Tennis Betting Advice - January 2023

ATP Auckland tonight - Quentin's tall order at 4/1...

Tuesday 10th January 2023

Adelaide update…

We’re on two Outright Winner, Each Way picks for the WTA Adelaide International 2 event this week. Both women came through tough battles in their opening matches last night/ this morning…

This sport never ceases to surprise…

After a lengthy off-court injury break at 4-5 down in the first set, Qinwen Zheng came back out with her left thigh strapped up. She duly went a set down to Shelby Rogers.

The talented Chinese 20-year-old looked really up against it there, and even went a break of serve down in the second set.

But in classic, topsy-turvy, WTA style, Zheng turned it around - and came back to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-0.

  • Next up for Qinwen Zheng tonight: a clash with two-time Wimbledon champ, Petra Kvitova (12.30am UK time)

Our other Adelaide pick, Veronika Kudermetova, had an even longer match, pushing three hours. Also coming from a set down, to eventually beat two-time Australian Open winner and former world no.1 Victoria Azarenka, 2-6, 7-6, 6-4.

Kudermetova showed some steely resolve that suggests she means business this season. In the interview after the match, the 25-year-old Russian spoke about her rising confidence. Good stuff.

Fifty winners off Veronika’s racket - with 20 aces - made the difference there. More of that, please.

  • Next up for Veronika Kudermetova: fellow Russian, Ekaterina Alexandrova (approx. 7am Wednesday morning, UK time)

Auckland tonight…

On to the men’s tennis now, and we’re off to New Zealand for an overnight match bet…

Ben Shelton v Quentin Halys

On rankings, this is world no.92 Shelton v no.64 Halys - career-high rankings for both men.

The bookies give the edge to the more experienced player, and that’s 26-year-old Frenchman, Quentin Halys. Looking at Quentin’s recent serving numbers, I’d have to agree…

Halys was a straight-sets winner over the higher-ranked and on-the-up Alex Molcan in the 1st round. Winning an impressive 32 out of 34 1st serve points (94%) - including 20 aces.

Last week, Quentin showed his abilities on a big stage, pushing eventual ATP Adelaide champ Novak Djokovic to two tiebreak sets, for a narrow 7-6, 7-6 defeat.

The Frenchman stands 6’3” tall. His young American opponent has an inch advantage in the height department. With 20-year-old Ben Shelton listed as 6’4” - and Ben featuring tiebreak sets in both his matches so far in the new season (two 7-6 sets - won one, lost one).

Shelton hit 9 aces in his 1st round match this week, and won 82% of 1st serve points.

So, going into tonight’s encounter (scheduled for 1am+ UK time), neither Halys or Shelton have lost their serve so far here in Auckland. It could be that weather conditions have played their part, too, with matches played indoors yesterday - often a source of fast courts and tie-break score-lines.

Here’s how I’m betting…

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Ones to Watch picks:

ATP Auckland - ASB Classic

Ben Shelton v Quentin Halys - tonight, approx. 1am UK time

All told, with a limited number of Tiebreak markets available with the bookies - the best offerings being odds of 7/10 (1.7) with Unibet for Over 0.5 Tiebreaks in the match, or 4/6 (1.67) with William Hill for a Tiebreak in the Match.

Here’s my bet advice, using 1 and 2 points to show my staking:

Main bet, eg. 2 points:

  • Quentin Halys to win the match at 4/5 (1.8) William Hill, Bet365, BetVictor, Betway, 10Bet, 8/11 (1.73) Skybet, Boylesports

Secondary bet - smaller stakes and bigger odds, eg. 1 point:

  • 1st Set Correct Score: 7-6 Quentin Halys @ 19/4 (5.75) Ladbrokes, Coral, Sportingbet, 9/2 (5.5) William Hill, Skybet, BetVictor, Sporting Index Fixed Odds, 4/1 (5.0) Bet365, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook

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P.S
If you want to get in touch, you can email me at: tom.wilson@oxonpress.co.uk

Enjoy the tennis…

Best wishes,

Tom Wilson

Tom Wilson

Ones to Watch