Entering the final stages of what has been an exciting tournament, the 2023 French Open has reached the semi-finals in the men’s bracket with two great matchups on tap. In the first matchup of the penultimate round, No.1 seed Carlos Alcaraz squares off with Novak Djokovic for not only a shot at the finals but also the world No. 1 ranking as well. Meanwhile, in the other matchup of the day, Norway’s Casper Ruud takes on Alexander Zverev who is making one of the deepest tournament runs of his career. With both matchups slated for Friday, this should be an explosive round of tennis action with big-time world ranking implications on the line.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each player, a predicted winner in each matchup, and also more thoughts about tennis betting.
| French Open 2023 Men's Semi-final Round Picks | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlos Alcaraz vs. Novak Djokovic | Alcaraz | -125 | -125 | -125 |
| Alexander Zverev vs. Casper Ruud | Ruud | -110 | -110 | -110 |
What to look for from: Carlos Alcaraz
Coming off an empathic win over Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals, Alcaraz has had a strong tournament thus far. In his last matchup, the Spanish player was able to knock off Tsitsipas in straight sets and only had trouble in the final frame. The No. 1 player in the world, this has been his best performance at a French Open to date. In addition to his brilliance as of late, he has also fared well against Djokovic in the past (knocking off the former No. 1 player at the Madrid Open in 2019), even earning comparisons to him in his playing style as well.
What to look for from: Novak Djokovic
With Alcaraz lining up on one side of the court and Djokovic on the other, this matchup certainly has the most star power of any duel at this French Open. Already one of the greatest players of all time, Joker will have his hands full with the Spaniard after a tough battle in the quarterfinals against Karen Khachanov. While Djokovic was able to knock off Khachanov, he did have a harder time in the quarterfinals than Alcaraz did. In this battle, the former world No. 1 player lost the first set but would go on to recover in the ensuing sets.
Prediction: This battle could go down as an instant classic and perhaps a “passing of the torch” moment if Alcaraz can win emphatically. In a close duel, take the 20-year-old Alcaraz to knock off the legendary Joker.
What to look for from: Casper Ruud
In the other matchup of the men’s bracket semifinals, the No. 4 seed, Rune, is aiming for back-to-back French Open final appearances. In his last time out, the Norwegian star was able to upend Holger Rune in a close battle, 3-1 sets. While he has yet to win a Grand Slam tournament, he is coming off the best year of his career in 2022, making two final appearances. This matchup against Zverev will be a battle but not as daunting, potentially, as his prior outing.
What to look for from: Alexander Zverev
The former No. 2 player in the world, Zverev has fallen to the mid-20s in the world rankings but has now climbed back into contention at the French Open final four. The German star is already top-10 all-time in career earnings and is just 26 years of age. Against Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the quarterfinals, Zverev was able to blast past his Argentine rival, winning the final two sets. This will be his third straight French Open semifinal appearance.
Prediction: Another solid battle, take Ruud to escape Zverev and advance to the French Open final round.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest bets on tennis and the men’s side of the French Open, keep it locked to SBS where we have you covered. If you are in need of more wagering resources related to the sport at hand, the SBS tennis betting sites guide has your back with the latest betting markets related to the sport. Moreover, while the 2023 tournament is drawing to its conclusions, you can still find more action with our French Open betting 2023 rundown which covers all the matchups at the Grand Slam tournament. Finally, for those trying to maximize their wagers, the SBS best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read that covers the latest welcome bonus offers.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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