Bettor friends, run, you poor fools!

A perfect trap match!

This analysis isn’t easy, as both players have very unpredictable performances. Tsitsipas had been looking good over the last few tournaments in Rotterdam and Doha, but he was very disappointing in Dubai against Ugo. Despite an uncomfortable match-up, his level and attitude were much poorer. I had started to regain some confidence in him. As for Shapovalov, this season he has only really shone in Dallas, where he played very well. We don’t know what’s going on in his head. The conditions could suit him, but his consistency is uncertain. The one slightly more certain aspect of this match is the match-up. Shapovalov, aggressive and left-handed, doesn’t suit Tsitsipas, who is comfortable when he is the main aggressor. Logically, the Canadian leads their head-to-head 4–2, with Tsitsipas’s only two wins coming on clay. The key here is to determine whether Shapovalov will perform well, because if he does, he will control this match-up. The courts supposedly aren’t that slow, which could favor Shapovalov. However, it’s risky, so I’ll probably suggest a win for the Canadian since he’s the underdog, but it will be with a small stake.