British tennis fans will be glued to their TV screens this week, willing Jack Draper into some form. The 22-year-old has raw potential, but has had his career stunted by injuries so far.
Taking on fellow youngster Tomas Machac in the first round of the Geneva Open, can he grab some momentum? Read on for our Draper vs Machac prediction and betting tips, where we dive into all you need to know about this match-up.
Draper has had a patchy year so far, but still holds a winning record. The Brit most recently made the second round of the ATP Rome Masters, falling to defending champion Daniil Medvedev after defeating Borna Coric in his opener.
The big-hitting leftie will be eager for some form ahead of Roland Garros and, more importantly, Wimbledon. But Machac will be no walkover for the home hope.
Machac comes into Geneva having not played on the ATP Tour in almost a month. The Czech withdrew from the Italian Open, and last competed in Madrid. He’ll be keen to put that behind him, however, as his most recent match was a 6-0, 6-2 drubbing at the hands of Ben Shelton.
Who will win this battle of young talent? We give our predictions and outline the best bets to make ahead of the first ball in Geneva.
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How the Bookies View It: Draper Ahead
Bookmakers aren’t loving the fact that Machac has spent so much time off court the last month. Bet365 has him as a 7/4 underdog in this match, with Draper the favourite at 4/9. The Brit is expected to win in straight sets, with this result returning a payout of 5/4.
Recent Head-to-Head: Nothing Official, But There’s History
Draper and Machac have never played on the ATP Tour. However, there’s still a history here, as they’ve met on the Challenger Tour twice. Machac won both of these meetings in three sets. One was last year in Orleans, while the other was in 2021 on indoor carpet.
Anything Else Catch the Eye?
Machac has not lost in the first round of a tournament since the ATP 500 in Dubai in February. Even then, he won two matches in qualifying. The last time Machac traveled to an event and came away winless was in January, when he lost in the first round in Adelaide.
Both players have some big scalps to their names already this year. Machac defeated No 17 France Tiafoe at the Australian Open, while Draper has two wins over No 14 Tommy Paul in 2024.
Geneva is known to be a fast clay court. This should favour Draper, who loves a quick surface for his big lefty forehand.
Draper vs Machac Betting Tips & Predictions
We expect Draper to prevail in this clash. The Brit ran Machac close in their last meeting and has only improved since then. He’s fit and healthy, while Machac hasn’t been competing in the last month. Expect an entertaining match, with Draper advancing.
- Draper to win @ 4/9
- Over 22.5 games total @ 5/9
Draper and Machac will play after Murray vs Hanfmann on Centre Court in the night session on Monday.
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