Tennis Betting Advice - February 2026
Ones to Watch update: Katie's in the quarter finals...
Thursday 26th February 2026
We had two tournament picks this week, and we’ve got one still standing as the weekend approaches…
And once again, injury withdrawals continue to pepper the ATP and WTA schedules…
In the men’s, our 40/1 – 33/1 shot Vit Kopriva started well in his 1st round match in Santiago, before fading away significantly. He ended up retiring in the third set, having won the first.
A different story in the women’s event in Merida, where our selection Katie Boulter is through to the quarter finals…
Boulter won her 1st round match in straight sets. And then, last night, she won the first set (as the slight pre-match underdog in the betting), before opponent Camila Osorio had to call it quits due to injury issues. Katie always comes across well in interviews, and on court afterwards she said some kind words of encouragement about Osorio – hoping to see her next week in Indian Wells in the States.
Here and now in Mexico, our WTA Merida pick is now 6/1 at best for the trophy with Betfred and BetMGM, with those firms also still holding the standard Each Way terms of 1/2 odds 1-2 places (compared to 1/3 odds with most other firms in today’s revised Outright Winner market)…
In comparison, we’re on Katie at top prices of 28/1 or 25/1, Each Way.
Boulter now has a day or two to prepare for her quarter final, with the opponent not yet known. Although the pre-tournament favourite, top seed, and world no.7, Jasmine Paolini is a big favourite to beat world no.136 Priscilla Hon tonight. The winner will face Katie Boulter on Friday.
We’ve got price on our side there, with the benefits of placing our bets ahead of the 1st round clear to see – Boulter at 28/1 and 25/1 on Monday, compared to 6/1 and 11/2 now.
The Texas Three…
I am also following proceedings at this week’s other women’s event, WTA Austin. Three names stand out to me as it stands – but the prices don’t. I’ll mention them, anyway, should you be taking an interest in this Texas tournament…
One of the rising stars from our pre-season, Ones to Watch in 2026 Report, teenager Iva Jovic, started the week as the second favourite. But after top seed Jessica Pegula pulled out (another injury-themed withdrawal), the 18-year-old world no.18 has been cut to a clear 6/5 (2.2) market leader for the trophy.
That’s not a Ones to Watch price. But I’m monitoring Jovic’s form closely, with much bigger tournaments – and odds – on the horizon in the weeks and months ahead…
Elsewhere in Austin, I may end up berating myself with the selective vision of hindsight if one of these progressive Russians end up winning a maiden WTA title this weekend…
If those two end up in the Austin final, you heard it from me, right?
However, with the dyed-in-the-wool value-hunting voice in my head (‘price, Price, PRICE!’), I can’t make a strong enough case to recommend Selekhmeteva and Zakharova as account bets at today’s prices, especially with nearly all firms now only going 1/3 odds Each Way at this stage of the tournament.
I can assure you that we will most definitely be pulling the trigger on a whole selection of big-odds picks next week…
March offers a veritable feast of top-notch tennis. With the annual Sunshine Double kicking-off in Indian Wells from next Wednesday, followed by the Miami Open later in the month. Those are both 1000-grade tournaments; indeed, many media outlets refer to Indian Wells as the ‘fifth Major’ on the tennis calendar.
Look out for more Indian Wells info later today in the latest edition of Notes from the Tour. I’ll send you that email this afternoon.
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone