Before our ATP Finals 2023 Predictions and today’s matches with Alcaraz vs Rublev and Medvedev vs Zverev, we need to talk about yesterday.
Jannik Sinner played, arguably, the best match of his life to defeat Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-7 7-6 after a bit more than three hours. It was a high quality match where Sinner kept taking it to Djokovic with his aggressive and whippy ground strokes.
“I think the main difference is that in the important points, he was going for it. He was more courageous. He deserved to win because in important moments, I wasn’t aggressive enough; I wasn’t decisive enough. I allowed him to take control of the points. At 5-all in the third set, 15/30, second serve, I was in the rally and should have stepped in and didn’t, and he did. You have to just congratulate him. He just played a fantastic match. That’s what I told him at the net. I think in the most important moments, he played his best game and he absolutely deserved to win.”
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic is an astute reader of the game as any and summarized the feeling of the match well. It wasn’t a bad performance by the world number one, but Sinner struck when it mattered.
Djokovic now needs to beat Hurkacz to qualify for the semi-finals. Hurkacz is coming in as an alternate after Tsitsipas pulled out of the tournament due to a back injury.
Alcaraz vs Rublev ATP Finals Prediction
These guys both lost their previous matches, and this is their chance at redemption…AND qualifying for the semi-finals.
They have never played before so this match is like an open book. Alcaraz is not in his best form and Rublev doesn’t seem to be either after his lukewarm performance against the masterful Medvedev.
Who is favored by the fast courts? Alcaraz has expressed an opinion which makes it seem like he is not a huge fan of them. But with Rublev the issue seems to be more on the mental side than the pace of the courts. Can he believe that he has what it takes to defeat the world number two?
Alcaraz is the favorite (1.50) among the best tennis betting sites, but it still somewhat of a coin toss.
TN Prediction: Alcaraz wins in three sets.
Medvedev vs Zverev ATP Finals Prediction
Medvedev and Zverev have a pretty long rivalry. One which Medvedev leads 10-7. The Russian did win their last encounter in Beijing 6-4 6-3 and the bookies hold him as a favorite (1.44), but Zverev’s performance in the first match was promising.
If Zverev can maintain the kind of serve percentages he did against Alcaraz, he has a good chance. But Medvedev did look very confident against Rublev.
TN Prediction: Medvedev wins in three sets.
Your thoughts?
