🎾 ATP Madrid R1: David Goffin vs Alexandre Muller

🎾 ATP Madrid R1: David Goffin vs Alexandre Muller

🧠 Form & Context

David Goffin

• 🇧🇪 Veteran revival: After a winless start to 2025, Goffin has caught fire with a QF run in Munich and a shock win over Alcaraz in Miami.
• 🔥 Battle-tested: Eight straight matches have gone three sets—he’s showing old-school Goffin grit and timing again.
• 📍 Madrid credentials: QF in 2017, nearly beat Nadal in 2022—his game fits Madrid’s fast clay when firing.
• 📈 Climbing again: Back inside the top 100 and gaining confidence with each win.

Alexandre Muller

• 🇫🇷 Breakout season: Broke into the top 40 earlier this year and arrives with less pressure on clay than in previous seasons.
• 🌱 Madrid struggles: 0–2 in previous qualifying attempts here. Making his main draw debut this year.
• 🛠️ Solid game, few weapons: A consistent baseliner, tactically disciplined, but lacks a true finishing shot.

🔍 Match Breakdown

Goffin’s timing, variety, and anticipation could prove decisive against Muller’s more mechanical baseline game. The altitude in Madrid helps clean strikers like Goffin who can take the ball early and redirect pace with ease. Muller is solid but doesn’t carry the shot tolerance or firepower to regularly hit through Goffin—especially if the Belgian continues to grind like he has in recent weeks.

Expect a chess match of patterns, angles, and mid-length rallies—with Goffin seeking to exploit depth and open up the court. If Muller can extend points and test Goffin’s endurance, he has a shot, but the Belgian’s current form and Masters-level experience should be enough to tip the balance.

🔮 Prediction

✅ Winner: David Goffin in 3 sets

It’ll be close—maybe even ugly—but Goffin’s grit and Madrid pedigree should be just enough to frustrate and outmaneuver the Frenchman.