Tennis Betting Advice - December 2023
The season starts tonight - here are my first picks...
Saturday 30th December 2023
Good evening. I wasn't joking when I said the 2024 tennis season starts before the New Year's fireworks have even gone off...
I've spent my Saturday afternoon with my head in various tennis websites, checking stats, reading articles, and browsing the bookies' early Outright markets for the first events of 2024.
In the build-up to the Australian Open, the main-tour action begins with the 1st round of WTA Brisbane tonight and into the early hours of Sunday morning. Play starts from 1am, UK time...
Having perused the draw and the prices, I've got two picks to get the ball rolling.
Our first Outright Winner, Each Way selections of the new season...
There are plenty of big names in the field for this WTA 500 event Down Under. World no.2 Aryna Sabalenka heads the betting at 9/4 (3.25) at best and 2/1 (3.0) in general. With world no.4 Elena Rybakina a 9/2 (5.5) shot, and Betfred going 5/1 (6.0).
The next name on the list is one of our Ones to Watch in 2024 teenagers, Mirra Andreeva. As stated in my pre-season report, which was published just before Christmas, the main concern with the 16-year-old is that we are only going to be offered paltry prices. Young Mirra has been chalked up at 12/1 here, to win what would be her first ever WTA senior title.
After Andreeva, the bookies have Naomi Osaka priced at 14/1. A multiple Grand Slam champion, but something of an unknown quantity on day one of the 2024 campaign, as Naomi returns from an extended break from the sport, during which time she became a mother.
The two I like at bigger prices are...
Liudmila Samsonova at 16/1. The 25-year-old world no.16 has been a Ones to Watch regular the past couple of seasons. She loves hard courts, reaching three finals last season, including her first WTA Masters 1000 finals. To go along with the three titles that the big-serving, flat-hitting Samsonova racked up on hard courts in 2022.
Linda Noskova at 33/1. Another of our Ones to Watch in 2024 teenagers, 19-year-old rising star Noskova is available at more than twice the odds of Andreeva this week. Starting 2024 ranked no.41, Linda has made two WTA finals already, both on hard courts in 2023 - including one here in Australia, finishing runner-up in Adelaide in her first tournament of the year...
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WTA Brisbane - Brisbane International presented by Evie
Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
Liudmila Samsonova @ 16/1 Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Betway
Linda Noskova @ 33/1 Skybet, William Hill, Betfred, Betway, Ladbrokes, Coral
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Note: Samsonova and Noskova don't play tonight (Saturday), so you'll still be able to back them when the WTA Brisbane Outright Winner markets go back up during Sunday afternoon.
You can watch the tournament live on Sky Sports.
Enjoy the tennis…
P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at: oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone