Notes from the tour - week 14...

Thursday 4th April 2024

‘March madness’ delivers once again…

Two big tournaments dominated the schedule last month. With 100/1 Danielle Collins winning the Miami Open. Her first WTA ‘Masters’ 1000 title – and the biggest win of the 30-year-old’s career, in this her retirement year…

Grigor Dimitrov is also enjoying something of a renaissance. The 32-year-old made the men’s Miami final, as a 40/1 shot.

Before Miami, Indian Wells produced its latest big-odds finalist, too. With 66/1 Maria Sakkari the runner-up. The 28-year-old Greek player has rediscovered her form since appointing a new coach.

• Those big March 2024 prices follow on from 100/1 Petra Kvitova winning WTA Miami last year, and 100/1 Taylor Fritz winning ATP Indian Wells the season before – to name just two… 

First-timers averaging 36/1…

First-time winners are also proving to be a theme on the ATP & WTA Tours this season…

So far, eight players have lifted singles trophies for the first time in their career. They have all come at ATP or WTA 250 level, which is the lowest/ smallest grade of event on the main tours (250, 500, Masters 1000, and then the Grand Slams – in that order).

• From a total of 18 ATP & WTA tournaments completed so far in 2024, 8 have seen a player win their maiden title (44%). The breakdown being 5 men and 3 women…

• Those debut titlists have paid out at average Outright Winner odds of 36/1

A big week of sport ahead…

I love this time of year. The change in season, the lighter evenings, and hopefully some warmer and sunnier weather… with April bringing some exciting bigtime sporting events, too…

On the tennis front, we’re off to one of the most glamourous settings on the tour next week – the Rolex Monte-Carlos Masters (not a member yet? Join me here)…

The football ramps up with the start of the Champions League quarter finals next Tuesday – with a thrilling Premier League title race in store, too…

In the racing, next weekend is Aintree and the Grand National…

And in the golf, the first Major of the year tees off a week today – The Masters at Augusta…

If you’re a long-time Ones to Watch follower, then you’ll know I like to get involved with a bit of golf when the annual Majors come along. We had first-time Major winner Cameron Smith at 28/1 at The Open a couple of years back…

Right at the start of January, I mentioned in this very column a young golfer to watch out for this year, Ludvig Aberg (If you’re good enough, you’re old enough – 3rd January)…

An eye-catching world no.1 Amateur, the 24-year-old Swede turned Professional last year. And progress has been fast…

Ludvig has already racked up tournament wins on both the PGA and European Tours. He is now ranked no.9 in the Official World Golf Rankings. And has represented Europe at the Ryder Cup…

And all this before even playing his first Major…

• Ludvig Aberg is certainly a player I’ll be following on his Augusta debut next week. He’s 25/1 for The Masters right now (Boylesports are currently offering Each Way terms of 8 places at 1/5th odds. You might get even more places next week when more bookies start fighting it out. Play starts Thursday 11th April)

One thing’s for sure. If the former Texas Tech University player goes on to frank his price for the Texas Open this week (starts today), where the bookies make Aberg a 14/1 second-favourite behind Rory McIlroy. Then the Swedish newcomer’s Masters odds will likely take a tumble…

Keep an eye on your emails for more ways to profit from all those big upcoming sporting events – the tennis, the football, the racing, and the golf. We have some Masters info from a golf expert lined up for next week…

Best wishes,

Oliver Upstone

Ones to Watch