Australian Open: Making connections at 14/1...

Monday 19th January 2026

When I first put MIRRA ANDREEVA in our Ones to Watch Report in December 2023, the Russian was just 16 years old…

And I said at the time - and again here, in March 2025 - that the bookies’ prices were just about the only thing I didn’t like about this impressive youngster…

In that piece last March, Mirra was trading at just 8/1 in the ante-post market for the women’s Australian Open 2026. I’m surprised to see right now that Andreeva can be backed at 14/1 with several firms, and 12/1 elsewhere…

Now 18 years of age and a Top 10 player, Mirra won her 1st round match this morning, finishing very strongly (6-0 in the last set). She looked the part.

Last week, Andreeva won WTA Adelaide, having gone off as the 3/1 favourite. That’s a useful trophy to get in the cabinet during January…

Not just because a ‘warm-up’ win Down Under shows positive form heading into the first Major of the year…

But also because there’s a pretty strong recent connection between Adelaide winners - and first-time Australian Open champions…

• In 3 of the last 4 seasons, the WTA Adelaide winner has gone on to lift the women’s Australian Open a few weeks later

In 2022, Ash Barty won Adelaide, then won her first & only Australian Open title…

In 2023, Aryna Sabalenka won Adelaide, directly followed by her first Aussie Open title…

And Madison Keys did the same January double Down Under last January…

As with the last teenage hot property in the women’s game, Coco Gauff. There is a sense that it’s not if Mirra Andreeva will win a Grand Slam, but when. The current tournament in Melbourne represents her last opportunity to do so while still an 18-year-old.

Players this good tend to have a habit of making history. We’ll take Andreeva at double-figure odds to make the Major breakthrough this month.

I always say that price is king, queen, judge, jury, and executioner…

And 14/1 is bigger than she was a year ago, despite Mirra’s improving maturity, and January 2026 performance levels.

Let’s back the world no.7 today; her route through the early rounds looks promising - and the sky’s the limit in terms of Andreeva’s overall career Grand Slam potential.

I’ll have more 100/1 shots and the like to come later this week. The 1st round is still to be completed tonight…

But for today, we’ll take Mirra Andreeva at the widely available 14/1 or 12/1 - ahead of the shorter, single-figure odds for the five favourites, Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, and Amanda Anisimova.

Mirra is the youngest of the bunch, and if she gets to a first final at this one, she won’t be 14/1 again for a ‘Slam for a long while…

The top of the women’s Australian Open Outright market today:

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Ones to Watch picks - Australian Open:

See above for full details
 
Outright Winner - and to Reach the Final

Note: On this occasion, the very best potential payout can be obtained by backing Win Only AND to Reach the Final. Alternatively, bet Each Way with standard terms of 1/2 odds 1-2 places.

Women’s Outright Winner:

• Outright Winner: Mirra Andreeva @ 14/1 Win Only Skybet, Bet365, William Hill, Betfred, Boylesports, StarSports, PricedUp, BresBet, 10Bet, 12/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, Ladbrokes, Coral, BetVictor, Betway

AND

To Reach the Final:

• To Reach the Final: Mirra Andreeva @ 9/1 Paddy Power, Betfair Sportsbook, 8/1 Skybet, Bet365, Unibet, William Hill, Betfred, BetVictor, Boylesports 

Already in the book/ open:

Women’s
Diana Shnaider
Linda Noskova

Men’s
Hubert Hurkacz
Alexander Bublik

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P.S

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Enjoy the tennis…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Ones to Watch