Just four men remain in the single’s draw at the French Open, and while one semifinal has the biggest names, the other may steal the show.
Alexander Zverev has made an improbable rise back to the top of the men’s game and will now face his toughest test in World No. 4 Casper Ruud.
Let’s take a look at how to bet Friday’s second semifinal in our French Open betting picks and predictions.
French Open Men's Semifinal #2 picks and predictions
Click on each prediction to read full analysis.
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Casper Ruud vs Alexander Zverev odds and picks
| (4) Casper Ruud | (22) Alexander Zverev | |
|---|---|---|
| -205 | Moneyline | +170 |
| -4.5 (+105) | Game spread | +4.5 (-130) |
| Over 38.5 (+105) | Total games | Under 38.5 (-110) |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook on June 7, 2023.
Casper Ruud vs Alexander Zverev match prediction
This one is a tough call, and there’s little value in the line. While Casper Ruud appears to have played himself into form here in Paris, he’s been relatively untested to this point. Alexander Zverev, too, has faced just one quality opponent to get to this point.
This match, to me, is going to be all about who can hold their nerve. Ruud was gift-wrapped the first two sets against a tired Holger Rune before tightening up in the third and nearly letting the match go five. He continued to make errors off the backhand wing and looked incredibly vulnerable throughout.
Yes, Zverev has had issues with his nerves as well, but his game is more advanced at this stage. He’s been ripping his backhand like he did last year at this tournament, when he looked poised to overcome Rafael Nadal. The backhand-to-backhand trade should prove to be a tough one for Ruud, and I ultimately have to side with the German here.
Prediction: Zverev moneyline (-110 at BetMGM)
Casper Ruud vs Alexander Zverev best bet
Remember what I said about holding your nerve? Well, neither one of these guys has really been great at doing it throughout their careers. Even in the quarters, Zverev gave back his set lead by dropping the second and went down an early break in the third. He also looked shaky in closing out the match in the fourth, even though he would ultimately serve it out.
Ruud is better than Tomas Etcheverry, and I suspect should Zverev lose focus, the Norwegian should pounce. I expect a very back-and-forth match with Zverev’s big game ultimately being too much for Ruud to overcome.
No matter who finds themselves in the lead, I don’t think it’ll be easy to hold onto. Even in the quarters, Ruud blew four match points against a tired Rune before ultimately winning.
Best bet: Over 38.5 games (-130 at DraftKings)
