This year’s Madrid Open looks a little peculiar with two of the biggest draws in men’s tennis confirming their absence. That will mean defending champion Carlos Alcaraz will be the odds-on favorite to retain his title at the Caja Magica. In this article, we shall delve into the list of favorites, players to watch, and dark horses to win the second Masters 1000 on clay this season.
ATP Madrid Open 2023 Betting Tips & Predictions
Men’s Singles: Favorites to Win the 2023 Madrid Open
Carlos Alcaraz has to be the outright favorite to win the Madrid Open. Rafael Nadal was unlikely to challenge given that he hasn’t competed since January, but obviously, his absence psychologically aids Alcaraz’s cause as is Djokovic who is reportedly taking his time off to recuperate from an elbow injury.
There is no shortage of challengers though with Stefanos Tsitsipas looking like the second favorite after rediscovering his form in Barcelona. Tsitsipas and Alcaraz are due to face off in the Barcelona final at the time of writing. And there can be no doubt that a Tsitsipas win in that match could really spice things up in the next two weeks.
- Men’s Singles Winner Prediction: Carlos Alcaraz: 3/1 (Click here to bet with bet365)
- Men’s Singles Winner Dark Horse Prediction: Stefanos Tsitsipas: 6/1 (Click here to bet with bet365)
Men’s Singles: Players to Watch at the Madrid Open
With clay, momentum is a huge asset. Unlike hard courts where you expect a new winner pretty much every week, it is a little different on this surface.
That’s why players who tend to do well a week prior surf with a wave of confidence in their next tournament. Players to single out here include Andrey Rublev and Holger Rune.
Rublev won his first Masters 1000 in Monte Carlo, incidentally, defeating Rune in the final. Both players have since maintained that momentum, hitting a purple patch in Banja Luka for Rublev’s case, and Munich for Rune.
They could both come to Madrid with titles under their belts and will take some stopping. With Madrid being played on altitude, the conditions should favor Rublev whose ground strokes will pierce through the court at a much faster rate.
To Win the Tournament: Andrey Rublev: 12/1 (Click here to bet with bet365)
Men’s Singles: Dark Horses to Reach Second Week at Madrid Open
Taylor Fritz deserves a mention here. He hasn’t really received any plaudits for his outstanding start to the clay swing, making the Monte Carlos semis against the odds and then repeating the trick in Munich where he should have at least made the final.
Fritz’s appetite in Madrid can only increase and his power-packed game will be very effective. Back him to at least make the last here especially if he gets a kind draw.
Another American who might also pull off a surprise is Ben Shelton. Despite his seemingly overstated lack of experience on clay, Shelton has looked decent on the surface, bagging two wins and only losing to the best-performing players on the surface. He took a set from Dimitrov in Monte Carlo and pushed Casper Ruud to a tiebreak set in Barcelona.
Jannik Sinner recently pulled out of Barcelona due to illness, but if he is fit to play, he is also a player who should offer great value in the outrights.
- To Win his Quarter: Taylor Fritz
- To Win his Quarter: Ben Shelton
- To Win the Tournament: Jannik Sinner
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