If you’re a fan of grueling tennis matches, look no further than Corentin Moutet vs. Tristan Schoolkate in Round 1 of the Australian Open.
Neither one of these players is expected to make much noise during this fortnight Down Under, but both players will provide plenty of entertainment value while they’re still in the field.
Moutet, who enters the first Grand Slam of the year as the No. 32 seed, is a -295 favorite over West Australia’s own Schoolkate in this best-of-five contest.
Corentin Moutet vs. Tristan Schoolkate odds, prediction
You’d be hard-pressed to find a player like Corentin Moutet on the ATP Tour.
Generously listed at 5-foot-11, the Frenchman is your classic will-over-skill player, as he makes his living grinding out opponents with his ability to keep rallies alive, force you into mistakes and pull the odd rabbit out of his hat with his shot-making.
That skillset makes Moutet the type of player you want to back as an underdog, but not one who you want to trust as a favorite — especially when the odds become lopsided.
On the other side of the court is Schoolkate, a classic Australian-style player.
Like countrymates Chris O’Connell, John Millman or Rinky Hijikata, Schoolkate is a relentless competitor who makes up for high-end skill with a never-ending motor and plenty of athleticism.
That’s not the type of stylistic matchup that will suit Moutet.
The hot-tempered Frenchman can struggle against players who have no issue digging in for long rallies, as he wants to counterpunch rather than be on the front foot.
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And the fact that the crowd will certainly be behind the Australian could also be a problem, as Moutet has a tendency to get wrapped up in the environment — both for better and worse — during matches.
The conditions, stylistic matchup and the environment make Schoolkate a good upset pick for Round 1.
The Play: Tristan Schoolkate moneyline (+225, DraftKings)
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Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
