Carlos Alcaraz enters the third round of the French Open as the clear favourite, but his path so far suggests that he may not cruise past every opponent with ease. Damir Dzumhur, riding a wave of confidence and form, could be competitive enough, at least for stretches, to push this match over the total games line. With Alcaraz occasionally prone to dips in focus against lower-ranked players, there’s reason to believe this one could be longer than expected.
Damir Dzumhur vs Carlos Alcaraz Preview
Alcaraz’s talent and athleticism are undeniable, and he remains the man to beat in Paris. However, his second-round performance against Fabian Marozsan exposed a familiar issue—periodic lapses in intensity and tactical discipline. Despite dominating the first and third sets, he allowed Marozsan to snatch the second set and extend the match. These fluctuations tend to make Alcaraz’s matches more competitive than the odds suggest, especially in the early rounds.
The 21-year-old is still managing his way back to peak fitness after a stop-start clay season, and while he’s shown flashes of brilliance, he hasn’t yet found a rhythm where he can dominate every set with ease. If Dzumhur can hold serve consistently or take advantage of any mental dips, pushing a set close or even stealing one isn’t out of the question.
Dzumhur’s comeback story continues to gain traction after he battled past French youngster Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a gruelling five-setter. It was a big mental test, played in a hostile atmosphere and complicated by an apparent physical issue midway through. That said, the Bosnian showed grit and composure that had often been missing from his game in recent years.
While fatigue and a step up in quality may work against him here, Dzumhur still has the tools to trouble Alcaraz, particularly his ability to redirect pace and keep rallies unpredictable. He may not have the power to blow the Spaniard off the court, but he can extend points, create awkward exchanges, and potentially drag at least one set deep.
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Place your bet on Betting Tip: Damir Dzumhur vs Carlos Alcaraz
Damir Dzumhur vs Carlos Alcaraz – Match Analysis
Alcaraz is expected to win this match, but not necessarily in lightning-fast fashion. His tendency to let sets tighten against lower-ranked opponents, combined with Dzumhur’s recent form and fighting spirit, makes this a matchup where 26+ total games feels likely. A scenario with one 6-4 or 7-5 set, or even a dropped set, would easily push the game count over the line.
Betting Tip – Damir Dzumhur vs Carlos Alcaraz
This isn’t a match where Alcaraz needs to go full throttle, and history shows he’s comfortable grinding through early-round contests. Dzumhur should do enough to stay competitive in at least one set, possibly two, which sets the stage for a match that goes past the 25.5-game mark.
Betting Tip: Over 25.5 Games
Betting Odds: 1.70
Bookmaker: Cloudbet