Carlos Alcaraz, Jack Draper and Hubert Hurkacz: Grass court betting tips ahead of Queen’s and Halle
Long, sunny days, flowers in bloom, ice cream vans making fortunes and 500-level grasscourt events. What’s not to like?
The ATP action moves to the hallowed turf of Queen's Club this week, with one of the most iconic events on the ATP calendar, and Sports News Blitz’s Bookie Basher is back with some betting tips.
Alcaraz leads the Queen’s Club charge
Andy Murray used to be the Don around these parts after becoming the first player to win five titles at the historic Queen's Club back in 2016.
This year the main man is Carlos Alcaraz, who is among a plethora of stars on the entry list for the upcoming HSBC Championships in London.
The Spaniard - who triumphed on his Queen's Club debut in 2023 - might be just about recovered from the epic French Open final against Jannik Sinner, and it is no surprise to see him at the top of the outright markets.
He is odds-on with most firms, with Betfred sticking their head above the parapet ever so slightly by going even money.
It’s easy to see why he is the favourite. Alcaraz was on another planet for much of the clay season, winning three huge titles including back-to-back Roland Garros crowns.
He’s no fool on this surface either. Since winning at Queen’s Club in 2023, the Spanish magician’s record on grass is 20-1.
But is a Queen’s repeat too much, too soon?
However, is a week really enough time to rest and reset after that monumental French Open final / five-and-a-half-hour battle with big rival Sinner?
It might be given his skill set and physical gifts, but he looks short enough in the outright betting when you factor in his draw in London.
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Jordan Thompson - two players who are dangerous on grass - are in his quarter and if there is any kind of Roland Garros hangover those two might capitalise.
Tommy Paul was a shock winner in 2024, while grass specialists and former champions here Matteo Berrettini and Grigor Dimitrov are also involved in London this week.
Draper carries home hopes (and our bet)
Murray is obviously retired, but UK fans will have a home hero to shout for in the shape of Jack Draper.
The British lefty looked in some shape as he practised in London on Saturday, and he will be confident of a solid run after hitting a career-high ranking of World No. 4 recently.
He is also in the opposite half of the draw to Alcaraz, who he beat in straight sets at Queen’s last season.
Draper is in the shape of his life - looking more UFC fighter than tennis player these days - and he carries our cash on his broad shoulders at 5/1 this week.
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Sinner returns to Halle with something to prove
Elsewhere Jannik Sinner heads up the field in Halle, Germany, where he is the defending champion.
Sinner and Alcaraz look on a different level to the rest of the Tour right now, but there are question marks surrounding the Italian this week.
Will there be any Roland Garros demons given he blew three championship points off the belt before eventually losing that French Open epic final to Alcaraz?
He is odds on to win in Germany, and while it would be no surprise to see him walk off with another title, we cannot seriously stick him up as a tip at 8/11 under the circumstances.
Hurkacz could offer value in Germany
Hubert Hurkacz looks a much more enticing proposition at 18/1. If recent seasons have told us anything, it is that the Pole comes alive in Halle, having won the title here in 2022 and making the final in 2024.
Last year Sinner - the world No. 1 - claimed a first grass-court crown with a 7-6(8) 7-6(2) win against Hurkacz in one hour and 50 minutes at the OWL Stadion in North Rhine-Westphalia.
It was a close game (there were no service breaks in the match) and if Hurkacz is fit and firing, he has the power game to go deep again.
We say it as ‘Hubi’ has seen his 2025 season disrupted by a back injury. He had to withdraw from Den Bosch last week with the problem, so any bet on him this week is taking a slight leap of faith.
However, at the time of writing, he is in the draw and most bookies would return your stake anyway if he withdrew without hitting a ball in anger.
It is unlikely he would take a risk on the back with Wimbledon just around the corner, and he has such a big game on this surface that 18/1 could look huge come the weekend.
Suggested Bet #1: Jack Draper to win the HSBC Championships at 5/1 (Bet MGM / Unibet)
Suggested Bet #2: Hubert Hurkacz in the Terra Wortmann Open at 18/1 (Betfred)
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