Madrid Update: Our man in the semi finals tonight...

Friday 3rd May 2024

Good afternoon. Here we go again…

Big prices in the Masters…

In March, we were on Marta Kostyuk when she reached her first WTA Masters 1000 semi final. The 21-year-old Ukrainian fell just one match win short of landing us some ginormous Each Way/ Reach the Final odds at Indian Wells, having gone in the book at 100/1 and 80/1.

In April, we scooped up the best prices for Stefanos Tsitsipas. Backed at 33/1 – 25/1, the 25-year-old Greek turned his 2024 form on its head, to win a third ATP Monte-Carlo Masters title.

This month, we’ve hit the ground running with another big-odds Ones to Watch selection going well at a Masters event…

Earlier this week, after the 3rd Round of the Mutua Madrid Open. We got on Jiri Lehecka at big prices, Each Way…

The 22-year-old Czech is now through to his first ATP 1000 semi final. And with the top seeds and favourites now dispatched from the draw – either beaten (Carlos Alcaraz), or out injured (Jannik Sinner). Our man now has a great opportunity to go all the way…

• Lehecka went in the book for us on Monday night (or Tuesday morning, depending when you saw the email). Unibet’s 60/1 went quickly, but they were still offering 40/1 come Tuesday breakfast-time. SpreadEx & Sporting Index had 50/1, although they do have ‘previous’ for only standing small stakes, from what I’ve heard regarding previous bets

• Elsewhere, 33/1 was available with a couple of high-street/ mainstream firms. And Betfred went up with 28s. Other firms were going 22/1 and 20/1 on Tuesday morning

While the women’s Madrid final will be contested tomorrow by two of the biggest names and pre-tournament favourites in the betting, world no.1 Iga Swiatek and world no.2 Aryna Sabalenka. Who started the tournament at odds of 11/8 (2.38) and 15/2 (8.5), respectively.

The men’s field has opened-up significantly. With these four players lining up in today’s semi finals – at some eye-opening Outright Winner starting prices from last week:

Taylor Fritz 50/1 v Andrey Rublev 33/1

And

Felix Auger-Aliassime 150/1 v Jiri Lehecka 150/1

Look at those odds. This is why we go for the outsiders and underdogs… the big prices, and the Each Way opportunities…

This time last year, we got 35/1 Jan-Lennard Struff into the Madrid final, where he finished runner-up for a half-the-odds payout. Struff had started the 2023 event at 200/1.

We could be looking at something similar – or hopefully, better – this weekend in Madrid…

If Lehecka can frank his favouritism in the betting and beat Auger-Aliassime this evening (7pm, Sky Sports). Then our man will have as good a chance as anyone to take the title – and land the big odds.

I’ll be looking to keep the ball rolling next week, too…

After Madrid this weekend, we have another big, joint ATP & WTA 1000 tournament to shoot at next week. With the Rome Masters starting from Tuesday.

Enjoy the tennis. Have a good Bank Holiday weekend. And I’ll see you ready for the start of play in Rome on Tuesday morning…

P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at:

oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk

Enjoy the tennis…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Ones to Watch