The ATP Paris Masters continue with the Round of 16 match between Australia's Alex de Minaur and Britain's Jack Draper. Both the players are coming off impressive victories in the earlier rounds and have been in stellar form in recent games. Both of these talented youngsters are no strangers to each other, having met four times, with de Minaur leading their head-to-head 3-1. However, Draper came out on top clearly in their last meeting at the US Open and will be doubtless confident that he is capable of taking down his opponent. Pitted against the speed of the indoor courts in Paris, fans can expect a high-quality display of speed, power, and tactical finesse. Who comes out on top with a quarterfinal spot up for grabs?
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Coming into this matchup, the currently No. 10-ranked Alex de Minaur is in great form toward the end of the season, taking a 7-3 lead in his last 10 matches. His win on court against Miomir Kecmanovic showed great consistency of shots and won in straight sets 6-4, 7-6. The baseline aggression has improved a lot and added layers to what was strictly a defensive game from de Minaur.
While Jack Draper has been in sizzling form, compiling an incredible 9-1 in his last 10 matches and a seven-match winning streak. Recently, he also outlasted Taylor Fritz in an endurance-testing three-set encounter, fighting all the way to win 7-6, 4-6, 6-4. Draper's mix of power and athleticism will make him a player for these fast courts as his serve and forehand can give fits to any opponent.
Tactical Approach
With de Minaur's signature speed and counterpunching, he will aim to expose Draper's movement with the help of deep baseline shots mixed with well-timed approaches toward the net. He can look to drag Draper into long, grinding rallies where he has the superior stamina and patience. In addition, de Minaur has been flattening his forehand lately, which could be ideal for the slick indoor courts of Paris. He does this through the maintenance of a high percentage of first serves, thus neutralizing Draper's aggressive returns and gaining control of the points early.
Draper will most likely look to dominate the play with his powerful serve and forehand, trying at all costs to shorten the points. He will also be looking to move de Minaur out of his comfort zone by forcing him back with heavy groundstrokes and opening up the angles for winners. Draper will also most definitely go after de Minaur's backhand in his game plan, since it is a weaker side when under pressure. If Draper is able to control the pace and tempo of the match, he can possibly put de Minaur on the back foot and take another step closer to progression.
Expert Betting Tips
Much of the dynamic in this match is going to be over who can impose his style on the other guy early in this match. Should de Minaur be able to get Draper involved in longer rallies and test his movement, then the Australian has a good shot at securing the win. However, should he continue to let his opponent take control of points right from the get-go with his serve and forehand, he may steamroll de Minaur. Here's the predicted outcome based on the current form, playing styles, and head-to-head record.
This should be a close affair, with the fighting spirit of both players and the hold of serve; it could easily go to three sets or the sets could be long. With the power of Draper and the agility of de Minaur, it should be a competitive affair, and a high total game count is likely.
- Over 21.5 Games @ 1.6 Odds
- Total 3 Sets @ 2.21 Odds
- Alex de Minaur Wins @ 2.20 Odds
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