Ricky Dimon
Show Bio
Time flies when you are having fun, and we have had a lot of it now that the Novak Djokovic fiasco is over and we can get down to watching and betting on actual tennis. When Friday gets here we will already be through to the third round of the season’s first Grand Slam. Only 32 singles players on the men’s and women’s sides will remain.
Friday’s festivities should be thrilling. Among the mouth-watering matchups on the men’s side are Rafael Nadal vs Karen Khachanov, Matteo Berrettini vs Carlos Alcaraz, Denis Shapovalov vs Reilly Opelka, and Pablo Carreno Busta vs Sebastian Korda. In the women’s draw, Ashleigh Barty is taking the court along with Naomi Osaka, Amanda Anisimova, and Madison Keys.
Let’s take a look at the best bets to be made. Following a 3-0 effort on Wednesday and going 2-1 on Thursday, we will try to keep the momentum going!
Pablo Carreno Busta ML over Sebastian Korda (-131)
Sebastian Korda was a winner for me on both Monday (game spread against Cameron Norrie) and Wednesday (on the money line against Corentin Moutet as part of a parlay). Unfortunately for the 21-year-old American, it’s now time to fade him. Korda is coming off a five-set thriller against Moutet that lasted four hours and 47 minutes. Pablo Carreno Busta also went five sets and more than four hours with a red-hot Tallon Griekspoor, but the 21st-ranked Spaniard is a veteran who has never had any fitness issues and is accustomed to bouncing back from marathon matches. That isn’t the case for Korda. Carreno Busta should be too tough mentally and physically.
Jessica Pegula -1.5 sets over Nuria Parrizas-Diaz (-155)
Jessica Pegula was one of the hottest players on tour last summer. The daughter of Buffalo Bills owner Terry Pegula has cooled off a bit since then, but two successful matches Down Under should have her heating back up and poised to make another Australian Open run. The 21st-ranked American made it all the way to the quarterfinals last year before succumbing to eventual runner-up Jennifer Brady. Nuria Parrizas-Diaz played in her first Grand Slam main draw at the 2021 U.S. Open, where she lost in the first round. Needless to say, the third round in Melbourne is going to be a massive occasion for the 30-year-old Spaniard. Pegula has way more experience and is just the all-around better player. Plus she is inspired with her Bills just two wins away from the Super Bowl!
Parlay: Rafael Nadal -1.5 sets over Karen Khachanov and Paula Badosa ML over Marta Kostyuk (-123)
Rafael Nadal has been absolutely steamrolling people so far. The 20-time Grand Slam champion beat Marcos Giron 6-1, 6-4, 6-2 and then blitzed Yannick Hanfmann 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. Combine that with a title at a smaller tournament in Melbourne two weeks ago and Nadal is on an absolute roll to begin the season. He is also 7-0 lifetime against Karen Khachanov and a dominant 16-1 in total sets. As for Nadal’s fellow Spaniard, Paula Badosa, she has been one of the best players on tour dating back to last fall. The world No. 6 won her only previous meeting with Marta Kostyuk in straight sets and there should be more of the same on Friday.
The Pickswise tennis handicappers are on hand throughout the entire tennis season, bringing you the best free expert Tennis Predictions and Picks from top events including the U.S. Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the Australian Open.
