Tennis is one of the most watched sports on the planet. Of course, the big four tournaments (Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open) are the most popular, but even the smaller ATP and WTA tournaments get a lot of people tuning in. This is especially the case for people who like to place bets on tennis, as they can sometimes find more advantageous odds on these lesser known competitions.
If you are new to betting on tennis, finding a sportsbook with an enticing welcome deal is a great way to get into betting. The Draftkings sportsbook is one such site that bettors use, as it offers a wide range of tennis odds. There is also the Draftking sign up bonus that new bettors can take advantage of when they register on their website or mobile app. It really is a superb place to begin your betting odyssey.
With the 2022 ATP and WTA tours beginning almost as soon as the clock strikes midnight on the 1st of January, bettors will be eager to read the latest tennis news, so they can plan their betting accordingly. Read on to find out some of the biggest stories from the sport over the past few weeks.
Radacanu takes home Sports Personality of the Year award
Each December, the British public vote on who they feel has been the best sportsperson of that year. Previous winners include the cyclist and Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas, the cricketer Ben Stokes, and the F1 driver Lewis Hamilton.
This year has been a great one for British sport, which was represented in the diverse nominees for the top prize of ‘Sports Personality of the Year’. The six selected athletes were Raheem Sterling, Sarah Storey, Tom Daley, Adam Peaty, Tyson Fury and Emma Raducanu.
Given her extraordinary success at the US Open, Raducanu was the clear favorite for the award, with some betting websites giving her odds as short as 1/20 to win. That is exactly how it played out, as the 19 year old rising tennis star seemed overjoyed at winning such a prestigious award. She was quoted as saying ‘ It’s such an honor just to be amongst these nominees, to win… it’s pretty amazing to me…this past year has been absolutely insane.’ It is now hoped that 2022 brings more success on the court for Raudcanu, beginning with the Australian Open, where she has odds of 12/1.
Murray makes it to the final in Abu Dhabi
The past few years have been particularly difficult for Andy Murray. For a while, he was rightly considered to be one of the top four male tennis players in the world, alongside Rafa Nadal, Roger Federer and Novak Djkovic. He won three Grand Slams, and made it to world No. 1 at the end of 2016. However since then, he has suffered injury after injury, missing huge portions of the last few seasons. It seemed like he might never be a force to be reckoned with again in the sport.
Over the past year, his comeback has gradually picked up pace. He hasn’t been a factor in any Grand Slam, but compared to where he was even eighteen months ago, Murray is in a much better place. He made it to the final of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship final, beating his old rival Nadal along the way. He couldn’t take the final step, losing to the Russian Andrey Rublev in straight sets (6-4, 7-6) but the Scottish player didn’t seem too upset. ‘I have been pretty healthy over the last three months, I’ve got to play a lot of matches’.
He is a long way from being back to his best, which is represented in the betting odds, where he is +5000 to win the Australian Open in January. But at least he is being mentioned by the bookmakers, as this shows the progress he’s made in 2021.
Nadal tests positive for COVID, puts Australian Open appearance in jeopardy
Another player who has had a torrid time with injuries in recent years is Rafa Nadal. Considered by many to be one of the greatest male players the game has ever seen, he was forced to miss Wimbledon, the US Open and the Olympic games in Tokyo due to a persistent issue with his foot. He had appeared to recover from this ailment, competing in Abu Dhabi ahead of a Grand Slam comeback in Melbourne in a few weeks time.
Unfortunately for the Spaniard and his many fans, he is now a doubt for the Australian Open after testing for COVID-19. While he may have recovered in time before play actually begins on the 17th of January, his preparation will have been ruined, so could affect his participation. He had previously been given betting odds of 17/1 to win the tournament, but these will surely change soon given this recent news.
Andy Murray · AO · Australian Open · Draft Kings · Emma Raducanu · Rafael Nadal
Scoop Malinowski · December 27, 2021 at 9:40 am
My early picks are Medvedev and Fernandez to win AO titles. Still contemplating the doubles and mixed events… 🙂 How come you never hear any experts analyze the doubles and mixed draw? Shout out to Hopman Cup which usually started right around now from Perth. Miss that hidden gem of a tourney, Tennis Channel should show some old Hopman Cup matches now instead of the same old same old.
catherine · December 27, 2021 at 11:12 am
Emma is well on her way to becoming a multimillionaire long before she’s 21. Spoilsport journalists are already writing her off as a player – all those endorsements, has to end in tears.
Never mind. After the USO Emma took a trip to visit the NYSE. She’ll be a very successful stockbroker.
Scoop Malinowski · December 27, 2021 at 12:11 pm
She’s on easy street now Catherine, so we’ll see how much she wants a second major, if she can do it again. Most intriguing story in tennis, it’s even upstaged Novak and 21. What is next for the 18 year old miracle girl Emma who won the US Open as a total unknown? Will she be even better or did she peak at 18? Does she hunger for more or is she complete? I have heard of certain Easter Euro girls who made a ton of money without even winning a major and they lose the fire and just play on happy and content. Russian journos told me about these girls. You can figure out who they are. Huge earnings without any majors. Emma has the major, will she be satisifed. How much motivated are all the other girls who never won one to keep Little Miss Britches down? I love this story more so than even Novak and 21.
