, volley, and groundstrokes. Drawing on their previous encounters and recent performances while keeping the payout list in my peripheral vision so that I don't trip myself up, I'll put my so-called expertise on the line.
Albert's Prediction: Draper in 3 sets