Cinch Championship Odds: Alcaraz’s Queen’s Club Debut

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The list of winners at the tournament once known as the Queen’s Club includes John McEnroe, Jimmy Connors, Boris Becker, Pete Sampras and Rafael Nadal. When looking at the Cinch Championship odds, there are plenty of challengers for the event that is set to start on Monday.

Carlos Alcaraz, who just fell from No. 1 to No. 2 in the ATP rankings, is set to make his debut at the Queen’s Club in London. Matteo Berrettini is looking to become the first player to win the title three years in a row since Andy Roddick accomplished that feat from 2003-05.

When looking at the tennis odds, Alcaraz (+200) is second only to Taylor Fritz (+350) for the tournament.

The tournament that has been named the 500 event of the year by the ATP Tour four times after receiving the honor again in 2022 gets underway on Monday. Five of the last six men’s singles finals needed three sets to determine a champion. It will be tough to top the classic 2014 final when Grigor Dimitrov topped Lopez 6-7, 7-6, 7-6.

Ready to Make A Splash

Alcaraz’s French Open run didn’t end quite the way he planned, with cramping issues ending any chances of him derailing Djokovic in the semifinals.

Now he turns his attention to Wimbledon as he looks to add his fifth title in 2023 after winning in Barcelona, Indian Wells, Buenos Aires and Madrid as he makes his first trip to the Queen’s Club for the Cinch Championships.

Feliciano Lopez is the last player from Spain to win the title at this event, taking the titles in 2017 and 2019. The Cinch Championship odds view Alcaraz as having a chance to change that as he goes after his 11th career title.

Rune Could Pose A Challenge

Alcaraz is one of many 20-year-olds to keep an eye on. Holger Rune, who is sitting at a career-high No. 6 in the ATP rankings, made some noise in the Italian Open with wins over Djokovic and Casper Ruud, the two players who would meet in the French Open final.

Ruud took the rematch when the pair met in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros.

Rune’s lone title in 2023 came in Munich. He didn’t have to face a top-25 player, and the degree of difficulty should be higher at the Queen’s Club.

He is 4-5 against top-10 players in 2023. That figures to impact his Cinch Championship odds.

Keeping Tabs on the Americans

Taylor Fritz and Frances Tiafoe are looking to join Donald Budge, Stan Smith, Jimmy Connors, John McEnroe, Pete Sampras and Andy Roddick among the Americans to win at the Queen’s Club.

A quick look at the recent tennis scores will show that Fritz just lost in the quarterfinals in Stuttgart with Tiafoe advancing despite losing the opening set to Lorenzo Musetti.

Fritz has had mixed results since reaching the semifinals at Monte Carlo in April. Tiafoe won the 250 event in Houston. However, he lost four matches in a row to top-50 ranked players heading into the Stuttgart event.

Fritz is priced at +2800 and Tiafoe at +8000 to win at Wimbledon.

Sebastian Korda and Ben Shelton are other Americans in the main draw.

Murray Looking For More

Andy Murray delighted the home crowd by winning at the Queen’s Club five times from 2009-16 while Cameron Norrie reached the finals in 2021.

Along with David Evans, they are the favorites among the local crowd regarding the Cinch Championships.

Norrie, ranked 13th, upset Alcaraz to win in Rio de Janeiro in February. He has had one win over a top-25 player since.

Evans lost in the first round at the Queen’s Club to Berrettini in 2022, and he also lost to Berrettini in the 2021 quarterfinals.

Murray has fallen to 44th in the ATP rankings. He opted to skip the French Open and just won a Challenger event in Surbiton. Murray hasn’t advanced past the second round at the Queen’s Club since winning the 2016 title.

What About the Two-Time Defending Champ?

Since the 1960s, the only players to win this tournament three years in a row are Roy Emerson, John McEnroe, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick.

Can Berrettini join this select company?

Berrettini is 6-7 in his last seven tournaments after a first-round loss to Lorenzo Sonego in Stuttgart.

He lost just two sets in the two championship runs at the Queen’s Club and he followed up the 2021 title by advancing to the title match at Wimbledon.

With his recent track record as well as some strong showings at both Wimbledon and the US Open, it would be dangerous for those who bet online to count Berrettini out.

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• ATP Roland Garros Odds: Alcaraz, Djokovic Continue to Lead the Way in Men’s Singles Draw
• Roland Garros Winners: Medvedev, Garcia, Kvitova Among Contenders Sent Packing at French Open
• ATP Roland Garros Odds: Favorites Alcaraz and Djokovic Could Meet in a Star-Studded Semifinal
• ATP Roland Garros Finals Preview: Djokovic Aims for 3rd French Open
• Italian Open Preview: Could Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz Be On A Collision Course?