Tennis: our favourites for the winners of the ATP tournaments in Doha and Rio de Janeiro, and the WTA tournament in Dubai
by Cydias Aujard | by Cydias Aujard
It's a great week ahead for your tennis betting tips, for both the men and the women, as the best tennis players and women meet in Qatar (hard), Brazil (clay) and the United Arab Emirates (hard).
ATP Doha: Without Jannik Sinner, an opportunity to seize for his opponents
The ATP 500 tournament in Doha marks the last date before the American Masters 1000, which will take place at the beginning of March. And for this 2025 edition, all the big names in world tennis - with the exception of Jannik Sinner, who has been suspended for doping - will be present, with a line-up worthy of the greatest tournaments! This year, Carlos Alcaraz has opted to start the season on hard court, unlike previous seasons when the Spaniard headed to South America to play on clay. It was a choice that paid off for the world No. 3, as the four-time Grand Slam winner won the tournament in Rotterdam last week. Carlos Alcaraz may not have dominated, but the Spaniard showed all his mental strength to win, and this week in Doha, the Iberian tennis player will be the favourite with his status as number 1 seed.Although Jannik Sinner is not authorised to take part in the Qatari event and Alexander Zverev will be in Rio, the tournament draw will be very strong, with Novak Djokovic in particular. A month after his semi-final exit at the Australian Open, the Serb is making a comeback and it would be a mistake not to include him among the contenders. But in a crowded section of the draw, with a first round tie against Italy's Matteo Berrettini, the record holder of Grand Slam victories (24) will need to be at 100% physical fitness if he is to play a leading role.
Who, then, can challenge Carlos Alcaraz in Qatar? Daniil Medvedev has suffered a number of disappointments at the start of the season, such as his semi-final elimination in Marseille on Saturday. The Russian is capable of anything but does not yet seem physically capable of fighting for victory, just like his compatriot Andrey Rublev, who has been much more inconsistent over the last few months. And what if the Spaniard's main rival was Alex De Minaur? The Australian, seeded number 2, held the Iberian to a draw in the final in Rotterdam and is in good form at the start of the season. Perhaps the world number 6 will be the outsider to look out for at this tournament in Doha.
On the French side, Ugo Humbert will unfortunately not be in Qatar this week. France's No.1 player suffered a setback in Marseille, where he won the tournament outright. The Frenchman opted to rest and will be back on the courts next week, when he will defend his title in Dubai!
Already the winner in Rotterdam, Carlos Alcaraz looks like the great favourite this week in Qatar. Solid in the head and in his game, as well as physically, the Spaniard could well go for a second title in 2025.
Our ATP Doha forecast: Carlos Alcaraz wins!
ATP Rio de Janeiro: Alexander Zverev looking for revenge
While some have headed for Qatar, others have opted for South America and the Brazilian clay of Rio de Janeiro. A tour where many South Americans will be keen to succeed Sebastian Baez, winner in 2024.
One man will arrive as the overwhelming favourite, Alexander Zverev. The German is the only man in the world's top 10 to travel to Brazil, and on a surface where he has often shone in his career (runner-up at the last Roland Garros), the world number 2 will arrive with a target on his back. Beware, however, for the number 1 seed, who arrived in the same conditions in Buenos Aires but missed out in the quarter-finals. However, well acclimatised and having settled in on clay, Alexander Zverev will be keen to show a different face in Rio.
The competition promises to be a shade lower this week in the Brazilian city, but that will ensure a degree of consistency at every round. Number 2 seed Lorenzo Musetti will be one of the tournament's outsiders. Bronze medallist at the last Olympic Games, the Italian is highly versatile and can express himself on all surfaces. A quarter-finalist in Buenos Aires, the Transalpine will be arriving in Rio with some physical doubts, as the 16th-ranked player in the world withdrew from his last match. Will he be at 100% in Brazil?
And last but not least, the South Americans will be arriving in Rio de Janeiro in force, including Brazilian Joao Fonseca! A real revelation at the start of the season, the Auriverde tennis player will be arriving in force for this tournament after his fine week in Buenos Aires, where he won the tournament. Buoyed by his supporters, the 99th-ranked player in the world is on a roll and will be arriving home with high hopes.
His opponent in the final in Buenos Aires, Francisco Cerundolo, will also be travelling to Rio with high hopes. The Argentine, who is aiming for a place in the world's top 20, will be one of the week's favourites. The Chileans Alejandro Tabilo and Nicolas Jarry, who are always at ease on clay and often shine in these conditions, should also be watched.
An evenly-matched field but one big favourite, Alexander Zverev. Vexed after his disappointment in Buenos Aires, the German is likely to react and, having got to grips with the South American clay, the world number 2 should be much stronger in Brazil from Monday.
Our ATP Rio forecast: Alexander Zverev wins!
Masters 1000 WTA Dubai: Aryna Sabalenka to win her first trophy in the United Arab Emirates?
The women will be in the Middle East this week with the Dubai Masters 1000, another important event on the women's circuit after the Doha Masters 1000 won by Amanda Anisimova.
Aryna Sabalenka, who surprisingly went out in the first round in Doha, is determined to bounce back. The number 1 seed, who lost her title at the Australian Open, will have to find her form in the United Arab Emirates. The Belarusian will be one of the favourites, but will have to contend with all the best players on the planet who will be in Dubai.
Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, defending champion Jasmine Paolini and Iga Swiatek will all be gunning for the title this week in Dubai. The Pole has just reached the semi-finals in Doha, where she dominated the tournament until falling to her bête noire, Jelena Ostapenko. But the former world number 1 may not face the Latvian until the semi-finals, and there is no guarantee that the Baltic tenniswoman, a finalist in Doha, has the physical resources to go on. It's a very strong field, and we're sure to see plenty of action in every round!
Iga Swiatek, who impressed right up to the semi-finals in Doha, is coming into the tournament with some certainty in her game and has been playing at a very good level since the start of the season. The Pole, who is also physically strong, could find herself back on the winning side of a tournament at this Dubai Masters 1000.
Our Masters 1000 WTA Dubai forecast: Iga Swiatek wins!
