Australian Open 2022 Best Bets for January 23 (Archive)
The Round of 16 continues in Melbourne Park. The action has been fast and furious, keeping this writer up all night trying to watch it all.
Most of the players left are playing in very high form. After everything I’ve seen, I found more winning picks so let’s break down some ATP odds.
Marin Cilic vs. Felix Auger-Aliassime
Sunday, January 23, 2022 – 10:00 PM EST at John Cain Arena
Betting Preview
Marin Cilic is coming off an upset victory over Andrey Rublev. Cilic won the match in impressive fashion 7-5, 7-6, 3-6, 6-3. Cilic created eight break-points and converted four of them. He was 0-3 saving break-points.
This is some of the best tennis we have seen Marin Cilic play since the 2014 US Open, Cilic's only Grand Slam title. If Cilic continues to play this way, he can challenge for another title again at the end of this tournament. Cilic will face a tough test, however, against the young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime
Betting Analysis
Felix Auger-Aliassime is coming off an impressive victory over Dan Evans. Evans was favored by the top sportsbooks, but Auger-Aliassime won easily 6-4 6-1 6-1. Felix Auger-Aliassime won an impressive 91% of his first serves points.
This was in direct contrast to Evans' ability to hold serve. On return of serve, the youngster won an amazing 42% of points against Evans' first serve. All in all, it was a dominating performance by the Canadian.
This will be an interesting match between a big server and an all-around player with a very strong return game. Marin Cilic should be able to hold serve easily and win plenty of quick points, but in any extended rally, Felix Auger-Aliassime is going to have the advantage.
So if we see plenty of short points, Cilic will probably be victorious. If there are plenty of extended rallies, Auger-Aliassime will probably get the win.
The Pick
I think the side is too tough to call but I definitely see value in the over. I do believe that Cilic will be able to hold his serve in most service games, but I also believe Auger-Aliassime will be able to get some breaks. We will probably also see a tiebreak, maybe two.
With these two players in their top form, a four or five-set match seems quite likely. Our first bet for today is Marin Cilic/Felix Auger-Aliassime Over 38.5 games.
ATP Pick: Marin Cilic/Felix Auger-Aliassime Over 38.5 Games (-110) at YouWager (visit our YouWager Review)
Taylor Fritz vs. Stefanos Tsitsipas
Monday, January 24, 2022 - 03:00 AM EST at Rod Laver Arena
Betting Preview
Taylor Fritz scored a very impressive victory over Roberto Bautista-Agut in round 3. After Fritz gave Bautista-Agut a “bagel” in the first set, it turned into a hard-fought match. Taylor Fritz eventually won 6-0, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4, 6-3.
The match was a back-and-forth affair with more breaks than usual in the men's game. AIl in all, there were 17 breaks of serve in the match. It was definitely a match that a WTA fan such as myself felt quite comfortable watching.
Taylor Fritz is playing the best tennis of his career. Fritz has a great serve and a huge forehand, but he can be inconsistent. Fritz also doesn't have the best return of serve, but he can take proper advantage of a weaker second serve by his opponent.
The American has a great chance to make a name for himself by getting a win today against the world's number #4 Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Betting Analysis
There was some concern for Stefanos Tsitsipas’ prospects going into this tournament. Tsitsipas had to withdraw due to an injury during the ATP Cup. This injury is carried over from the original time that he hurt it, during the Paris ATP tournament in November.
Tsitsipas has barely shown any signs of the injury at this tournament, winning his first three matches in routine fashion. Tsitsipas has lost 2 sets. He has lost 1 set in round 2 and 1 set in round 3, so it hasn't been a perfect tournament.
Still, he is definitely playing good tennis and continues to improve as the tournament progresses. As Tsitsipas continues to win, he is gaining momentum and he is now a dark horse candidate to lift the trophy at the end of the fortnight.
The Pick
This is another match where I like the over. With the way that Fritz is serving, it's going to be hard for even a great returner such as Tsitsipas to get breaks of serve. I can see some tiebreaks and some wild swings in momentum, similar to the Fritz match against Roberto Bautista-Agut.
I expect a close hard-fought match that goes over ATS. Our second tennis pick for today will be Taylor Fritz/Stefanos Tsitsipas Over 40 games.
ATP Pick: Taylor Fritz/Stefanos Tsitsipas Over 39.5 Games (-110) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.