The 2023 ATP Tour is underway, and the season’s first Grand Slam is right around the corner. Tennis betting sites are offering season specials on which men will finish in the top eight of the rankings at season’s end.
There are plenty of familiar faces in the mix and a few dark horses. Here’s a look at some players that might be worth wagering on.
ATP Tennis Odds: Players to finish in top 8
Favorites not named Djokovic or Alcaraz
While players like Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz are deserving favorites, at -1600 odds, there’s not much value on them right now. Instead, we’ll focus on a few plus-money players with a realistic chance of cracking the top eight.
Felix Auger-Aliassime (+125)
Félix Auger-Aliassime had a bang-up year in 2022. The 22-year-old Montreal native won four titles, reached the quarters at the Australian Open, and notched his 150th career win.
He’s currently world No. 6 in the ATP rankings and is the second-youngest player in the top ten. It feels like Auger-Aliassime has been knocking on the door and is getting ready to kick it in. The closest he’s come to a Grand Slam championship was the US Open semi-final in 2021.
Could this be the year the rising star bags his first Slam? Regardless, you have to like the +125 odds for a player already ranked in the top eight.
Nick Kyrgios (+125)
The most-fined player in ATP Tour history had himself a resurgent year on the court in 2022. While the rants and racket-tossing were still very much in the mix, the 27-year-old played some electric tennis, reaching the Wimbledon final and the US Open quarters.
He achieved a career-high ranking of 11 back in November and currently sits at world No. 13. If he can pick up where he left off last year, he’s got a solid shot at being ranked in the single digits in 2023.
Taylor Fritz (+175)
Taylor Fritz is currently ranked No. 9 on the ATP Tour after slipping one spot from his career-best 8 last October. The 25-year-old turned heads with his quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon in 2022 and also picked up titles in Tokyo and Indian Wells.
Fritz is a powerful baseline player that can beat opponents with the forehand and backhand. He looks like a player trending up, and the +175 odds here are enticing.
[cta id=445 type=cta]
Longer shots
Denis Shapovalov (+600)
Shapovalov had a career-high ranking in 2020 when he reached No. 10. Inconsistent play in recent years has seen him fall to No. 18. The talent is undoubtedly there for the young Canadian; it’s just a matter of putting it all together.
The lefty has reached at least the quarter-finals in all but one Grand Slam tournament (French) but has never made it past the semis.
Frances Tiafoe (+650)
Frances Tiafoe came alive last year at the US Open, dazzling the crowds all the way to the semi-finals, where eventual winner Carlos Alcaraz defeated him. It was a strong year for the American, who also reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Tiafoe is currently ranked No. 19 and appears to be a player on the rise. By the end of the year, +650 odds to reach the top eight could look like a steal.
Sebastian Korda (+1800)
The son of former World No. 2 Czech tennis player Petr Korda reached a career-high ranking of 30 last year. He comes from a talented sports family, with his sisters (Jessica and Nelly) playing on the LPGA tour.
Korda reached the third round of the Australian Open last year, and the young American will look to take the next step in a couple of weeks. A highlight of his 2022 was a victory over current No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz at the Monte-Carlo Masters.
Current Top 8 ATP Tennis Players
No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz Spain
No. 2 Rafael Nadal Spain
No. 3 Casper Ruud Norway
No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas Greece
No. 5 Novak Djokovic Serbia
No. 6 Felix Auger-Aliassime Canada
No. 7 Daniil Medvedev Russia
No. 8 Andrey Rublev Russia
