Madrid Open 2024: Rafael Nadal vs Pedro Cachin preview head-to-head, prediction and pick
Match Details
Fixture: (PR) Rafael Nadal vs Pedro Cachin
Date: April 29, 2024
Tournament: Madrid Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: La Caja Magica
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: €7,877,020
Live Telecast: USA- Tennis Channel | UK- Sky Sports | Canada- TSN+
Rafael Nadal vs Pedro Cachin preview
Rafael Nadal will face Pedro Cachin in the third round of the Madrid Open on April 29, 2024.
The Spaniard has won five out of seven matches so far this season and entered the Masters 1000 event following a second-round defeat to Alex de Minaur at the Barcelona Open.
Nadal started the Madrid Open with a crushing 6-1, 6-0 win over 16-year-old Darwin Blanch. He then faced Alex de Minaur for the second time in two weeks in the second round. The Aussie made the first break of the match but the Spaniard managed to break back and eventually won the first set 7-6(6).
He started the second set brilliantly with a break in the opening game before registering a second break of serve in the last game to register a 7-6(6), 6-3 win and reach the third round of the Madrid Open. The King of Clay also managed to avenge his loss to De Minaur in Barcelona.
Pedro Cachin entered the Masters 1000 tournament after losing ten main-draw matches on the trot. The Argentine started the event with a 6-3, 6-3 win over Sebastian Ofner to register his first tour-level victory of the season.
Cachin then faced 20th seed Frances Tiafoe and the first set went to a tiebreak, which the former won 7-1 to take the lead in the match. Tiafoe saved a few break points in the second set and his solitary break of serve was enough to see him win 6-3 and take the match to a decider.
Both players exchanged breaks in the final set but Cachin's service break in the last game of the match saw him register a 7-6(1), 3-6, 6-4 win and reach the third round of the Madrid Open.
Rafael Nadal vs Pedro Cachin head-to-head
The two will lock horns for the very first time, with their head-to-head currently tied at 0-0.
Rafael Nadal vs Pedro Cachin odds
All odds sourced by BETMGM.
Rafael Nadal vs Pedro Cachin prediction
While there can be questions over Nadal's fitness, he will enter the match full of confidence after defeating De Minaur, who has been playing some brilliant tennis over the past several months.
The Spaniard has won 51 out of 69 points (73.9%) on his first serve so far during the Madrid Open. He also produced 24 winners while hitting 30 unforced errors so far in his nation's capital.
Nadal may not the best version of himself at the moment but his quality on clay courts can hardly ever be questioned and Cachin is bound to have a hard time against him.
The Argentine has served 11 aces so far during the Madrid Open and will be keen on serving as many of them as possible against Nadal. He has also won 79 out of 115 points on his first serve while hitting 42 winners compared to 44 unforced errors.
Cachin reached the fourth round of the Madrid Open in 2023 and plays his best tennis on the surface. Given Nadal's fitness, the Argentine might look to prolong the match in order to gain an advantage. However, the Spaniard looks in good touch after beating Alex de Minaur and his experience and clay quality should see him get the win and reach the fourth round of the Madrid Open.
Pick: Nadal to win in straight sets.