The Pick presented by DraftKings Sportsbook: Jannik Sinner vs. Carlos Alcaraz, ATP Paris second round
Expect the Italian to make a statement against his fellow future star on his beloved indoor hard courts.
Future stars Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz are set to face off for the first time at ATP level on Wednesday in Paris. It’s a dream matchup for tennis fans, as the Spaniard and Italian are undoubtedly the game’s two most promising young talents.
Alcaraz got the best of Sinner at the 2019 Ferrero Challenger in Alicante, Spain, outlasting the Italian 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, on clay, his preferred surface.
For whatever reason, the tournament directors did not put this marquee matchup on Stadium 1, but Sinner won’t mind, as the outer courts in Paris are notoriously quicker than the main stadium court.
According to the oddsmakers, Sinner is favored to win by 3.5 total games. The line opened at -3, but money quickly poured in on the Italian, who has more ATP titles indoors (3) than Alcaraz has tournament appearances indoors.
If you can find a -3 game spread for the red-hot Italian, feel free to bet as much as you can afford to lose. That line will likely be long gone by the time you read this, but -3.5 is still a rock-solid bet.
While Alcaraz is arguably the stronger, fitter player, indoor tennis is first and foremost about ball striking. Nobody on the ATP Tour has been hitting a better ball in recent weeks than Sinner, who stormed to the Antwerp title without dropping a set, before being totally stunned by a Frances Tiafoe comeback for the ages after leading 6-3, 5-2, in the Vienna semifinal.
Alcaraz beat Sinner on clay, and I firmly believe the Italian will return the favor on his preferred surface. Sinner is just 20-years-old, yet owns a remarkable 30-12 record indoors to go along with three ATP titles. It’s never wise to underestimate Alcaraz in any capacity, but Sinner is the deserved favorite, and will aim to make a statement on Wednesday.
The Pick: Jannik Sinner -3.5 games