Madrid Open 2023: Taylor Fritz vs. Zhizhen Zhang Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Madrid Open fourth-round match featuring Taylor Fritz vs. Zhizhen Zhang on Tuesday, May 2, 2023.

Taylor Fritz vs. Zhizhen Zhang Preview

Will in-form Taylor Fritz reach another quarterfinal on clay? He will play China’s surprise package at the Madrid Open in Zhizhen Zhang. Who will prevail?

Taylor Fritz improved to 7-2 on clay this season, officially his best clay swing on the ATP Tour. That includes a run to his first Masters 1000 semifinal on clay in Monte Carlo. Having also made the last four in Munich a week ago, the American has continued in a rich vein of form to make the second week of the Madrid Open without dropping a set.

Zhizhen Zhang took down Cameron Norrie, storming back from a set down to take the next two sets in tiebreakers, becoming the first-ever Chinese player to advance to the Round of 16 of a Masters event. He’ll take on one of the most in-form players in this year’s clay swing in Taylor Fritz. If he wants to pull off the upset, he’ll need to continue his aggressive brand of tennis while at the same time hoping Fritz is not at his best here at the 2023 Madrid Open.

Taylor Fritz vs. Zhizhen Zhang Prediction and Pick

Taylor Fritz and Zhizhen Zhang have not played each other on the ATP Tour, with this fourth-round match at the Madrid Open being their first meeting. Zhang seems unfazed by the pace of the ground strokes coming at him, he’s been so good at absorbing power and he’s such a great tactician on the court. But with the way Fritz has been playing on the dirt this season, it’s hard to look past the American.