We're nearing the end of one of the weeks of the year on the ATP Tour, but there are six matches still to be played on the weekend.
Alex Zverev, Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Marin Cilic will all be featuring in semifinal matches across Europe, and I believe there are two solid positions to bet.
Here's how I'll be betting the Saturday morning tennis.
Match times are subject to change. Read here for advice on watching tennis matches.
Alexander Zverev (-400) vs. Carlos Alcaraz (+300)
8 a.m. ET
I have been thoroughly impressed with the level that the 18-year-old Alcaraz has displayed in his first ATP Tour level tournament on an indoor hard court.
What Alcaraz has done to this point is nothing short of remarkable, as he's already gotten by tour mainstays Andy Murray and Dan Evans without dropping a set, and he showed courage to get by world number seven Matteo Berrettini in a third set tiebreak.
However, Alcaraz is running into a player in Alex Zverev that is well-suited to sit back and absorb the Spaniard's power. Each of the players that Alcaraz has faced to this point has significant weak spots. Most recently, he was able to take advantage of Berrettini's backhand which didn't cause Alcaraz any problems.
Zverev doesn't have a weakness on the ground, has a monstrous first serve, and if his second serve is solid on the day, the German is one of the most well-rounded players on tour.
The only issue for Zverev in Vienna thus far has been his inability to maintain a consistent level throughout his matches, but I don't think we'll see that on Saturday.
Alcaraz and Zverev have met once before, playing in Acapulco earlier this year. The German dominated Alcaraz, defeating him 6-3, 6-1 in easy fashion. This is a more developed Alcaraz than the one that featured in Mexico, but not enough to pose a serious threat to Zverev.
Back a player that has only dropped two matches in the past three months and has the perfect game style to deal with the power of Alcaraz.
Pick: Alexander Zverev to Win 2-0 (-140 via FanDuel)
Botic van de Zandschulp (-110) vs. Marin Cilic (-110)
8:30 a.m. ET
US Open standout van de Zandschulp has been rediscovering the form that allowed him to go from qualifier to quarterfinalist in New York.
Cilic has been finding a consistently high level as well in recent weeks, reaching the final of the Kremlin Cup and now finding himself in the St. Petersburg semifinals.
While van de Zandschulp has throttled each player he's faced in Russia outside of Evgeny Donskoy, Cilic was very fortunate to get by both Karen Khachanov and Roberto Bautista Agut.
The Croatian saved 13 of the 16 break points he faced against RBA, something he can't count on again, and he hit 11 double faults across the two matches. He simply can not afford to concede double-digit break points or throw in a number of double faults against a player that will punish you with relentless power like van de Zandschulp.
I trust the player that has shown that when he's in a groove, he is an elite tennis player, and that's van de Zandschulp.
Pick: Botic van de Zandschulp -110 via Caesars Sportsbook
