ATP & WTA Madrid Open: Top three second week picks

A nationwide power outage may have caused the Madrid Open to come to a grinding halt this week, but sparks look set to fly once the action returns in the Spanish capital - with one of our pre-tournament Madrid Open value bets still running. 

In the men’s draw, home favourite Carlos Alcaraz was an early withdrawal, while Novak Djokovic was sent packing in the opening rounds too, piling the pressure on Alexander Zverev to assert himself as the top seed.

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The women’s event has been hotly contested too, with the usual smattering of big names joined by some of the most exciting prospects emerging on the WTA Tour.

British interest in a clay court event has been piqued also, with Jack Draper, Jacob Fearnley and Cameron Norrie all exceeding expectations in Madrid and it promises to be a fascinating end to the week at Caja Magica.

Stefanos Tsitsipas to win quarter four (reach the semi-finals) – 10/3 

Greek superstar Stefanos Tsitsipas still feels like a talent unfulfilled on the ATP Tour but there is no doubting his clay court potential.

Being seeded 17th here in Madrid is a clear reflection of the struggles he has endured in the past 12 months or so, but he is always a real threat on the dirt, and he showed his fighting spirit in his opening win over Jan Lennard Struff here in Madrid.

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His round of 32 match against Lorenzo Musetti will be a tricky one next but the 2019 Madrid Open finalist will fancy his chances on clay.

The likes of Alex de Minaur and Grigor Dimitrov stand in his way in his pursuit of the semi-finals but if Tsitsipas at 10/3 with BetMGM, gets his game together on clay, he should have the beating of most and a run to the last four would represent a good week.

Casper Ruud to reach the final – 7/2 

Up in the top half of the draw, all eyes are on Zverev and Casper Ruud, with a mouth-watering semi-final clash in prospect.

Both men are going well on the clay this term and they will be desperate to put down a marker ahead of the French Open – an event both men have tasted final defeats in over the past couple of seasons.

Norwegian Ruud is also playing off a low seed (14) but plays his best stuff on clay, with high-flying Taylor Fritz in his sights next.

Ruud blasted impressively through his first two rounds and looks in the groove on clay – his favourite surface and he could emerge as the finalist at 7/2 with Mr.Play, in a strong top-half of the draw.

Name the finalists: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek – 11/4 

Over the past few seasons, the WTA Tour has sprung plenty of surprise winners but we’re backing the big names to land this week in Madrid.

The continuing rivalry between Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek as the best two players in the world remains compelling and both have arrived here in Madrid ready to do business.

World number one Sabalenka certainly has the recent edge in this battle but Swiatek on clay is a proposition most find hard to stop.

The likes of Coco Gauff and Madison Keys are obvious challengers in the draw, but a Sabalenka vs Swiatek final at 11/4 with BetMGM would be a fitting end to proceedings here in Madrid this week.

All correct at the time of writing.