Tennis Betting Advice - January 2026
Call me crazy at 50/1...
Monday 5th January 2026
Happy New Year… the season starts here…
The 2026 tennis calendar is up and running. The first tournaments are taking place this week…
A reminder of our Ones to Watch plan of attack in the Outright Winner markets, should you require it:
We go after appealing outsiders at attractive Each Way prices…
And that’s exactly what we’re doing, right from the off in 2026…
Brisbane boys at 28/1 and 50/1…
Call me crazy to be backing the current world no.671, Nick Kyrgios - indeed, I’ve probably crossed him off the bet-list plenty of times in the past. But the 30-year-old, injury-prone, troubled-yet-talented Aussie is on his latest comeback right now…
And if we are seeing a more mature, focused (ish) Nick, then perhaps the best time to get behind him is right now at the very beginning of the year, at home in Australia…
Kyrgios won ATP Brisbane back in 2018. The big-serving showman is perhaps best known for reaching the Wimbledon final on grass in 2022. But all seven of his career ATP Tour titles have come on hard courts, with six of those at outdoor venues.
Nick was last seen beating women’s world no.1 Aryna Sabalenka in an odd ‘Battle of the Sexes’ match in Dubai on 28th December. Not sure how much we can read into that exhibition-style event, played with different rules and on a wonky court (Sabalenka’s specially modified ‘female-specific’ side of the court was 9% smaller than the standard dimensions).
What I can take from watching that Dubai match is that Nick was looking very relaxed, playing with a smile - and yet also dug-in to win the points when he needed to. The competitive edge was there for him. Even if he was playing a friend who just so happens to be under the same management firm as him.
Looking at this week’s Brisbane draw, wildcard entrant Kyrgios is undoubtedly on the softer-sounding side of the sheet. His path to the final requires four match wins, and in this standard best-of-three-sets format, that’s a lot more realistic a goal for him right now than the six-match, best-of-five streak needed to reach a Grand Slam final - with all the top names likely to be in action at the upcoming Majors, too.
We’ll take somewhat of a flyer on Kyrgios staying fit and up-for-it long enough to outstrip his opening price of 50/1 Each Way here. He plays in the 1st round in the early hours of Tuesday morning, UK time. The book closes at midnight tonight.
Also in this half of the Brisbane draw, another man who hits a lot of aces, Quentin Halys…
The 29-year-old Frenchman is still searching for a first ATP title of his career. But he can play - and has shown signs of what he’s capable of in the last year or so.
For example, Halys started 2025 well with a notable run to the ATP Dubai semi finals. And he’s kicked-off 2026 with three wins out of three Down Under so far, having come through two rounds of qualifying here in Brisbane, before going on to win his 1st round match this morning. He’s served 10+ aces in all three matches.
And a final note for today…
The opening week of a new season can be a good time to go after underdogs. In this same week on the calendar last year, the first two men’s tournaments of 2025 produced finalists at odds of 22/1, 33/1, 40/1, and 66/1. As well as a 300/1 runner-up on the WTA Tour…
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Ones to Watch picks:
See above for full details
Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places)
ATP Brisbane - Brisbane International presented by ANZ:
Nick Kyrgios @ 50/1 Bet365, William Hill, BetMGM, VirginBet, BetUK & LiveScoreBet, 40/1 Betfred, BetVictor, 33/1 Skybet, Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, Ladbrokes, Coral
Quentin Halys @ 28/1 Skybet, BetMGM, VirginBet, BetUK & LiveScoreBet, 25/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, William Hill, 22/1 Bet365, BetVictor, Ladbrokes, Coral, 20/1 Betfred
Play continues from Midnight tonight, UK time. Bookies will take down Outright Winner markets during matches.
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P.S
Don’t forget to check out your Ones to Watch in 2026 report – containing nine first-time names on our new list of youngsters to watch in the season ahead, and beyond…
Lots to look forward to this year…
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone