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Match details
Fixture: (1) Rafael Nadal vs Alexei Popyrin
Date: 6 May 2021
Tournament: Mutua Madrid Open 2021
Round: Third round (Round of 16)
Venue: Madrid, Spain
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Red clay
Prize money: €2,614,465
Match timing: Not before 3 pm local time, 6.30 pm IST
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Rafael Nadal vs Alexei Popyrin preview
Rafael Nadal opened his 2021 Mutua Madrid Open campaign with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 win over 18-year-old compatriot Carlos Alcaraz Garfia on Wednesday.
Nadal, who is in pursuit of a sixth crown at his home event, needed very little time to find his stride; he looked very comfortable in the conditions throughout the match. He now faces the challenge of another fast-rising youngster in Alexei Popyrin on Thursday.
Popyrin did well to overcome a slow start in his second-round match against Jannik Sinner. The Aussie eventually ousting his in-form opponent 7-6(5), 6-2 after an hour and 34 minutes of play.
The win helped Popyrin extend his win-loss record to 19-7 for the season. That includes a title run in Singapore and his four match wins here in Madrid.
Needless to say, the 21-year-old will be feeling confident about his game going into Thursday's clash.
Rafael Nadal vs Alexei Popyrin head-to-head
This is set to be the first meeting between Rafael Nadal and Alexei Popyrin, so the duo's current head-to-head stands at a 0-0 deadlock.
Rafael Nadal vs Alexei Popyrin prediction
Rafael Nadal enters most claycourt encounters as a firm favorite on paper, and this match-up against Alexei Popyrin is no exception. That said, the Spaniard has been made to work hard for some of his recent wins on the surface.
Nadal holds an 8-1 win-loss record on the red dirt for the season, but he has been pushed to the distance in about 50% of those encounters.
The real problem for Popyrin, however, is that the World No. 2 has managed to close out most of those matches even when he was not producing his best tennis. There have been times when Nadal has leaked too many uncharacteristic errors - especially off the backhand wing - but he has usually managed to hang around long enough to redicover his rhythm.
The key for Popyrin will lie in his ability to keep the points short. And the Aussie does have his own strengths - serve and forehand in particular - that he can use to do just that.
Popyrin is still unlikely to win too many long baseline rallies against Nadal, who - if allowed to settle in early - could make quick work of this encounter.
Prediction: Rafael Nadal to win in straight sets.
What is the foot injury that has troubled Rafael Nadal over the years? Check here
