Madrid Open 2024: Rafael Nadal vs Alex de Minaur preview, head-to-head, prediction, live streaming details

Published at :April 27, 2024 at 4:00 PM

Modified at :April 27, 2024 at 4:00 PM

(Courtesy : (X/@mutuamadridopen and X/@alexdeminaur)))

Rafael Nadal lost against Alex de Minaur last week at the Barcelona Open.

Twenty-two-time Grand Slam Champion Rafael Nadal recorded a comfortable victory over 16-year-old wildcard Darwin Blanch to kick off his Madrid Open 2024 campaign on April 25 (Thursday). Blanch, playing only his second match on the ATP tour, lost 1-6, 0-6, against Nadal in a contest that lasted 64 minutes.

The tennis world was divided over Darwin Blanch getting a wildcard in the ATP 1000 event, while the likes of Brandon Nakashima, Richard Gasquet, and others had to play qualifiers for a spot in the main draw. Nevertheless, Rafael Nadal will face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the second round of the 2024 Madrid Open.

Nadal, who recently returned to the tour after a prolonged hiatus, met the Australian tennis star in the round of 32 at the 2024 Barcelona Open last week. It turned out to be a disappointing outing for the former ATP World No. 1 as he lost 5-7, 1-6 against Minaur. However, in the capital city, the Spaniard has another chance to flip the fortunes.

Rafael Nadal vs Alex de Minaur match details

Date: April 27, Saturday

Time: 7:30 PM IST (Tentative)

Venue: La Caza Majica, Madrid

Rafael Nadal vs Alex de Minaur preview

Rafael Nadal has only played six matches this year, out of which he has won four. Nadal’s injuries and fitness concerns have restricted him from performing his best and competing at the elite level. The Spaniard has a physical style of playing, and frankly, that has cost him a lot of titles. Nadal has missed a total of 16 Grand Slams, and most of them were during his prime years.

Nevertheless, the 37-year-old has stated that the 2024 Madrid Open might be his last, and he can also withdraw his name from the upcoming French Open if he feels unfit for competition.

Meanwhile, Alex de Minaur is enjoying a decent year with his YTD W/L record of 23-8. The Aussie has won the Mexican Open this year, defeating Casper Ruud and Stefanos Tsitsipas on his way to the final. At the 2024 Barcelona Open, the two faced each other for the first time on clay, and Minaur managed to win the match, which will give the 25-year-old a mental boost ahead of Saturday.

After Nadal defeated Blanch in a one-sided affair on Thursday, the Spaniard stated that he would be surprised if he managed to win against the Aussie. He further added that a win or loss won’t affect him much, as he’s not looking forward to winning the Madrid Open title. He’s eyeing a bigger prize, and his match against Alex de Minaur will help him understand his current situation.

Head-to-Head Record

Matches – 5

Rafael Nadal – 3

Alex di Minaur – 2

The Aussie has defeated Nadal in their last two meetings, at the United Cup and the Barcelona Open, respectively. Interestingly, the two have played against each other on hardcourt three times, on grass once, and a single time on clay.

Where and how to watch the live streaming and TV broadcast of Rafael Nadal vs Alex de Minaur, Madrid Open 2024, second-round match in India?

The clash between Rafael Nadal and Alex de Minaur at the Madrid Open 2024 will be broadcast live on the Sony Sports Network. Fans can enjoy the live telecast of the game on Sony Sports Ten 5 SD/HD channels and SonyLiv. Additionally, Tennis TV will also be live streaming the match. However, fans will need to take subscription to catch the live action on Tennis TV.

Prediction

Nadal recorded a one-sided victory over Darwin Blanch in the first round, where the American wildcard only won a single game. However, the circumstances will be entirely different against Alex de Minaur, as he’s currently in decent form.

This year, the Spaniard has been cautious about his health, but not to forget, Nadal has an outrageous record on clay, and with his impeccable experience of the surface, he can be a huge problem for the Aussie. However, Minaur has emerged as a tough competitor on the tour recently.

In February, earlier this year, he managed to break into the ATP top 10 rankings, and he’s again keen to enter the elite rankings. As an aggressive baseliner, Alex de Minaur is known for his counter-punching ability, which can help him win against Nadal for the third consecutive time. Nevertheless, whoever finds the rhyme first, will be most likely to advance to the next round.

Prediction: Rafael Nadal to win in three sets.

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