Tennis Betting Advice - January 2024
Aus Open Day 2: Mums on tour at 150/1...
Sunday 14th January 2024
Australian Open - Day 2
Novak Djokovic was pushed to four hours this morning (well, Sunday night in Australia). Croatian teenager Dino Prizmic put in a fine display against the world no.1. I had my eye on young Dino as he came through qualifying last week. The 18-year-old has been tipped for the top for some time. Making his Grand Slam 1st-round debut against 24-time champ Djokovic, young Dino didn’t look out of place on the big stage. One to watch for the future.
Bet365 and William Hill had Prizmic as 33/1 to win that match. Novak got the job done in the end, with a 3-1 win. But still, that 33s looks massive in hindsight. Is any tennis match ever anything more than a two-horse race?
Teenage dreams…
A few notable youngsters collected Aussie Open 1st Round wins in the women’s event on Day 1. These names all got mentions in our pre-season Ones to Watch in 2024 Report - and all move into the 2nd Round:
Brenda Fruhvirtova (Czech, age 16)
Maria Timofeefa (Russian, age 20)
Elina Avanesyan (Russian, age 21)
Amanda Anisimova (American, age 22)
Brenda’s older sister, Linda Fruhvirtova (age 18) plays tonight.
Another 16-year-old winner on Day 1 was Alina Korneeva - again, a young player tipped for big things from an early age. Korneeva came through the qualifying rounds last week. Last season, the Russian teenager won two of the four Girls’ Grand Slam titles.
Also in action tonight - another Russian, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva. And yet another Ones to Watch teenager from Russia, Diana Shnaider.
As well as our Czech 19-year-old, big-odds ante-post selection, Linda Noskova…
Mums on tour…
Along with all those youngsters, a total of eight mums line up in the women’s 2024 singles draw. Headline names Naomi Osaka and Elina Svitolina are on the Day 2 schedule tonight/ Monday morning, with Angelique Kerber and Victoria Azarenka playing on Day 3. Along with fellow mothers on the tour Taylor Townsend, Tatiana Maria, and Yanina Wickmayer, all also in 1st Round action.
One mum already through to the 2nd Round is Caroline Wozniacki…
Ever since Wozniacki announced her return from retirement last year, there’s been a growing feeling that Caro might be the one to step up and make another Grand Slam final - or better. The likes of Osaka, Svitolina (both 50/1 at best for this tournament), Kerber and Azarenka (500/1 and 100/1, respectively) might have something to say about that. But ever since her Grand Slam comeback run to the Last 16 of the US Open at the end of last summer - beaten only by eventual New York champ, teenager Coco Gauff. There’s been a lot to like about Caroline’s behind-the-scenes physical preparation (she looks good), and her intentions to be an even more successful player than before she stepped away to have her two kids…
The Dane - now age 33 - is a former world no.1. But the fact that she had never won a Major always followed Wozniacki around in the media - until she went and won this very title here in Melbourne, in 2018…
Placed in the 3rd Quarter of the women’s 2024 draw, an area where we don’t yet have a player on our side (a quarter containing Gauff, as well as the flakey/ prone to nerves Maria Sakkari, Elise Mertens, and Caroline Garcia, along with the returning Osaka…). I like Wozniacki to add to our book of big-odds outsiders…
Some of Saturday’s 150/1 has gone, but that price can still be obtained with Unibet (and their replicas), as I write. And with Caro already through to round 2, and in doing so having banked an extra day off over several of her rivals. Odds of 125/1, 100/1 and 80/1 still very much appeal on this opening weekend. This has the feel of a bet that could drop well down in price in a few days or so from now.
Stocked up…
My wife knows me well. I’ve told you before how I like to get stocked up on my favourite German biscuits ready for the late-night/ early-morning slogs of the Grand Slams. These appeared in our kitchen cupboard this week - along with a nice big jar of coffee…
Match picks…
While the big-odds Each Way outsider picks are our flagship bets here at Ones to Watch. Let’s also try and make some money from the busy daily schedule of matches…
Here are three women I fancy at the prices to win their 1st Round matches on Day 2. With the treble paying 2/1 and better:
Varvara Gracheva to beat Yanina Wickmayer - backing the younger and higher-ranked player, who’s reached a current career-best world ranking of no.39, since defecting to represent France (Gracheva formerly played under the Russian flag).
Marta Kostyuk to beat Claire Liu - Ukrainian Kostyuk has been playing with fire in her belly for some time now. Marta can be hit or miss, but she’s won her last two meetings v Claire Liu. Again, we’re backing the younger and higher-ranked player.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova to beat Donna Vekic - Vekic has never fully delivered on the promise she showed as a teen. The same could also be said for Pavlyuchenkova, but the Russian has made a Grand Slam final - and more recently, her big ball-striking game has looked in fine working order since a big injury comeback. If this one goes close, I’d fancy Anastasia the most to dig in and hold firm. Pavlyuchenkova won their sole previous meeting, on hard courts last season - by a resounding 6-1, 6-1 score.
Play starts at midnight…
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Ones to Watch picks - Australian Open:
Women’s Outright Winner - Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places)
Women’s 1st Round - Match Winners:
Recommended bookies for Match Winner bets - read more here.
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You can watch the Australian Open live on Eurosport/ Discovery Plus.
I’ll be back by 5pm tomorrow with your Day 3 email…
Enjoy the tennis…
P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at: oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone