Tennis betting tips: Get with 7/1 Daniil Medvedev to get back to winning ways in Washington
Sports News Blitz’s Bookie Basher is not happy with Andrey Rublev.
Read on for a breakdown of the best bets from Washington, Kitzbuhel & Umag from SNB’s inimitable punting maverick.
Rublev collapses again in Mexico
Andrey Rublev may have returned to the ATP top 10 following his run at Wimbledon, but he was up to his old tricks again in Mexico last week.
Our headline tip last week hit 1/20 in-play in his semi-final against Aleksandar Kovacevic after winning the first set - when yours truly had a nice chunk on him to win Los Cabos at 9/4 - but couldn’t get over the line.
American Kovacevic battled back to win 3-6 6-4 6-4 after two hours, 29 minutes - I nearly choked on a Scotch Egg - and my Saturday morning was off to the worst possible start.
I’ve got a lot of time for Rublev.
If he were English, he strikes me as the type of geezer who would genuinely sashay into Greggs reciting 14th-century French poetry. It’s just a damn shame he loses so many tight three-setters.
LAST WEEK’S TIPS: ATP betting tips: Get with reborn Andrey Rublev to keep his cool and conquer Los Cabos
Cerundolo the value pick in Umag
This gambling game tames tigers, but we go again, and we are going to take a leap of faith and get with Francisco Cerundolo in Umag this week.
The Argentine has not had a vintage summer so far but looked decent in his run to the last four in Bastad last week.
He is the defending champion here and is actually one of the form players on red dirt this season.
In fact, Carlos Alcaraz (22) has won more matches on the surface than Cerundolo’s 21-10 record on the red stuff.
He is currently the No. 1 player from Argentina (and South America for that matter), and he should be motivated with ranking points to defend.
Cerundolo has a powerful forehand and a tidy backhand, and his serve offers good variety when he is dialled in.
The Umag field is not full of monsters, so 7/2 about Cerundolo defending his title looks an absolute vibe.
Medvedev a solid shout in Washington
In Washington, we have the Mubadala Citi DC Open. The sight of blue outdoor hardcourts suggests the US Open is not that far away, and this ATP 500 event features five of the world’s top 10.
Taylor Fritz is the 4/1 betting favourite, and it’s easy to see why. The Fritz-Meister General captured titles in Stuttgart and Eastbourne on grass before reaching the semi-finals at Wimbledon.
He has a big game on this type of terrain and should reach the business end (he made the semis the last time he was here in 2023).
Ben Shelton (8/1) and Frances Tiafoe (20/1) might also fancy this, but I am happy to snaffle some 7/1 about Daniil Medvedev winning here.
Okay, the Russian was last seen capitulating in a shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon at the hands of France's Benjamin Bonzi, but he is also a fabulous hardcourt player and former US Open champion.
Medvedev has not won an ATP title since 2023, but his high tennis IQ and varied game mean he is going to break that duck sooner rather than later.
The last time he played Washington, he made the final, losing 7–6 (8–6) 7–6 (7–4) to Nick Kyrgios, and I feel he has the ability to go one better this week.
Alexander Bublik looks the right favourite in Kitzbuhel, but he is short enough at 100/30, so instead we will row in with another play in Washington at fancy prices.
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Michelsen worth a longshot punt
Alex Michelsen has yet to win an ATP title, but he should not be 40/1 to win Washington. The 20-year-old is a player on the rise, and you get the feeling he could push for a spot inside the world’s top 20 before the end of this season.
He reached the fourth round of a major for the first time in his career at the Australian Open - beating No. 11-seed Stefanos Tsitsipas en route - and has an okay draw here.
Michelsen is known for his wicked backhand and solid baseline game, and he has significantly improved his serve in the last 12-15 months.
In short, the 40s look worth tickling about a player who could be anything in the next few years.
Suggested Bet #1: Francisco Cerundolo to win Plava Laguna Croatia Open at 9/4 (bet365 / Bet Victor / Paddy Power)
Suggested Bet #2: Daniil Medvedev to win the Mubadala Citi DC Open at 7/1 (Betfred / Unibet)
Suggested Bet #3: Alex Michelsen (each-way) to win the Mubadala Citi DC Open at 40/1 (bet365)
