2021 Madrid Open Semi-Final – Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini taking place? Park Manzanares, Madrid, Spain
When is Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini on and what time does it start? Saturday 8th May, 2021 – Not before 20:00 (UK)
What surface is Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini being played on? Clay (outdoor)
Where can I get tickets for Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini? Click here for the latest ticket information
What channel is Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini on? This match will not be televised live in the UK
Where can I stream Casper Ruud vs Matteo Berrettini 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
World number 22 Casper Ruud continued his spotless Madrid Masters campaign by beating Alexander Bublik in straight sets on Friday afternoon to reach the semi-finals of an ATP 1000 event for the third time and, more impressively, second successive. The Nord was knocked out of the Monte-Carlo Open last month by Andrey Rublev, who went on to lose to Stefanos Tsistipas in what looked like the beginning of a clay swing domination for the Greek until Ruud beat him in the round of 16 this week, also in vastly impressive straight sets. Ruud will face world number 10 Matteo Berrettini for a fourth time in their careers and currently leads their head-to-head record 2-1, winning both the clay meetings and losing on hard. That record speaks volumes for the pair’s respective best skill-sets and, even though 25-year-old Berrettini is the player in better overall form, the Italian looks the underdog here.
Berrettini came back from a set down to beat a spirited Cristian Garin but the most impressive player this week in Madrid, perhaps level with Alexander Zverev in that respect, has been Ruud. The 22-year-old won the last encounter with Berrettini last year in the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters, and that looks an excellent benchmark for what could happen here one stage further in Madrid. Take Ruud to win this outright or via three sets for a riskier pick.
