Tennis acca tips for Tuesday, April 30: End of the road for Rafael Nadal in Madrid

 

Rafael Nadal came through a three-hour battle to reach the fourth round of the Madrid Open but that could be as far as he can go.

Nadal will need to lift himself in a big way to get the best of rising star Jiri Lehecka.

Here we make our picks for that match and a handful more from the Madrid Open on Tuesday 30 April.

 

ATP Madrid: Hubert Hurkacz vs Taylor Fritz | Pick: Hurkacz

ATP Madrid: Francisco Cerundolo vs Alexander Zverev | Pick: Zverev

ATP Madrid: Jannik Sinner vs Karen Khachanov | Pick: Sinner

ATP Madrid: Jan-Lennard Struff vs Carlos Alcaraz | Pick: Alcaraz

ATP Madrid: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Casper Ruud | Pick: Ruud

ATP Madrid: Rafael Nadal vs Jiri Lehecka | Pick: Lehecka

WTA Madrid: Iga Swiatek vs Beatriz Haddad Maia | Pick: Swiatek

WTA Madrid: Madison Keys vs Ons Jabeur | Pick: Jabeur

 

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ATP Madrid: Hubert Hurkacz vs Taylor Fritz

Two of the world's top 16 meet as Hubert Hurkacz and Taylor Fritz clash in the round of 16.

Hurkacz isn't a traditional clay court powerhouse but has enjoyed a very good season on the red stuff.

Hurkacz won the title in Estoril while Fritz was a finalist in Munich suggesting this one could be a tight contest.

Furthermore, these players have evenly split their previous clashes heading into this match at 2-2 in their head-to-head.

 

ATP Madrid: Francisco Cerundolo vs Alexander Zverev

The last Argentine standing, Francisco Cerundolo, will have to be at his best if he wants to advance to the last eight.

He faces former Madrid Open champion Alexander Zverev in the Round of 16.

Zverev is one of two Germans left in the field and will be out to better the efforts of compatriot Jan-Lennard Struff, who reached last season's final.

Cerundolo will face Zverev for the first time in his career with both players seeded for this event.

 

ATP Madrid: Jannik Sinner vs Karen Khachanov

Jannik Sinner leads his head-to-head with Karen Khachanov 3-1 and hasn't lost to the Russian since 2020.

Sinner is one of the favourites to win the title in Madrid and continue an incredible rankings charge.

Sinner is yet to drop a set in Madrid and there is little suggestion that his form will dip at all.

Khachanov is a tricky customer but facing Sinner in his pomp may just be a bridge too far for the 27-year-old.

 

ATP Madrid: Jan-Lennard Struff vs Carlos Alcaraz

In a rematch of last season's final, Jan-Lennard Struff takes on Carlos Alcaraz in the fourth round in Madrid.

Struff will recall his victory over Alcaraz at the 2021 French Open even if few others do.

Alcaraz has since beaten the German twice and it's likely that he will make that three in a row.

The veteran German will take a bit of a rankings hit if he cannot progress but so would Alcaraz.

 

ATP Madrid: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Casper Ruud

Felix Auger-Aliassime will face Casper Ruud for the seventh time when they face off in the Madrid Open third round.

Ruud leads the rivalry 4-2 and has been even more dominant in recent clashes, having won the last three in straight sets.

Auger-Aliassime is on an upward trend when it comes to form and might put up a good fight.

However, Ruud's winning streak should continue for at least one more match.

 

ATP Madrid: Rafael Nadal vs Jiri Lehecka

Jiri Lehecka has been cast in the role of villain as he is tasked with taking down Rafael Nadal.

Lehecka has been at a level which should offer an extreme challenge to Nadal in his current state.

In fact, Lehecka is the player who should win this match if you view it through the lens of cold rationality.

This will be the first time that the 22-year-old takes on Rafael Nadal

 

WTA Madrid: Iga Swiatek vs Beatriz Haddad Maia

Beatriz Haddad Maia is chasing a second career victory over a world number one but has to pull level in her rivalry with Iga Swiatek to do so.

Swiatek has won the last two meetings between these players and leads the head-to-head 2-1 overall.

Haddad Maia upset Swiatek at the Canadian Open in Toronto in 2022 but has since suffered losses at the French Open and United Cup.

Neither player has dropped a set in breezing into the last eight but something will have to give.

 

WTA Madrid: Madison Keys vs Ons Jabeur

Madison Keys faces a rejuvenated Ons Jabeur in the quarter-finals in Madrid and has already recorded her best-ever performance at the WTA 1000 event.

Jabeur's best effort in Madrid saw her lift the trophy in 2022 and she has looked a different player since arriving in the Spanish Capital.

Jabeur has never lost to Keys, holding a 2-0 career head-to-head lead over the American.

The Madrid Open has seen Jabeur win three in a row for the first time this year and on her happy hunting ground she will be tough to stop.