The Australian Open 2024 is over, but the tennis tours do not take a break. Here is This Week in Tennis, week 5, 2024.
If you are interested in placing a (responsible) bet on any of these matches or tournaments, check out our recommendation of the best tennis betting sites and our betting tips and strategies.
Open de Sud de France, Montpellier. ATP 250
There is only one ATP 250 tournament this week, indoors in Montpellier, Open Sud de France. French players do very well in this event historically. The event crowned eight French singles champions in its opening 10 editions, including three-time winners Gael Monfils (2010, ’14, ’20) and Richard Gasquet (2013, ’15-’16). Â
Tournament facts
- Singles / Doubles 28 / 16
- Surface Hard
- Prize €579,320
- Total financial commitment €651,865
Who is playing?
Holger Rune
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Alexander Bublik
Andy Murray
Gael Monfils
Odds and predictions
These are some matches and odds from round 1.
It will be interesting to see how Andy Murray follows up on his disappointing first-round loss at the Australian Open. He has a 3-0 head-to-head against Paire, but they last played in 2021. The feeling is Murray’s defense will break Paire down, but French players do thrive in this tournament. Check out some odds for Murray vs Paire to place a bet.
Another match-up I am curious about is Gaston vs Shapovalov. Gaston is a tricky player who has gotten several complaints for unsportsmanlike conduct over the years and is good at getting a crowd behind. Couple this with Shapovalov’s form, which has not been great (only straight sets losses since his return from injury) and I do feel like this is Gaston’s match.
I am also intrigued to see how Cazaux uses the confidence he must have acquired in his Australian Open run. He has made a nice jump in the ATP rankings. Can he keep it up? Another French player who has struggled in recent years but seems to be feeling better now is Lucas Pouille. He plays up-and-coming compatriot Harold Mayot.
Who is going to win the tournament? Well, Bublik has won before and should be one of the favorites. Monfils can never be counted out on a home court, or why not go for Richard Gasquet, who sometimes surprises you with stellar tennis? Or do we go for top-seed Holger Rune? Keen to hear your thoughts in the comments.
I will go out on a limb and say that Bublik wins this one. My second prediction is Rune. But it is a very open tournament on paper.
Thailand Open, WTA 250
Total $ Commitment $267,082
Surface HARD
Singles Draw 32
Doubles Draw 16
Who is playing?
The top seeds are below, but we also have two interesting players in Paula Badosa and Ajla Tomljanovic.
- Magda Linette POL
- Lin Zhu CHN
- Xinyu Wang CHN
- Tatjana Maria GER
- Xiyu Wang CHN
- Yue Yuan CHN
- Yulia Putintseva KAZ
- Anna Karolina Schmiedlova SVK
Odds and predictions
Above, you can see the first round of WTA Hua Hin. Linette against Shnaider is a highly competitive first round match between seed 1 and 9. Should be Linette’s match.
We several strong Chinese players in the draw, three players named Wang, for example. One player to watch is Linda Fruhvirtova, who is one of the highly promising Fruhvirtova sisters. Can she go for her first WTA title? It’s possible.
But if Badosa plays as well as she did at the Australian Open, I will predict her to win this tournament.
Upper Austria Ladies, Linz, Austria, WTA 500
Total $ Commitment $922,573
Surface HARD
Singles Draw 32
Doubles Draw 16
Draw
Who is playing?
- Jelena Ostapenko LAT (WC)
- Ekaterina Alexandrova RUS
- Donna Vekic CRO
- Elise Mertens BEL
- Anastasia Potapova RUS
- Jasmine Paolini ITA
- Varvara Gracheva FRA
- Petra Martic CRO
Besides the eight top seeds, we have interesting names like Angelique Kerber (WC), Dayana Yastremska and Anna Blinkova who all performed excellently at the Australian Open.
Odds and predictions
Above are some first-round matches and odds. The most interesting match to me of these is the one between Katie Boulter and Jasmine Paolini. Paolini had a great run at the Australian Open, but Boulter has also shown steady improvements in her game, as most evident in the United Cup. As you can see in the odds, this match is incredibly even on paper.
When it comes to the predictions of who will win the Linz WTA 500 tournament, I think Ostapenko is a strong bet. She looked ready to compete for the Australian Open title before she lost to Azarenka in the round of 16 and also won the warm-up tournament. My prediction is that she will continue this trend.
Are you going to be watching any tennis this week or are you exhausted after the Australian Open?
