Tennis Betting Advice - February 2024
Ones to Watch in Delray Beach - at 22/1 and 33/1...
Monday 12th February 2024
There are four tournaments for us this week…
And with Sky Sports now finally launching their dedicated Tennis channel (although the red button multi-court coverage isn’t showing for me yet…). We will have plenty of action on our screens from now on, with spring on the horizon…
The biggest event this week is the WTA 1000 tournament in Doha. Play starts around breakfast time UK-time each day - so look out for any late-night emails from me covering that one. I do have a player or two in my notes right now…
Focusing on the men’s 250-grade event in the States for starters today - where play starts in the 1st round proper from 6pm. I have two Ones to Watch for you…
Ones to Watch in Delray Beach…
ATP Delray Beach Open - hard courts, USA
Reigning Delray Beach champ Taylor Fritz is top seed, and the bookies’ 9/4 (3.25) or 2/1 (3.0) favourite here. Taylor is in the top half of the draw.
In the bottom half, 2nd seed and another home player, Frances Tiafoe is 6/1 or shorter. He looks like a vulnerable favourite to me right now. A recent change of coaching staff hasn’t sparked ‘Big Foe’ back into form yet. And while Tiafoe won this title back in 2018, so far in 2024, Frances’ match form reads: won 3 lost 5 - and he’s yet to win back-to-back matches.
Let’s look to oppose the 2nd seed in this section by backing two improving players…
Chinese teenager at 22/1…
China is having a ‘moment’ in tennis right now (led by new women’s Top 10 player Qinwen Zheng, who reached the Australian Open final for us at 33/1 Each Way last month). Teenager Juncheng Shang has caught my eye a couple of times recently, and the 19-year-old is one to watch…
The talented left-hander looks a dangerous outsider for opponents right now - ranked no.139 in the world, but with the potential to go really high in years to come…
Juncheng Shang is a 22/1 shot this week. And having started the season with a semi-final run on hard courts at the ATP 250 event in Hong Kong, where he was only beaten by eventual trophy winner Andrey Rublev. Followed by a respectable run to the Aussie Open 3rd round - his best performance yet at a Major - where there was certainly no shame in losing to multiple Grand Slam winner Carlos Alcaraz. This Chinese teenager looks ready to make a bigger splash on the tour, and sooner rather than later.
Stick with Max at 33/1…
We should also stick with one of our picks from last week in Dallas, Max Purcell. Odds of 33/1 appeal to add to our Each Way book here. Max had a breakthrough year in 2023, hitting the Top 40 for the first time, including a very impressive 45-17 match win-loss record on outdoor hard courts. That’s a 72.58% strike-rate: ticking the box for my self-imposed ‘70% rule’ for eye-catching surface specialists.
Both Juncheng Shang and Max Purcell are looking to reach a first ATP final. A 250-grade event like this - the lowest on the top-level Tour ladder - is a very good place to go looking…
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Ones to Watch picks:
ATP Delray Beach - Delray Beach Open
Outright Winner - Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
Juncheng Shang @ 22/1 Skybet, William Hill, Bet365, Betway, Ladbrokes, Coral, 20/1 Betfred, Boylesports, Unibet, BetUK, BetMGM
Max Purcell @ 33/1 Skybet and in general
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Note: some bookies will take down their Outright Winner market at 3pm, when the final qualifying match takes place. Our two picks don’t actually play today. So, if you miss the market this afternoon, you’ll have time to get on before play starts tomorrow.
I’ll be back in the week with more players and picks at big prices…
P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at: oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone