Tennis Betting Advice - May 2020
Going against the odds in Atlanta...
Wednesday 20th May 2020
In your Ones to Watch email today:
Going against the odds in Atlanta…
On Monday we set out our stall for going after the underdog prices at the women’s Exo-Tennis event in Atlanta.
There won’t be picks for us every single day in these new exhibition-style tournaments. But this women’s list in Georgia does seem to be throwing up a few decent prices (and results) for the outsiders in the Match Winner markets…
At the start of the week we got on two of them, including Paige Hourigan at a top price 9/5 (2.80). So far, the 23-year-old New Zealander – who cut her teeth playing college tennis for Georgia Tech university – has won four out of four matches. Including victories at pre-match odds of 7/2 (4.50) v Sachia Vickery and 5/2 (3.50) yesterday v Grace Min.
I’ve been impressed by how Hourigan is going about her business at this event. She is definitely taking it seriously, and confidence will be on the up after four straight wins. The streak is actually six wins in a row, if you count ‘pre-lockdown’ form from March.
On Tuesday, Exo-Tennis’ headline name Taylor Townsend reminded us just how topsy-turvy life at these lower-level events can be, losing both her matches when priced as a strong favourite. That includes our 2-0 Set Betting pick v the previously winless Vickery, who dispatched her fellow American by a near-whitewash score of 6-2, 6-0.
With Townsend in no way immune to shocks, then – having lost yesterday to opponents priced at 7/4 (2.75) and 4/1 (5.00) – the left-hander now fits the bill as one to oppose at short prices today…
Two underdog prices for today…
The Wednesday schedule pits Townsend at around 4/7 (1.57) to beat the in-form Hourigan – with the New Zealand player around 11/8 (2.38). Considering the ways things have panned out on court in the opening couple of days in Atlanta, Paige has to be the value selection here.
Likewise, for Katerina Jokic, who also takes on Taylor Townsend today – and is priced at an appealing 9/2 (5.50) for the upset…
Jokic hasn’t faced the toughest names (on paper) on the Exo-Tennis roster yet, but nevertheless has won three of her four matches so far this week. The one defeat was a close one, edged out 11-9 in a final set, Champions Tiebreak v the so far unbeaten Hourigan.
Like Hourigan, Jokic looks in good physical shape. And the 22-year-old Croatian is one of the young players really looking to benefit from getting some wins under their belt at this event.
So far in this week’s Exo-Tennis draw, taking on the favourites has been rewarded enough times to suggest that’s the tactic to stick with. Especially today in the case of the hungry-looking Hourigan and Jokic both taking on a potentially-ropey favourite in Townsend.
Exo-Tennis Series, USA – Women’s:
3pm:
8pm:
I’ll be back ahead of the weekend with more – there are two more events lined up to kick off in the States.
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Tom Wilson