Scoop Malinowski · December 28, 2021 at 9:47 am
Thiem doesn’t want to play AO, he’s pulled out despite being healthy and ready to go, he will return in South America… Qiang Wang arrived down under with her three man team lead by Pat Cash…Naomi Osaka arrived to AO wearing a Mona Lisa sweatshirt…
Hartt · December 29, 2021 at 12:50 pm
I loved the Hopman Cup and am still annoyed that the ATP Cup wiped it out. The ITF keeps saying they will bring back Hopman Cup, but so far it has been all talk, no action.
I don’t know what to expect from Leylah at the AO. I watched most of her USO matches again. The one I enjoyed the most was her match against Kerber, because Kerbie played well. And, as so so often, Leylah had to come back after being down a set and a break. Kerbie was very gracious and walked to Leylah’s side of the net to give her a warm congratulations.
Leylah is so young and so ambitious that I think she will have some big titles in her career. Just am not sure what the coming season will bring.
Scoop Malinowski · December 29, 2021 at 1:31 pm
Hartt, the tennis world never has filled the void of ending Hopman Cup. It was the most perfect event, perfect time of year, perfectly staged and always some wonderful tennis singles and mixed. It was very popular, loved the atmosphere and energy of all the players happy to be back on court after the winter break. Whoever decided to end it should be banned from the sport for two years. The highest priority should be to revive the Hopman Cup and maybe even stage it twice a year in Perth and also somewhere else. ATP Cup and BJK Cup have zero of the charm and purity of The Hopman Cup.
Scoop Malinowski · December 29, 2021 at 1:34 pm
I see Leylah winning AO. She got a taste of the US Open trophy and she has worked even harder to snag this AO title. I see her videos running and sprinting on the beach and dunes with that Duglas coach, I think she may even be overtraining and could have hip problems in the future. Hopefully not. One thing for sure is I feel sorry for any player that draws Leylah in Melbourne. She is a tornado hellbent and destroying everything and anything in her path.
Sam · December 29, 2021 at 3:12 pm
Scoop,
Just curious—what do you think is going to happen with Djokovic and the Australian Open?
catherine · December 29, 2021 at 4:51 pm
Hartt = that’s the kind of match Angie can’t win anymore, although she’d dearly love to. But she’s a step or so slower now and it makes a difference. So does her serve, which is hovering around the 70s (mph) on first delivery. Not good enough. Maybe her video ‘The Art of Driving’ is a straw in the wind – the other things half of her wants to do now. (First time I read it quickly: ‘The Art of Drinking’)
Leylah – I haven’t made up my mind about her. There seems to have been, and maybe still is, a lot of pressure in her young life, a lot of drama. Emma has lead, so far, a more normal life and has a maturity and balance (seems to me) that Leylah may only come to later. I wasn’t impressed by the way she carried on about Emma’s MTO. The rule is quite clear. But I expect she learned many lessons from that match.
catherine · December 29, 2021 at 4:55 pm
Scoop – agree with everything you say about the Hopman Cup.
As for BJK Cup – what was wrong with Fed Cup ? The ITF founded it. BJ was a great player but does she have to have her name on everything ?
Scoop Malinowski · December 29, 2021 at 10:48 pm
Sam, tough question…. gut feeling says he will play and once the tournament starts, there will be no positive tests. My pick is Medvedev to win. Positive tests to only happen before and after the tournament, And we know what that means.
Scoop Malinowski · December 29, 2021 at 10:49 pm
Catherine, have they made Emma queen of England yet? They might as well get it over with. Sheesh.
Scoop Malinowski · December 29, 2021 at 10:50 pm
Catherine, Hopman Cup was the one event that stood out from the rest. And they had to kill it. One of the worst decisions in tennis history.
catherine · December 30, 2021 at 3:21 am
Scoop – I’m not sure what you mean. Emma’s far from being a name on everyone’s lips here. Tennis only exists during W’don. (The current England cricket team’s miserable failure in Australia is considered far more important.)
I do think Emma’s more mature than Fernandez, but that doesn’t mean better. I also wouldn’t be surprised if she leaves her tennis career earlier than most players who are now her contemporaries.
Scoop Malinowski · December 30, 2021 at 8:40 am
Catherine, can you imagine the scrutiny and smothering media coverage of her during Wimbledon. May as well rename it Emmabledon. She’s going to be seeing cameras and microphones in her sleep.
Sam · December 30, 2021 at 4:01 pm
Positive tests to only happen before and after the tournament, And we know what that means.
Scoop, it’s “magic.” 😛
Scoop Malinowski · December 30, 2021 at 5:11 pm
Sam there are no coincidences. Big pharma loves the profits of this scam, the one world govt loves controlling the sheeple via fear.