The new 12-day format for Masters 1000 events often results in less exciting first-round clashes, but that’s not the case at the ATP Rome Masters this week. Day two sees a brilliant match up between Britain’s Jack Draper, and mercurial Croatian Borna Coric.
Draper has had a topsy-turvy year, full of promise and frustration. It began well, with a run to the final in Adelaide following a strong finish to 2023. Outside of a semi-final run in Acapulco the month after, Draper has had a series of near misses, with deciding set losses in seven of his nine defeats this year. Can the Brit find a few extra percent and turn his close losses into wins this week in Rome?
He’ll be up against a defending quarter-finalist in Borna Coric, who hasn’t had the best season so far on the ATP Tour. The Croatian is 7-9 for the year, with just one win from his last four starts. As is often the case with Coric, it’s been hot and cold the past few months–one run to the final in Montpellier, but also, four first-round losses.
Who can strike form and move into the second round of the ATP Rome Masters? We breakdown the odds and give our Draper vs Coric prediction and betting tips.
How the Bookies View It: Tight, With the Edge to Draper
Bookmakers are understandably viewing this match as quite close, given it’s a clash between the world No 40 and 55. Draper is given the edge at 8/11, while Coric isn’t far behind on 11/10. The most likely outcome in terms of set score is seen as 2-0 to Draper, though a 2-0 scoreline to Coric pays the second-lowest, with odds of 7/4 and 23/10 respectively.
Recent Head-to-Head: First Meeting
These two are yet to meet on the ATP Tour. While they’re similar in ranking, Draper is only 22 years old and has struggled with injuries across his young career, meaning there have been few opportunities for the pair to play.
Anything Else Catch the Eye?
There are arguments for this clash being either a quick Draper win, or a long Draper loss. When the Brit is firing, he’s one of the most ruthless on Tour, regardless of his ranking. Take his run at Acapulco for example–just 11 games lost en route to the semi-finals, dispatching the likes of Tommy Paul, Yoshihito Nishioka and Miomir Kecmanovic with ease.
Trouble is, Draper also has a penchant for drawn out losses. As mentioned above, seven of his nine defeats this year have been in deciding sets, with the last four of these going to 7-6 or 7-5.
Draper vs Coric Betting Tips & Predictions
We say it’ll be one of those weeks where Jack Draper turns up locked in, and races through his first couple of matches. Given how hot and cold Coric is himself, expect this one to be over quickly.
- Draper to win @ 4/5
- Draper to win and under 19.5 games @ 4/1
The pair take to court Pietrangeli fourth on Thursday, so get in quick with your bets if you like these Draper vs Coric predictions.
In December 2020 we sadly 
