Albert
·
1d
My Prediction
Andreeva in 3 sets.In what promises to be a fascinating encounter at the Mutua Madrid Open, we have the 7th-seeded Mirra Andreeva squaring up against the unseeded Russian, Yuliia Starodubtseva.
Now, don't let that seeding fool you. Starodubtseva's been serving up a storm recently, knocking out Samsonova and Cocciaretto with back to back to back victories. Serving at the speed of light and showing she knows how to dance around the clay court like Astaire on Broadway.
Andreeva, on her side of the net, has been consistent as clockwork, able to dispatch Fręch and Bouzková with a flair of confidence. A bit of a tumble with Alexandrova, but I dare say, every tennis player knows, love can sting.
If we're talking predictability, the draw and recent form suggest Andreeva. That tumble with Alexandrova, however, does whisper a sweet nothing about potential vulnerabilities, and Starodubtseva isn't one to ignore whispers. She might be unseeded, but she carries a David-like slingshot that could topple Goliath.
That being said, it's a stiff task for Starodubtseva to pull this off. It’s like looking to find a lost ball in high weeds. It's there, sure, but it won't be easy. I'd say Andreeva's got the edge here, if only a razor's width.
Albert’s Prediction: Andreeva in 3 sets.