ATP Finals in Turin, semi-finals, Saturday, 18.11.2023
The tennis world will be treated to an absolute top match at the end of the 2023 season. In the semi-finals of the ATP Finals, the number one will face the number two in the world, Novak Djokovic against Carlos Alcaraz.
It is the fifth match in total, with the head-2-head tied at 2:2. Each time, the fans have been treated to a close battle, with no match resulting in a winner without losing a set
Djokovic and Alcaraz have divided the weeks for the first world ranking in 2023 between them. It is already certain that the Serbian will start 2024 as number one. However, it remains to be seen who will win the 2023 ATP Finals.
The two giants of the sport will meet for the fifth time in the semi-finals. Alcaraz won the first duel in Madrid in 2022 and the spectacular five-set Wimbledon final in 2023.
The man from El Palmar suffered a bitter defeat at the French Open. On his way to bringing the match completely under his control, he suffered cramps all over his body. Djokovic advanced to the final 3:1 and crowned himself the sole Grand Slam title record holder
At Wimbledon, Alcaraz finally got his revenge. Alcaraz and Djokovic played out their fourth duel a month later in Cincinnati. In the Masters final, the 20-year-old initially took the lead but lost in the two subsequent tiebreaks.
It was the only encounter on hard court so far. The bookmakers have Djokovic at 1.57 odds on Saturday evening, with Alcaraz at 2.40. The big difference surprises me.
Although Alcaraz lost his opening match against Alexander Zverev, he then put in two impressive performances against Andrey Rublev and Daniil Medvedev, beating both Russians in two sets.
However, Djokovic has already suffered a defeat in the finals, his first after 19 consecutive victories. Jannik Sinner was able to defeat the “Djoker” in three sets.
With the South Tyrolean’s help, he made it into the top two in the final group match against Tsitsipas’ replacement Hubert Hurkacz. But the other matches were no walk in the park either. Djokovic played out three sets against both the strong-serving Pole and Holger Rune.
Three sets have almost become standard for the world number one. Six of Djokovic’s seven most recent matches at the tournament have gone the full length of the match. He played out a whopping seven tiebreaks in the process
After three matches at the ATP Finals, he has nine sets and five tiebreaks.
After all, neither Alcaraz nor Djokovic have been able to beat the other outright in their previous matches. In view of the numerous tiebreaks, one could also speculate on a set that ends 7-6. NEObet offers a 1.98.
Given that Djokovic is the clear favorite according to the odds, a bet on Alcaraz to win the set at 1.50 at Winamax could also be worthwhile. After all, he won in two sets against Rublev and Medvedev and his form is clearly on the up!
My Alcaraz Djokovic tip
Alcaraz against Djokovic, the crème de la crème of the tennis elite. The two stars will meet again on Saturday. Who will take the lead in the direct duel, which is currently still tied 2-2? Djokovic is considered to be stronger on hard court.
But the matches have been absolutely even so far. Only in Paris did Alcaraz lose quite clearly 1:3 due to his cramps, but he has always managed to take a set against the “Djoker”.
Five tiebreaks have already been played in the first four meetings, and two in the only hard-court duel. I also expect at least one set to be decided in a tiebreak on Saturday evening.
My Alcaraz Djokovic tip: Over 0.5 tiebreaks
