By Michael Leboff
You鈥檇 be hard pressed to find two more different tennis players than Grigor Dimitrov and Corentin Moutet.
Dimitrov, the former World No. 3, is an elegant, aggressive player with a terrific serve and powerful groundstrokes. He burst onto the scene more than a decade ago and was dubbed 鈥淏aby Fed鈥 for the similarities between his game and Roger Federer鈥檚.
Dimitrov has never come close to living up to that hype, but he remains a force on the ATP Tour even at 34 years old. He鈥檚 also one of the most even-tempered players in the sport.
Moutet, meanwhile, has had to grind his way to get to where he is now.
Currently ranked No. 66 in the world, Moutet has never cracked the top 50 and he鈥檚 never made it beyond the fourth round at a Grand Slam.
Unlike Dimitrov, Moutet is a defensive specialist and a counter-puncher. He is also hot-tempered and notorious for making a scene on the court during matches.
Not only are these two very different players, but they鈥檙e also at opposite ends of their careers.
Dimitrov is playing in his 15th Wimbledon and is likely just a couple of seasons away from retiring. The Bulgarian has dealt with a litany of injury issues this season, culminating with his withdrawal in Round 1 of the French Open last month.
Moutet is a veteran with plenty of experience, but he鈥檚 now in his prime and is on his way to establishing himself as a pesky opponent on the ATP Tour.
A terrific counter-puncher and relentless competitor, Moutet makes up for his lack of weaponry by being a crafty competitor who is willing to be creative, giving his opponents plenty to think about during a point.
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Dimitrov, especially at this point in his career, will want to make quick work of an opponent like Moutet, because the longer the match goes the more likely he is to struggle physically.
Moutet will know this and will make a concerted effort to extend rallies and bring Dimitrov into deep waters.
Dimitrov is the more talented player, but the intangibles favor Moutet, who is being offered at a terrific price Thursday.
The Play: Corentin Moutet (+200, bet365)
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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.