Madrid R2 previews and predictions: Sinner vs. Popyrin, Schwartzman vs. Karatsev

The Madrid Masters will be bustling with activity on Wednesday, as Jannik Sinner takes on Alexei Popyrin and Australian Open semifinalist Aslan Karatsev battles the No. 7 seed Diego Schwartzman. Third-round spots are up for grabs.

(14) Jannik Sinner vs. (Q) Alexei Popyrin

At age 19, Jannik Sinner has positioned himself as one of the in-form players of 2021. He won one of the Melbourne tune-up events for the Australian Open, made his first Masters final in Miami, and carved a path to the semis last week in Barcelona. Unfortunately, he fell short at the Australian Open–losing in the first round to Denis Shapovalov.

Alexei Popyrin is ranked 76th in the world, and he also has a title in 2021. The Australian won the 250 event in Singapore–the first in his career. Popyrin hasn’t performed particularly well on the European clay; he has managed to win just two main-draw matches in three tournaments.

Since the courts in Madrid don’t play like traditional clay courts, Popyrin might be able to make this match more competitive than it might ordinarily be, but Sinner shouldn’t have much trouble earning his spot in the third round.

Cheryl pick: Sinner in 2

Ricky pick: Sinner in 2

(7) Diego Schwartzman vs. Aslan Karatsev

Russia’s Aslan Karatsev has already treated Diego Schwartzman a shellacking in 2021. The two men met in the third round of the Australian Open and Shwartzman didn’t even get a whiff at a set. The fact that Karatsev plowed his way into the semis in Melbourne and then upset Novak Djokovic in Belgrade last week isn’t good news for Schwartzman.

The Argentine won a title at home in Buenos Aires and he got to the round of 16 in Miami, but he has otherwise limped through the 2021 season. That he was unlucky to draw the unseeded Karatsev for his first match won’t help his cause any.

Cheryl pick: Karatsev in 2

Ricky pick: Karatsev in 2