The 2024 Australian Open will be a 15-day event for the first time in tournament history, with the typical opening day going from Monday to Sunday. That means the matches begin Saturday night for those viewing from the Eastern time zone.
Please join me as I share my best three underdogs for Day 1 of the 2024 Australian Open on Saturday, January 13.
Australian Open Best Bets for Saturday, January 13
It might be Saturday evening in the United States, but the matches on Sunday begin promptly at 11:00 a.m. local time. That’s 7:00 p.m. Eastern, so be sure to get your wagers in before the start of the match.
Borna Coric +155 over Frances Tiafoe at DraftKings
Baltimore native Frances Tiafoe opens his Australian Open with a difficult matchup against Croatian Borna Coric. Tiafoe was terrific during the first half of 2023 but struggled mightily after his quarterfinal loss at the US Open to compatriot Ben Shelton.
Coric has a better-than-average serve and also a strong return game. He hasn’t played much since his second-round exit at the US Open, but he has a 1-0 lifetime record over Tiafoe (clay), and +155 is too good a price to pass up against the American. Tiafoe is 3-7 over his last 10 matches with many points to defend. Take Coric (+155) at DraftKings Maryland.
Christopher Eubanks (+110) over Taro Daniels at DraftKings
If ever there was a time for American Christopher Eubanks to get off to a great start at a major, Sunday in Melbourne against Japan’s Taro Daniel would be that time.
Eubanks is 12-8 overall in eight attempts and hasn’t passed the second round at this event. Eubanks has a better-than-average return of serve and can hit the big bomb when needed. The “Giraffe” has dropped his last five matches, and he’ll have his hands full with Daniels.
Daniels is the Japanese No. 1 and a good mover, but he has no real weapons other than peskiness. He has an abundance of that but has a mediocre serve, which Eubanks should be able to abuse enough to notch a solid victory over the No. 74-ranked Daniels. Take Eubanks in a squeaker over Daniels (+110) at DraftKings.
Thanasi Kokkinakis +105 over Sebastian Offner at DraftKings
Australian Thanassis Kokkinakis has suffered through years of injury and heartbreaking defeats. Still, he has a good shot at pulling off an upset that really isn’t an upset when he faces Austrian Sebastian Offner.
Kokinakis has a decent enough serve that sometimes betrays him. His break rate is pretty decent, and more importantly, he’s won some big Davis Cup matches and will have the crowd on his side.
Offner is coming off a solid season. He’s off to a 4-2 start with huge wins over Denis Shapavolov, Roberto Bautista Agut, Jan Lennard Struf, and Mackenzie MacDonald.
He’s served up 54 aces thus far, but before this hot streak, the young Austrian was 8-6 over his previous 14 matches. He’ll struggle with the heat and the crowd, and we’ll see just how many bombs he drops on Kokinakis. Take Kokkinakis (+105) at DraftKings.
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