Italian Open Men's: Prediction, Tips and Odds

With the French Open fast approaching, the last Masters 1000 event of the clay-court season, the Italian Open, takes place at Rome's Foro Italico over the next fortnight.

Six-time champion Novak Djokovic is a strong favourite to make it a magnificent seven in the Italian Open, despite not being seen since losing out to Casper Ruud in the semi-finals of the Monte-Carlo Masters at the beginning of April.

Djokovic, who has failed to win a title this year, is the top seed in the Eternal City and his task has been made easier by the withdrawals of his two biggest rivals - Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner - who are nursing injuries in the build-up to the second Grand Slam of the season.

Italian Open Men's betting tips and predictions

Stefanos Tsitsipas to win the Men's Italian Open - 11/1

Given his history at the Foro Italico, it's no great surprise to see Djokovic heading the Italian Open market despite his struggles this season.

Only Rafael Nadal has been more successful in the Italian capital, winning this title on 10 occasions, and Djokovic's cautious decision to withdraw from Madrid could pay dividends both in Rome and in Paris at the end of the month.

However, the French Open and a 25th Grand Slam singles title will be his primary target and there's no great desire to support the Serb at the odds given he could collide with his Monte Carlo conqueror Casper Ruud in the quarter-finals.

Ruud and Alexander Zverev are tempting alternatives but the man who won the Monte Carlo title and lost out in the Barcelona final could prove to be the best option from the main contenders.

Stefanos Tsitsipas suffered a shock 6-4 6-4 loss against Thiago Monteiro in Madrid but the Greek was due a lesser effort after his exploits in the early stages of the clay season and there is every chance he can bounce back in more favourable conditions in Rome.

The 25-year-old has never won this title but he's frequently reached the latter rounds, losing to Nadal in the semi-finals in 2019, Djokovic in the quarter-finals in 2021 and the final in 2022 and Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals of the 2023 tournament.

In total, he has suffered just one defeat in this event to a player ranked outside the world's top six and that came against a future Grand Slam champion in Sinner in 2020 when the tournament was moved to September.

A second-round meeting with either Jan-Lennard Struff or Pedro Cachin offers a tough early test but the draw has still been relatively kind to Tsitsipas.

He could meet Madrid champion Andrey Rublev in the quarters, by which point the Russian could be running on empty against a player who has dominated their last three clay meetings.

Mariano Navone to win the Men's Italian Open - 50/1

Reigning champion Daniil Medvedev, who has never successfully defended an ATP title, and Nadal are also prominent in the betting but they are among a number of players who head to Rome with questions to answer.

Nadal improved in Madrid, reaching the round of 16, but his farewell tour will be centred around Paris and he just doesn't look to have a high enough level to win a Masters 1000 event.

It could pay to look further afield and a chance can be taken on Mariano Navone at big each-way odds.

The 23-year-old Argentinian has enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, rising from 126th in the world to a career-high 31st having won a Challenger Tour title in Cagliari last week.

While he will have to step up again on that effort, Navone has shown himself capable of competing for ATP Tour titles, reaching finals on clay in Rio and Bucharest either side of a run to the semi-finals in Marrakech.

A potential third-round clash with Alexander Zverev looms large for Navone but, if he can cause an upset against the German, his quarter could really start to open up.

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Italian Open Men's odds

Novak Djokovic - 15/8
Alexander Zverev - 10/1
Stefanos Tsitsipas - 11/1
Casper Ruud - 12/1
Daniil Medvedev - 12/1
Rafael Nadal - 14/1

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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.