Shanghai Masters match betting preview, free tip & where to watch

Where to watch

Amazon Prime, from 5.30am Wednesday

Best bet

Taylor Fritz to win at least a set v Karen Khachanov
1pt 4-6 Betway

Preview

Karen Khachanov bulldozes many of his opponents when he hits form but the Russian may find that tougher to do against Taylor Fritz, who is also improving.

The pair cross swords in the Shanghai Masters and while the fact that Khachanov has recently returned to somewhere near his best is a concern, it could still pay to try to find a way to support Fritz, who will soon be capable of troubling anyone.

The handicaps afford Fritz, who opened well this week when pipping Fernando Verdasco 7-6 6-7 6-4, a start of 3.5 games, which can be considered. But in the belief that the American can offer Khachanov some resistance in the first two sets, backing the outsider to win at least a set is preferred.

Khachanov made the semi-finals in Beijing last week when he was undone 2-6 7-6 7-5 by Dominic Thiem and on a line through the Austrian his clash with Fritz could be close.

Andrey Rublev should have too much for John Millman, but after opposing the Tokyo finalist in his Shanghai opener against Guido Pella went belly-up perhaps it may pay to respect the special-exemption entry a little more.

Rublev looked to be near his pinnacle when edging out Borna Coric in a high-quality outing and the Russian's climb up the rankings can continue this season and next providing he keeps fit and that his back problems don't resurface.

In the women's action in Linz, there are a number of hotpots who look hard to oppose. The outsider with the best chance of overturning a favourite could be Tamara Korpatsch against Jelena Ostapenko, but the German has already been punted and the odds look about right.

In Tianjin, there's a thrilling encounter in prospect between Caroline Garcia and Yafan Wang. Garcia has recently returned to something like her peak and could be difficult to stop, but Wang is a high-class performer at her best and anyone considering a punt on the Frenchwoman should be cautious.

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