French Open 2024: Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Shapovalov preview, head-to-head, odds, prediction and pick | Roland Garros
Match Details
Fixture: (8) Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Shapovalov
Date: Friday, May 31
Tournament: French Open 2024
Round: Third Round (Round of 32)
Venue: Stade Roland Garros, Paris, France
Category: Grand Slam
Surface: Clay (Outdoor)
Prize Money: £53,478,000
Live Telecast: USA - NBC, Peacock, Tennis Channel & Bally Sports | UK - Eurosport & Discovery+ | Canada - TSN & RDS | India - Sony Network
Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Shapovalov preview
Eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz will take on Denis Shapovalov in a tantalizing third-round clash at the 2024 French Open on Friday, May 31.
Hurkacz opened his campaign against Shintaro Mochizuki in the first round. He plowed back from a 2-1 set deficit to seal a hard-fought 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3 win.
He took on America's Brandon Nakashima in the second round. Both players were terrific on serve in the opener, with there being no breaks of serve. Nakashima turned it up a notch in the tie-breaker, edging Hurkacz to the set. The Pole raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set and served it out with no duress on his next service game. An early break in the third set proved decisive as he raced to a two sets to one lead.
Both Hurkacz and Nakashima once again put on a serving clinic in the fourth set en route to another tie-breaker. It was the Pole who edged it this time, going on to seal an impressive 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-3, 7-6 (5) win.
Shapovalov kicked off his campaign against French youngster Luca Van Assche. A solitary break in every set in favor of the Canadian helped him seal an emphatic 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 win.
Up against 25th seed Frances Tiafoe in the following round, both players started strongly on serve. They served their way to a tie-breaker which Tiafoe edged thanks to some great hustle on the final point. Shapovalov set the tone in the second set, however, with a clinical break in the third game. That break proved decisive as he went on to level it up at one set apiece.
Shapovalov broke twice in the second set and served it out soon with an audacious inside-out service. It was Tiafoe once again who cracked first in the decider, with Shapovalov eventually sealing a 6-7 (4),6-4, 6-2, 6-4 victory.
Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Shapovalov head-to-head
Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov have faced off five times in professional competition. Hurkacz currently leads their head-to-head 4-1 and won their previous encounter at the 2023 Australian Open in a five-set epic.
Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Shapovalov odds
(Odds sourced from BetMGM)
Hubert Hurkacz vs Denis Shapovalov prediction
Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov's third-round encounter promises to be an exciting one for the fans, with both players heading into it in good form.
Hurkacz entered the French capital with a 12-3 match record on the clay so far this season and the one title in Estoril. He was taken the distance in his first round, but incredible mental fortitude helped him pull through. He was incredible in his second round, not dropping serve even once. He was equally potent while returning serve, breaking his opponent's serve four times.
Shapavolov, on the other hand, has been in scintillating form recently. He opened with a strong win in his opener, not dropping serve even once. He overcame an early deficit in his second-round encounter with some ultra-aggressive play from the baseline. His serve and net play were at their peak and will be hard to stop.
While Hurkacz enters this encounter as the slight favorite, there is no discounting an upset from Shapovalovn who is extremely capable of producing one. The winner will ultimately be decided by who attacks the serve and plays the longer rallies better. Dictating play from the baseline will be the name of the game, and that could ultimately decide who goes through the fourth round.
Pick: Hurkacz in five sets.