Tennis Betting Advice - January 2026
Marta means business at 100/1...
Thursday 8th January 2026
You can study all the stats and spreadsheets you like. But sometimes, in this game, the sharpest bets are made by acting on what you see with your own eyes…
Earlier today I watched MARTA KOSTYUK beat Amanda Anisimova in Brisbane in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. Beating last year’s two-time Grand Slam final runner-up at her own power-based game, it was a statement win from the Ukrainian.
The 23-year-old world no.26 has long been in our Ones to Watch notebook. Marta first appeared in my pre-season reports when still a teenager.
We’ve backed her at 100/1 and even bigger before. And she’s come close for us at those Each Way odds, too - including a semi-final run at Indian Wells in 2024.
Kostyuk’s best run at a Major - thus far - was a quarter-final appearance at the Australian Open 2024. Melbourne Park is the venue for the first Grand Slam of 2026, starting on 18th January…
After Marta’s win in Brisbane today, where she’s now through to Friday’s quarter finals. One sportsbook was quick to trim Kostyuk from 150/1 to 80/1 for the Aussie Open. We should act today to take the solid and appealing 100/1 available with the likes of Bet365 right now.
If you’re into the significance of dates and anniversaries and things like that, then you might like this little bit of timeline trivia: it was on this exact date last year, 8th January, that we backed Madison Keys as a 100/1 outsider for the women’s Australian Open 2025. Maddie went on to win the trophy for us, and trigger a massive payday.
Kostyuk looks like she means business this year. Marta has trained hard - really hard - to get to the physical level that she’s been aiming for. A plan that she and her team have been implementing for a couple of years now; gradually building up her body so she can handle the workload and force.
After an off-season break in the Maldives helped to refresh the mind, and focus on the new sporting season ahead. Now, it’s all systems go.
I watched Marta’s match this morning. She looked in the best shape I’ve ever seen her. Something has changed.
If she can keep up the consistency, to match the power and aggression she already had...
If she can stay mentally on-the-ball in the high-pressure moments, and keep her heart-on-sleeve passion in check…
Then, maybe, just maybe, this is Marta’s time…
At 100/1, we should certainly get involved.
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Ones to Watch picks:
See above for full details
Australian Open 2026 - Women’s
Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
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I’ll be back next week with more Australian Open info for you.
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone