Whether it be due to ranking, seeding or pure luck, the 64 players in action today have an advantage before a single ball has been hit. They are in the opposite side of the draw to Sinner and Djokovic which can turn into a significant advantage. Alexander Zverev capitalised in Paris to claim his maiden major title and there are several others including Shelton, Fritz and Draper who would like to follow his lead. The match of the day sees Taylor Fritz take on Jack Draper and 15,000+ British fans.
After more than a decade of knocking on the door, Zverev was finally able to break through and become a major champion. He has shaken off the tag of ‘best player never to win a major’ and with the pressure valve released can now open the shoulders right up and play with complete freedom. Doesn’t have a great relationship with Wimbledon having never made it past the 4th Round here but a battle with Blockx should end in a routine win. The pair met twice during the clay court swing with Zverev posting comfortable straight sets wins in both Madrid and Rome (6-2 7-5 and 6-1 6-4 respectively). Blockx hasn’t played a competitive match since he was forced to withdraw from the French Open so it is hard to see him winning a set here.
Best Bet: Sets Zverev 3-0 ($1.73)
This is a matchup that we would normally see in the second week of a slam so both men can consider themselves unlucky. Injuries have caused Draper to fall well outside of the top 100 but there were signs that he can quickly return to his best following a semi final showing in Eastbourne last week. The worrying part for him is that Fritz is the form player on grass having made the final in Stuttgart and Halle. Recorded wins over Bublik, Shelton and Zverev during that stretch making him the clear favourite in betting. That will not concern Draper as he holds a 3-2 edge in the H2H which includes wins in the last two clashes and a 6-3 6-2 win at Queen’s in their only prior meeting on grass. They will trade multiple breakers in a match that could go do a deciding fifth set.
Best Bet: Over 41.5 games ($1.82)
At the peak of his powers Berrettini was one of the most dangerous players on grass. He made the final here in 2021 (lost to Djokovic) and has four career grass court titles winning Queen’s and Stuttgart twice. Most recently he was on fire at the French but was forced to retire due to a hip injury in his quarter final battle with Arnaldi. One must wonder if he can be trusted here… If there is a player in the draw who can expose an opponent’s weakness, his name is Stan Wawrinka. The three-time major champion is a two-time quarter finalist here and like Berrettini, he will be aggressive behind his first serve and keep the points short. This one will be very tight – especially in the opening set.
Best Bet: 1st Set Tiebreaker – YES ($2.55)
The stars are aligning for Shelton to take the next step in his career and that is to contest a major final. He has made the semi finals of the Australian Open and US Open but the reality is that his game is best suited to grass. He is a modern-day Goran Ivanisevic – a lefty with a booming serve, great touch at the net and the personality to top it off. Sinner had all the answers in their quarter final clash here 12 months ago but the Italian is on the other side of the draw meaning the only time they can meet is the final. The American also ticks the form box having claimed the title in Stuttgart (beat Fritz) before losing to his countryman in a third ser breaker in Halle. After pumping his tyres up, it is time for him to deliver with a dominant win over Virtanen.
Best Bet: Shelton -3.5 ($1.73)
Blockx v Zverev: Sets Zverev 3-0 ($1.73)
Virtanen v Shelton: Shelton -3.5 ($1.73)
Wawrinka v Berrettini: 1st Set Tiebreaker – YES ($2.55)
Arnaldi v Halys: Arnaldi WIN ($2.10)
Fritz v Draper: Over 41.5 games ($1.82)
Bellucci v Svajda: Svajda WIN ($2.10)
Bonzi v Diallo: Bonzi WIN ($1.91)
Collignon v Fils: Over 40.5 games ($1.83)
De Minaur v Burruchaga: De Minaur -8.5 ($1.92)
Griekspoor v Duckworth: Duckworth +3.5 ($1.83)
Hanfmann v Mpetshi Perricard: Set 1 Tiebreak – YES ($1.88)
Humbert v Bergs: Humbert -1.5 Sets ($2.10)
Khachanov v Harris: Khachanov -4.5 ($2.00)
Kokkinakis v Bublik: Over 40.5 games ($1.75)
Kopriva v Choinski: Kopriva WIN ($1.67)
Kypson v McDonald: Kypson +4.5 ($1.82)
Lehecka v Popyrin: Over 39.5 games ($1.83)
Majchrzak v Tabilo: Over 38.5 games ($1.82)
Mensik v Samuel: Mensik -3.5 ($1.73)
Michelsen v Fearnley: Michelsen WIN ($1.80)
Molcan v Altmaier: Altmaier -0.5 ($1.90)
Moutet v Giron: Giron WIN ($1.80)
Munar v Cerundolo: Under 35.5 games ($1.96)
Navone v Cobolli: Cobolli -1.5 Sets ($1.52)
Shimabukuro v Faria: Shimabukoro WIN ($1.87)
Sonego v Etcheverry: Etcheverry WIN ($2.05)
Sweeny v Dimitrov: Sweeny To Win A Set – YES ($1.55)
Tiafoe v Atmane: Sets Tiafoe 3-0 ($2.20)
