Madrid Open 2023: Aslan Karatsev vs. Zhizhen Zhang Tennis Pick and Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Madrid Open quarterfinal match featuring Aslan Karatsev vs. Zhizhen Zhang on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Aslan Karatsev vs. Zhizhen Zhang Preview

Will Aslan Karatsev get the win? Will Zhizhen Zhang pull off the upset? This will be an interesting one, where we have an unlikely meeting between two highly entertaining and massive hitters. Who will triumph and move through to the semifinals at the 2023 Madrid Open?

Aslan Karatsev took down the second seed Daniil Medvedev in highly impressive fashion, 7-6 (1) 6-4. He played one of the best tiebreakers of the season to set up a meeting with fellow seed slayer Zhizhen Zhang. Karatsev at his highest level can beat pretty much anybody, and although that’s been missing for some time, he’s proven he still has it in him. Let’s see if he can make a first career masters semifinal here at the 2023 Madrid Open.

Zhizhen Zhang bested Taylor Fritz, once again storming from a set and a break down to win the next 2 sets in tiebreakers, saving 3 match points in the final one to come through. He’ll take on Aslan Karatsev, and it’ll feel as though both players have an excellent chance to go through to the last four. Zhang will be hoping to continue serving well and hitting his massive forehands to get Karatsev on his backfoot, or else things could get really dangerous for Zhang at the 2023 Madrid Open.

Aslan Karatsev vs. Zhizhen Zhang Prediction and Pick

Aslan Karatsev and Zhizhen Zhang have met once before, with Zhang defeating the Russian in Astana last season. Zhang said he lost a practice set 0-6 to Karatsev before the tournament which only adds to the intrigue. Practice doesn’t mean anything, but we know Karatsev will be feeling calmer as he has experience competing in the latter stages of big tournaments. It won’t be easy, but I expect Karatsev to take down Zhang and move through to the last four of the 2023 Madrid Open.