Action continues on day two at the ATP Madrid Open with a number of standout first-round clashes on the slate. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the slate, including Nicolas Jarry vs Daniel Altmaier and Jan-Lennard Struff vs Botic van de Zandschulp. But who will book their spot in the second round in the Spanish capital?
ATP Madrid Day 2 Predictions
Aleksandar Vukic vs Kei Nishikori
Head-to-head: first meeting
Kei Nishikori and Aleksandar Vukic are set to face each other for the first time in the opening round of the 2025 ATP Madrid Open. Nishikori, a former world #4, has shown signs of resurgence this season, including a runner-up finish at the Hong Kong Open and a victory over Mitchell Krueger in Houston before retiring in the next round due to injury. He is very unlikely to scale the heights he did earlier in his career, but he has a good record in Madrid and is still a dangerous opponent. Vukic on the other hand has struggled on clay this year, and comes into this match having lost his last nine matches. Although Nishikori’s recent retirement raises questions about his fitness, if Nishikori is fully fit he should have the edge over the struggling Vukic.
Prediction: Nishikori in 3
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Bu Yunchaokete vs Jacob Fearnley
Head-to-head: Fearnley 2-0 Yunchaokete
Jacob Fearnley holds a 2–0 head-to-head edge over Bu Yunchaokete and qualified for the main draw in Madrid with an impressive win over clay-court specialist Hugo Dellien. Bu has struggled for consistency on clay, despite flashes of promise. With momentum and form on his side, in comparatively quick clay-court conditions that should suit his style of play, Fearnley enters as a slight favourite.
Prediction: Fearnley in 2
David Goffin vs Alexandre Muller
Head-to-head: first meeting
David Goffin has found some form on clay recently, reaching the Munich quarterfinals, while Alexandre Muller has had a mixed run. They’ve never met before, but Goffin’s experience – the Belgian has been ranked in the top 10 for a reason – and his comfort on this surface could give him the edge in what promises to be a close matchup.
Prediction: Goffin in 3
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Martin Landaluce vs Cameron Norrie
Head-to-head: first meeting
Cameron Norrie enters the Mutua Madrid Open with recent clay-court victories over Hugo Gaston and Damir Dzumhur, though he did lose to Karen Khachanov in Barcelona. Martín Landaluce, a 19-year-old Madrid native, has struggled on clay this season, holding a 0-3 record over the past 12 months. Whilst Landaluce should be able to rely on the support of the crowd in La Caja Magica, Norrie’s experience and recent form on clay position him as the favourite in this matchup.
Prediction: Norrie in 2
Main photo credit: Andy Abeyta/The Desert Sun / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
