2021 Madrid Open Quarter-Final – Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud taking place? Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain
When is Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud on and what time does it start? Friday 7th May, 2021 – Not before 18:00 (UK)
What surface is Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud being played on? Clay (outdoor)
Where can I get tickets for Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud? Click here for the latest ticket information
What channel is Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Alexander Bublik vs Casper Ruud in the UK? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream the match live on Prime Video. Tennis TV subscribers can also stream the match live
THE PREDICTION
This is an unlikely quarter-final clash between world number 44 Alexander Bublik and number 22 Casper Ruud, with the projected tie to be Aslan Karatsev versus Stefanos Tsitsipas, but both youngsters were exceptional in contributing to a day of shocks on Thursday. Bublik, especially, completely blasted the dangerous Karatsev off the court on Thursday morning with a display we certainly know he is capable of but so rarely see. The Kazakh played with a smile in his face and enjoyed the support of a crowd that should turn out for him again here if he plays his brand of all-or-nothing firepower. However, 22-year-old Ruud also put in an excellent performance in beating world number five Stefanos Tsitsipas for the first time and the Norwegian has been threatening to win a major clay tournament for some time now.
If Bublik plays anything below his very best on this surface it should be Ruud seeing the semi-finals and a potential showdown with Rafa Nadal but the Kazakh is probably the most unpredictable player on tour. This could go in several different directions, not least because both players have on occasion faltered in the latter stages of tournaments, but take Ruud to win this outright as the expert on this surface. As a rule, though, keep Bublik away from any accumulators.
