Tennis Betting Advice - August 2022
Get set in the States at 50/1...
Monday 1st August 2022
It’s exactly four weeks today until the US Open starts in New York…
The ATP & WTA Tours are all about North America between now and then. With a total of 11 tournaments taking place this month across the USA, Mexico, and Canada. Before the big one in the Big Apple from 29th August.
There are four events kicking off that August campaign this week. With both ATP and WTA action in Washington. As well as the men in Los Cabos, Mexico, and the women in San Jose, California.
Get set in the States at 50/1…
I’m getting on the road to New York today with a Ones to Watch pick for us to follow throughout August on the North American hard courts…
HUBERT HURKACZ first appeared in our pre-season Ones to Watch report for 2020. Here’s my list entry from back then:
Since then, Hubi has reached as high as no.9 in the world (currently ranked no.11).
After the disrupted 2020 season, the Pole hit his stride in 2021, adding three more ATP trophies to his cabinet – all on hard courts, with two of them here in the USA. Including the prestigious ‘fifth Major’ AKA the Miami Open, where Hubert was a 100/1 winner.
The formbook says that hard courts are Hurkacz’s best surface:
As well as his hard-court prowess, the 25-year-old has also announced himself as a serious contender on grass. He won ATP Halle at 10/1 this summer in the build-up to Wimbledon. And last year, at Wimbledon 2021, Hurkacz was a 200/1 long-shot selection for us – reaching the semi finals, just one match win away from bagging a massive Each Way place payout. During that SW19 run, Hubi beat Roger Federer. As it stands, Hurkacz was the last man to beat Federer in a competitive match.
Standing 6’5”, Hurkacz has height on his side that gives him a really big serve. And he plays a very ‘clean’ game, too – striking the ball very neatly and sweetly. With accurate shot-making, and plenty of power to go with the precision.
As I’ve said before, Hubi appears a very likeable, level-headed and calm guy. And while you could also suggest that nice guys finish last, he definitely knows when to pull out a fist-pump and get himself in-the-zone for a big point, and at crunch moments in matches.
One to Watch this month – and beyond…
Back in June, Hubert won his first grass-court event of the season. Transitioning back to hard courts this week, with ATP Washington being his first outing on tour since Wimbledon last month. Hurkacz is worth us following this week at 9/1. And we should look out for him in the other events coming up this August, too…
The biggest of those US Open Series tournaments of course being the Grand Slam itself at Flushing Meadows, New York. If Hubi goes well in Washington this week, and/ or reaches a final at any of the August ‘warm-up’ events in North America – then his US Open price is likely to tumble…
Right now, we can get him at 50/1 across the board. With that price widely available, let’s make August 1st ‘Hubert Hurkacz’ day, and get him in the book right now, nice and early.
Other stats of note:
The one key area of improvement left for the right-handed Pole is to deliver fully in a Grand Slam…
You could argue that Hubert has underperformed in the Majors, thus far. At the two hard-court ‘Slams, the Australian Open and US Open, he’s yet to do better than the 2nd round. But at the French Open this spring, on his least successful surface, clay – he made week two, reaching the Last 16 for the first time. And that 2021 run to the Wimbledon semi finals shows that Hubi is certainly capable of going deep in a best-of-five-set, Grand Slam setting.
And age just 25, and with a ranking flirting with the Top 10, the affable Pole has the serve, professional mindset, and plenty of all-round attributes to become a serious regular contender at the big tournaments.
With various question marks over some of the household-name stars going into the US Open 2022 (Novak Djokovic currently ineligible due to vaccine status; Rafael Nadal ongoing injury concerns). A Next Gen player with a smart and steady head on his shoulders like Hubi could be one of the next players to take their opportunity and step up at a Major. Odds of 50/1 across the board make Hurkacz one to watch for the US Open this summer. Let’s take him as an early-bird pick today.
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Ones to Watch picks:
Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
ATP Washington – Citi Open
US Open 2022 – Men’s
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Play starts in the Washington 1st round from around 4pm today, UK time. As 2nd seed, Hurkacz has a Bye through to the 2nd round – so he won’t play his first match for a day or two.
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Tom Wilson