Olympic Men's Singles Betting Tips: Back Cerundolo to medal at a big price
Andy Schooler
23 July 2024
The Olympic tennis event gets under way on Saturday in Paris. Andy Schooler seeks out the value in the men’s singles market.
Leading contenders
He’s just won the French Open and Wimbledon back-to-back so it’s easy to see why Alcaraz is the favourite, especially given the Olympics are taking place back at Roland Garros – home of the former event.
But jollies have a poor record at the Olympics and how long can you keep going back to the well? Lots of high-pressure matches take their toll mentally and physically and there will certainly be a weight of expectation on the Spaniard.
It’s also best-of-three tie-break sets in this tournament and I firmly believe that format gives the ‘lesser’ players a greater chance of causing upsets.
Alcaraz is the best player on form so I can’t lay him but neither do I want to back him at the price.
Sinner remains the world number one for now but not many would rate him the top dog right now.
Losing before the final stage at both the French Open and Wimbledon may well have dented confidence in a player who had been flying.
Clay isn’t the Italian’s favourite surface either and he may well miss out again.
The Serb recovered from post-French Open knee surgery to not only play at Wimbledon but reach the final.
However, a relatively benign path through the draw failed to test him and when he needed to step up another level (or two) for the final with Alcaraz, he was found to be well short.
Will a couple more weeks of practice be enough to bridge that gap? It seems doubtful, especially given we’ve not seen the best of Djokovic for some time – he’s yet to win a title of any sort in 2024.
Alex Zverev – 9.6
Zverev’s last four visits to the French Open have brought the following results: RU-SF-SF-SF. In short, he has to be considered among the favourites.
The Tokyo gold medallist struggled with an injury as he exited Wimbledon but he’s since proved his fitness with a run to the final of the Hamburg Open, a match he could easily have won given he converted only one of 22 break points. That won’t happen too often.
It should be considerably hotter than it usually is when they play at Roland Garros and that should help Zverev’s strong serve – he’s worth backing.
Outside chances
Andy Murray and Andre Agassi have both used home advantage to claim gold in this event in the past – could Fils repeat the trick?
He comes in off the back of victory at the Hamburg Open and is the sort who will feed off the patriotic support – it’s often fervent at Roland Garros and could ramp up given national pride is now at stake too.
Another whose serve will be very awkward to return if, as forecast, temperatures hit 30C.
The South Americans are a patriotic bunch and they’ve often raised their levels at the Olympics – four of the last five Games have seen medals won by men from Argentina or Chile.
Cerundolo, an Argentine, has the potential to follow suit.
He was a quarter-finalist in Madrid back in the spring (beating Zverev along the way) and then made the last 16 at the French Open before losing in five sets to Djokovic.
Last season he toppled both Sinner and Casper Ruud on clay.
If he gets a decent draw on Thursday, he’ll have a live chance at a big price.
Paris 2024 is the final curtain call for Murray – he’ll retire after the Games.
Some of his finest moments have come at the Olympics. Remember, he won gold at both London 2012 and Rio 2016, and few will have greater support from the stands at Roland Garros.
If you believe in fairytale endings, Murray is your man.
The reality, though, is he’s playing with an artificial hip, on clay, at 37 years of age.
Olympic Tennis Men’s Singles Recommended Bets:
Back Alex Zverev @ 9.6
Back Arthur Fils @ 50
Back Francisco Cerundolo @ 130
Andy Schooler
23 July 2024
