With the 2020 ATP season now well under way, it’s time to offer up the first of our year-long top tennis betting picks of the week. With the newly-minted ATP Cup taking place down under as the world’s best players get ready for the first grand slam event of the year, let’s find out which stars are in action and which ones are offering the best value against their tennis betting odds.
Top Tennis Betting Picks of the Week – January 6th Edition
Alexander Zverev vs. Denis Shapovalov
25-year-old German and World No. 7 Alex Zverev has played 20-year-old Russian and World No. 14 Dennis Shapovalov four times in his career while putting together a solid 3-1 mark. However, it was the 6’1” Shapovalov that snapped a three-match losing streak by beating Zverev 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 in their last meeting at the 2019 ATP Masters 1000 in Paris. Shapovalov also defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas in the opening round but was defeated in the second round by Alex de Minaur. Zverev has lost both of his matches so far this tournament and fell to Tsitsipas in straight sets the last time out.
Despite his recent play, I’m going with the bigger, stronger Zverev to get the hard-fought win out of sheer desperation if nothing else. Zverev has been touted as a future grand slam champion and while he’s under-performed in big, grand slam events, he’s not facing a ton of pressure in this national, team-styled event. I still believe Zverev is one of the top future players to win a grand slam and a big win here is not all that difficult to envision.
Tennis Betting Pick: Zverev gets it done in three sets.
David Goffin vs. Grigor Dimitrov
- Tennis Odds: OFF
World No. 11 David Goffin and World No. 20 Grigor Dimitrov have played each other nine times with the 28-year-old Dimitrov compiling a dominant 8-1 mark along the way while winning each of the last five matches including a 7-5, 6-3 win at the 2019 ATP Masters 100 in Paris. While Goffin has the steadier game, it is Dimitrov that has the more explosive game and bigger overall talent level. With Dimitrov clearly owning Goffin in their career head-to-head meetings, I’m thinking this one is a wrap.
Tennis Betting Pick: Dimitrov wins in three sets.
Fabio Fognini vs. John Isner
32-year-old Italian and World No. 12 Fabio Fognini has dropped both of his matches this tournament including a humbling straight sets defeat against the unheralded Casper Ruud the last time out. 34-year-old American John Isner has looked even worse in dropping both if his two matches so far this tournament, including a straight sets loss against blossoming World No. 5 Daniil Medvedev. These two longtime ATP veterans have played each other twice with John Isner winning both times, including am emphatic 6-3, 6-2 win at the 2016 ATP Masters in Cincinnati the last time they met. While Isner has a tremendous serve, he’s also clearly on the decline and his lack of foot speed will be what does him in against the dangerous Fognini in this pairing.
Tennis Betting Pick: I’m going with Fabio in a three-set thriller!
