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Madrid Open 2022: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs Lucas Pouille Preview, Predictions, Head to head and Stats

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Stefanos Tsitsipas to set to face the challenge of Lucas Pouille in the Round of 32 of the Madrid Open

Stefanos Tsitsipas is scheduled to make his maiden appearance at this year’s Madrid Open tomorrow. The Greek superstar is seeded 4th in the tournament and received a ‘bye’ in the earlier round due to his superior ranking. Tsitsipas however, didn’t have an ideal start to the Madrid Open after losing his first-round doubles match yesterday, patterning with his brother, Petros.

Lucas Pouille is coming off a confidence-boosting straight-set win against Karen Khachanov in the previous round. The Frenchman is currently ranked no. 156 but had no problem in getting the better of much superior ranked Khachanov (26). Pouille had broken into the top 10 of the ATP rankings in the past in 2018 and certainly has the potential to be a tricky opponent for the much-fancied Tsitsipas.

Tsitsipas and Pouille have faced each other twice on the ATP circuit. On both occasions, the Greek got the better of the Frenchman and leads 2-0 on the head. Their latest meeting came at the 2021 Marseille Open which Tsitsipas comfortably won 6-2, 6-3. On paper, Tsitsipas is the overwhelming favorite going into the match both in terms of form and rankings. We are predicting a comprehensive straight-set win for Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Details:

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DateThursday, 5th May
Court typeOutdoor clay court
WatchAmazon Prime app
Start time12:45 am IST
VenueManolo Santana Stadium
Match detailsRound of 32 match

Can Tsitsipas challenge for the No.1 ATP ranking by end of this year?

Stefanos Tsitsipas is presently placed 5th in the world in men’s singles ATP rankings. He is in hot form and won the recently concluded Monte Carlo Masters, his first title of the year. The Greek star has the highest career ranking of No.3 in men’s singles but currently occupies the fifth spot. Tsitsipas has a long way to go if he has to end up in the top two by the end of the year. Can he do it? Well, it is tough but if he maintains his consistency, it’s certainly not impossible.

Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas celebrates his victory over Alex de Minaur of Australia on day five of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Ahoy Rotterdam, on February 11, 2022. – Netherlands OUT (Photo by Sander Koning / ANP / AFP) / Netherlands OUT (Photo by SANDER KONING/ANP/AFP via Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, and Rafael Nadal are placed above Tsitsipas in the latest rankings. While Djokovic and Medvedev haven’t been at their best so far this year, Tsitsipas has always held an edge over Zverev at least when it comes to head-to-head clashes. Rafael Nadal had a fabulous year until he suffered a major setback due to his injury. Nadal isn’t getting any younger and it will be tough for him to maintain his hot streak of form. That leaves Tsitsipas with a realistic chance of finishing the year in the top 2 of the men’s singles rankings.

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Sarbik Dutta

My heart races on the F1 track and tennis courts, translating the adrenaline of each moment into words. While F1's speed thrills and tennis's finesse captivate me, my passion doesn't stop there. As a devoted follower of cricket, football, and various Olympic sports, I find myself engulfed in the highs and lows of these games. Through my writing, I aim to share the stories behind the stats, the emotions fueling the victories, and the struggles that define the journey of athletes across diverse disciplines. Being a voice that echoes the fervor of these sports is a privilege I cherish every day.

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