Jake’s Dubai Preview: Shapovalov vs. Murray

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I ran some numbers on this clash last night, and simply didn’t expect to see a $2 in front of Andy Murray’s name.

The former world number one was brilliant at Doha, and even though there was a grim run of losses before that, he truly looked back to his potent best at that tournament.

He arguably should have knocked off Jakub Mensik in the second round and you can genuinely make the case that match was about as good as any we saw during that tournament.

Murray boasts an enormous 17-5 record at this venue and while Shapovalov’s 6-2 record isn’t to be laughed at either, he doesn’t quite have the week-to-week rhythm he usually has and is still working his way back up the rankings after a lay off.

The Canadian hasn’t played since Rotterdam and two of his three wins in 2024 have come against Hugo Gaston.

I will admit I expect the form to drastically improve between now and the end of the season but based on what I saw last time out against Monfils, this isn’t a player who should be a favourite against someone of Murray’s experience.

Suggested Bet:

1.5 units Andy Murray to WIN @ $2.21 with Pinnacle/BetKings (posted to Twitter earlier on)

Over 18s Only (21+ in some jurisdictions). 1 unit = 1% of bankroll. Please enjoy your betting responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and do not chase a loss.