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Posted at 11:30 AM EST.Odds subject to change.

ATP: Atlanta

Live on the Tennis Channel

Wager: Francis Tiafoe wins 2-0 (+128 at Pinnacle)

1:20 PM EST. The injury bug struck Aslan Karatsev earlier this season, preventing him from finding his form in recent tournaments and greatly blocking any opportunities to build momentum heading into Atlanta. Leading into today's event he earned just one win this season, but it's worth noting that he's only played in 9 matches. Two years ago the 6'1" Russian reached his highest designation yet, ranked 14th in the world and prior to that making it deep into the Australian Open in 2021, where he lost in the semifinals in three straight sets to Novak Djokovic (but who hasn't the last 10 years?). It was ultimately a disappointment but it was also a startling reminder of just how talented the 30-year old is when he's healthy. At his best his power looks effortless, and he's famous for his ability to redirect would-be forehand winners when his opponent starts gaining momentum. It's unlikely we'll see Karatsev in his top-form today, but he looked the best he has all year in his first round win over Billy Harris. Yesterday  he defeated the 6'4" British powerhouse in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2.

Home favorite Francis Tiafioe has had a disappointing 2024; his last legitimate run was all the way back in April at the Houston Open, where he battled and lost to fellow American Ben Shelton in the finals. Still, Atlanta beckons a chance at redemption for the hyper-athletic Tiafoe, who uses his physicality to overwhelm opponents and gets a savory first matchup against a guy who's been less-than-100% all year. In his home country is also where Tiafoe has done his best work, making it to the semifinals in 2022 in the U.S. Open and 65-40 straight up the last four seasons on hard court surfaces. Tiafoe will also be in front of a partisan crowd, not quite in his backyard (Hyattsville MD) but in the familiar backdrop of Americana, where U.S. fans are dying to see him win at a bigger event. We love the will of Tiafoe to mean he comes out on top, and recent history tells us this is his best chance to make an early statement in Georgia.

Farley

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