Tennis Player Daniil Medvedev advances in the Toronto Tournament
In a highly anticipated quarterfinals match of the Toronto hardcourt tournament on July 11th, Russia's top-ranked tennis player, Daniil Medvedev, faced off against Alex De Minaur, the 18th ranked player. The clash took place at 21:00 Moscow time.
The popular sports betting scene in Moscow, Russia, primarily focuses on football (soccer) and basketball. Football, in particular, sees significant interest due to the Russian Premier League featuring Moscow-based teams like CSKA Moscow. Common bets include predicting match winners, with odds varying for each possible outcome [1][3].
Basketball betting is also popular, with events such as the IPBL Pro Division tournament involving Moscow teams attracting predictions and wagers. An example is the match between Moscow and Sochi [2].
The gambling industry in Russia, including Moscow, consists of state lotteries, casinos (limited to specific zones), and sports betting operated by licensed bookmakers. As of 2024, about 15 licensed bookmakers are active, and online and offline sports betting is legal and relatively regulated [4]. However, a substantial underground gambling market exists due to strict regulations.
International platforms like FanDuel have suspended betting markets on sports events connected to Russia, including Moscow leagues, due to geopolitical and regulatory reasons as of mid-2025 [5]. Despite this, domestic betting remains popular, especially in football and basketball, which are among the most bet-upon sports in Moscow.
In the much-anticipated quarterfinals match, Medvedev emerged victorious, winning the match in two sets (6:4, 6:4). He managed to win three games in a row, while Musetti won two. Both players served aces twice during the match.
The match was originally scheduled to start at 21:00 Moscow time but began at 22:45 due to delays. The entire contest lasted for 1 hour and 33 minutes. Medvedev's impressive performance has secured him a spot in the tournament's semi-finals.
On August 10th, Medvedev competed against Lorenzo Musetti, the 19th ranked player, in the round of 16 of the same tournament. Medvedev made five double faults, while Musetti made two. The match was also closely contested, but Medvedev's experience and skill shone through.
The tournament final is scheduled for August 13th, and tennis fans around the world are eagerly awaiting to see if Medvedev can clinch the title and add another trophy to his growing collection. The prize fund for the tournament final is a substantial $6,600,000.
[1] Source: [Russian gambling market report](https://www.bettingandgamingconsultant.com/russian-gambling-market-report/) [2] Source: [IPBL Pro Division tournament](https://www.ipbl.ru/en/tournaments/pro-division) [3] Source: [Football betting in Moscow](https://www.bettingexpert.com/en/tipster-community/tips/russia/moscow) [4] Source: [Russian gambling regulations](https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=b644d322-e46d-4f9b-912b-75b8f5361471) [5] Source: [FanDuel's suspension of Russian betting markets](https://www.espn.com/rus/tennis/story/_/id/34665911/fanduel-suspending-betting-markets-russia-leagues-mid-2025)
Sports enthusiasts in Moscow may be surprised to know that while football and basketball continue to dominate the betting scene, there's growing interest in tennis, as evidenced by the captivating quarterfinals match between Daniil Medvedev and Alex De Minaur, which took place on July 11th. Despite the popular sports betting primarily focusing on football and basketball, tennis could soon become a more frequent subject of wagers with its fast-paced, competitive nature capturing the attention of punters.
