Denis Shapovalov aims to add another trophy to his mantle as he faces Aleksander Kovacevic in the Mifel Tennis Open final.
The pre-match narrative: Shapovalov won the Dallas Open earlier this year and has an opportunity to win another title. He’s a commanding favourite over Kovacevic, which actually puts the value on the American in this match.
Check out our Kovacevic vs. Shapovalov odds and my best bet for the July 19 tennis match.
Kovacevic vs. Shapovalov odds
| Markets | Betting odds |
| Kovacevic to win | +240 |
| Shapovalov to win | -334 |
| Kovacevic +3.5 games | -106 |
| Shapovalov -3.5 games | -125 |
| Over 22 games | -118 |
| Under 22 games | -112 |
Best men’s tennis pick
Best bet: Kovacevic +3.5 games (-106)
Shapovalov is having an excellent tournament, but I just can’t get behind him as this significant of a favourite.
The Canadian won all three of his matches without dropping a set and covered this spread each time.
So why fade him?
Firstly, his style of play makes him difficult to trust on a consistent basis. Shapovalov is an aggressive shotmaker who’s capable of making some absolutely terrific shots.
That skill can also work against him.
Despite winning all three of his matches at Los Cabos, he has committed more unforced errors than his opponents in each.
Shapovalov also doesn’t have the service game that can make up for a poor return performance. He ranks a mediocre 53rd among all ATP players in serve rating.
His opponent, Kovacevic, is a solid server. He ranks 35th in serve rating and has served very efficiently at this tournament:
- 26 aces
- 14 double faults
Additionally, Kovacevic has the most impressive win at this tournament. The U.S. tennis player beat world No. 10 Andrey Rublev in the semifinal.
Shapovalov, meanwhile, has not faced anybody ranked inside the ATP’s top-90 players.
If Kovacevic has another strong service performance and can put pressure on Shapovalov’s return, he can find success in this contest.
Shapovalov may win this match, but it won’t be easy. Expect Kovacevic to make this a tightly-contested match.
Key stat: Kovacevic owns an impressive 23-8 record on hard courts this year.
Tennis predictions made at 12:50 p.m. on 07/19/2025.
Stevie’s an avid NFL, NHL, and tennis bettor who has no problem talking himself into the underdog. His previous stops include Yahoo! Sports Canada and Toronto Metropolitan University, where he received a degree in Sport Media.