Daniil Medvedev and Sebastian Korda will play for the fourth-round spot at the 2024 Madrid Open.
The Russian might not be the best clay performer, but he found something in Madrid in years past, making the fourth round two times. The American, on the other hand, hasn't performed well in Madrid so far, but he has a trophy on clay and is a pretty capable player on the surface.
The courts in Madrid play a bit differently from most clay courts, but it should suit both players, in theory. The ball flies fast and helps a lot of good serves, which both are. Korda can be destructive with his serve and forehand, while Medvedev loves to pressure his opponents.
Another thing to remember is that Korda has stunned Medvedev before. He actually did at the Australian Open, where he used the faster courts to outplay the former world no. 1 easily. He bested him in Shanghai as well, which is another quick court, so generally, there is a formula that works for him.
Madrid is, oddly, the only clay court that would give him a good chance to beat Medvedev because of the altitude. He'll have to play really well and hit his serve consistently, which isn't a given, but if he does, he can win.
Their most recent meeting in Indian Wells this year was won by Medvedev. That court is pretty slow and bounces high, similar to clay. It was a three-set match, though, so generally, it's quite competitive between them.
| Daniil Medvedev | Sebastian Korda | |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | H2H | 2 |
| 4 | Rank | 26 |
| 28 | Age | 23 |
| 20-5 | 2024 W/L | 12-10 |
| 353-141 | Career W/L | 106-70 |
I also expect this one to be, but I don't think Korda will win. I just like what I saw from Medvedev recently in Madrid. He's more stable from the baseline, which should get him the win.
Prediction: Daniil Medvedev to win in three sets.