Canadian Open First Round: Damm Jr. vs Tsitsipas
The Canadian Open is underway in Montreal, one of the hardest fields on the ATP summer hard court swing. Jannik Sinner won this title last year, and the defending champion’s absence or presence always casts a long shadow over the draw. The hard courts here play quick and reward big servers and aggressive baseline hitters, making it a surface that can amplify the gap between experience and raw talent or expose it entirely.
Martin Damm Jr.
Martin Damm Jr. is one of the more intriguing young names filtering through the ATP ranks. The son of Czech doubles great Martin Damm, he carries pedigree and a game built around athleticism and competitive instinct. At this level, on a fast hard court against an established tour name, he’s stepping into unfamiliar territory. His odds of 81/50 reflect a market that sees genuine upset potential, which at first glance looks optimistic for a player still building his ATP résumé. That said, hard courts suit aggressive baseliners and players with strong groundstroke mechanics, and Damm Jr. has shown flashes of that style on the lower tiers of the tour.
No current ranking data is available for Damm Jr., which tells its own story. He’s likely competing on a wildcard or qualifier path into this draw, which means he’s already done something right to get here. The question is whether that momentum carries into a main draw match against a former world number three.
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Stefanos Tsitsipas arrives in Canada ranked ATP number 79 with 740 points. That ranking tells a complicated story. Not long ago, Tsitsipas was a fixture inside the top five, a Roland Garros finalist, and one of the most dangerous players on any surface. At 79, he’s in a transitional phase, hunting for results that remind the tour and himself what he’s capable of.
His game is built for hard courts. The one-handed backhand, heavy topspin forehand, and elite net game make him a difficult puzzle for any opponent. He moves well, reads the game intelligently, and his serve, when clicking, is a genuine weapon. The concern with Tsitsipas at this ranking is consistency and focus, not talent. He has everything required to beat anyone on this surface on any given day. The issue is delivering that on a consistent basis, which has been his challenge during this ranking slide.
Against an unranked or lower-ranked opponent in round one, experienced players at Tsitsipas’s level tend to find their level early or switch off mentally when the match looks routine. That’s a genuine risk factor here, but it’s also why the market has priced him at 61/100.
Head-to-Head
This is a first-time meeting between the two players. There is no historical record to draw from, so everything here gets settled on court for the first time on Tuesday.
Betting Angles
Tsitsipas at 61/100 is short, but it’s also difficult to argue against. You’re backing a former top-three player, a Roland Garros finalist, and a hard court operator with serious weapons against an opponent whose ATP footprint remains limited. The odds reflect that reality accurately.
Damm Jr. at 81/50 is the kind of price that attracts punters chasing value on a young player with a big name in his corner. And there is a version of this match where the occasion doesn’t faze him, he plays free, and Tsitsipas, grinding through a difficult ranking period, goes through the motions and makes errors. It’s not the likely outcome, but it’s not far-fetched either.
The smarter angle here is backing Tsitsipas to win but watching for any indication that his level is sharp. At 61/100, there’s no room for error on the bet, so the math only works if you’re confident he shows up fully engaged. Given his need for ranking points and the platform a deep Canadian Open run would provide, the motivation is there.
For those chasing bigger returns, Damm Jr. at 81/50 represents a speculative play worth a small stake if you believe in the upset cycle that always produces a handful of results at events like this every year.
Our Pick
Odds: 61/100
Tsitsipas has the tools, the experience, and the motivation to handle a first-round match against an unproven opponent on hard courts. At ATP 79, he needs points badly, and the Canadian Open on fast hard courts suits his aggressive, net-oriented game. Short odds, but the logic is sound. Keep the stake proportionate and back the quality.
🎁 LiveScore Bet Offer
Bet £10 Get £30 in Free Bets
Claim Offer at LiveScore Bet →New customers only. Opt in & bet £10 (odds 2.00+) within 3 days of sign up. Get £20 free sportsbook bet + £10 Bet Builder free bet. 14 days to use. Stake not returned. T&Cs apply. 18+ BeGambleAware.org
Like This? Get More Picks Free
Weekly free bets, odds picks and betting guides — straight to your inbox.