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  • BOSS Open Tips: Novak Djokovic Settles GOAT Debate; Taylor Fritz To Shine In Stuttgart

BOSS Open tips: Novak Djokovic settles GOAT debate; Taylor Fritz to shine in Stuttgart

Planet Sport's tennis expert Derek Bilton gives props to Novak Djokovic but already has his eyes on the intriguing Boss Open where several players will be looking to make a name for themselves.

Befofe we get into this week's tennis tips, let's just clear something up.

Novak Djokovic winning a 23rd Grand Slam title settles the debate for who is the greatest tennis player of all time.

The tennis GOAT debate provided ammo for columnists and arguments for pub bores. However, when the smoke clears it's hard to look objectively at the cold, hard facts and not conclude that Djokovic now stands alone as the greatest tennis player of them all.

This is not to detract from the genius of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and their wondrous achievements. However, there can be no doubt now that Nole - 23 Grand Slams and counting - is the Don.

His talent is matched only by his tenacity and sheer will to win, and he showed this during his recent run to the French Open crown.

Fifteen men's singles titles in his past 18 majors is a joke really and it's no surprise to see him odds on across the board for Wimbledon, which kicks off in a few weeks.

After the drama on the clay (I've just about got over Carols Alcaraz's body failing him while starting to get on top against Novak in last week's French Open semi-final) we go top-spinning forward to grass this week.

The BOSS OPEN in Stuttgart - which made the switch from clay to grass in 2015 - looks wide open. The ATP 250 event has attracted a decent field this year and Stefanos Tsitsipas heads the betting ahead of Thursday's round of 16. However, Taylor Fritz at 7/2 looks like an interesting proposition.

BOSS Open tip: Taylor Fritz to win the BOSS OPEN at 7/2 

The American can play on this surface. Fritz made the Wimbledon quarter-finals last year, losing to Rafael Nadal in five sets. He sounded bullish when addressing the media this week too, saying "I play well on grass, this surface suits my game.

"I have to serve well, of course. Because everyone who serves well has chances here. Sometimes it comes down to very few points," Fritz noted.

He plays Aslan Karatsev on Thursday. The pair have never met on the ATP Tour but the World No 8 should have too many weapons for the 29-year-old from Russia.
His first-ball strikes could be key to his success on grass this summer. Fritz is noted for his booming serve. But he is no one-trick pony. He has great hands, which allows him to return a lot of the big serves that come his way.
He also has major cojones, as he showed in that fabled Indian Wells final when he went on court inured against Nadal ( and against the advice of his team) and pieced the legendary Spaniard up in two sets.
He is currently the No. 1 American player, and won't fear anyone in this draw. In 2019 Fritz won his first ATP Tour title at the Eastbourne International - on grass - by defeating Sam Querrey in straight sets. Not everyone can play on the surface of course. "Grass is for cows," said a deflated Ivan Lendl as he walked away from Wimbledon in 1982.
But Big Fritzy clearly can and 7/2 quotes about him claiming a second career title on grass in Stuttgart this week look super tempting.
READ MORE: Nottingham Open: Heather Watson beats 'best friend' Tatjana Maria to reach quarter-final

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