ATP tournament in Dallas, 1st round, Wednesday, 07.02.2024
There’s action around the globe! Fans are currently spoiled for choice in our tennis tips, as it will be quite a while before the next major tournament is played.
I’m now looking at those who are on the road in Dallas and naturally have my eye on the German hopefuls. They face a local hero on Wednesday night and enjoy the role of favorite both with the bookmakers and in my Koepfer Kovacevic tip!
An extremely promising start to the year, a quick exit at the Australian Open? Dominik Koepfer probably doesn’t know exactly how to assess these first weeks of 2024 himself.
The 29-year-old had snatched the title at the Challenger in Canberra, seeded No. 1, but naturally had no intention of returning home after just one match in Melbourne.
Koepfer had the misfortune to meet compatriot Alexander Zverev in the first round, who almost made it to the final in the end. But the outsider actually cut a pretty good figure
He lost, but he gave his all in the 6-4, 3-6, 6-7, 3-6. He reached the semi-finals in the doubles together with Yannick Hanfmann, so his first major was by no means a failure despite the very early elimination.
How will he now perform at the Dallas Open? First the double quarter-finals, then a semi-final, the city could be an extraordinarily good place for the German, who knows how to go far here
What about Aleksandar Kovacevic, is he a favorite opponent of the 29-year-old? The two met twice in qualifying in 2022, with a win each way.
In 2023 in Los Cabos, they finally met for the first time in the main draw, which Koepfer won 6-4, 7-5. A close match indeed, but Koepfer never dropped a set.
For the current duel, the bookmakers are offering odds in our bookmaker comparison that suggest a close back-and-forth. Koepfer is ahead, with the lead estimated at an average of 1.60 to 2.20.
Aleksandar Kovacevic will of course be hoping to have the support of the crowd on his side. The American is ranked number 100 in the world, exactly 40 places behind Koepfer.
At the Australian Open, he at least managed to land a victory in the first round after surviving qualifying. Logically: Alejandro Tabilo (victory in five sets) was of course not comparable to Alexander Zverev.
Kovacevic is now allowed to start directly in the main draw in Dallas, but is of course not one of those who would be expected to win the tournament. But how does he intend to survive this first round?
Two players who are not among the tallest will meet. Koepfer is 1.80 m tall, three centimeters taller than his American opponent. While the German plays the double-handed backhand, with his left hand, Kovacevic goes to work with his one-handed right hand
My Koepfer Kovacevic tip
From a German perspective, I am of course keeping my fingers crossed that Dominik Koepfer can deliver a second really strong tournament this year. In terms of quality, he should be slightly ahead of Aleksandar Kovacevic.
The American serves similarly to Koepfer, but trails 0:1 in the direct comparison. I believe that we will see the world number 50 a little further in the competition, which is why I recommend the following tip:
Koepfer wins against Kovacevic!
