Tennis is a hugely popular sport all over the world, with millions of fans following the exploits of their favorite players and many more checking out the latest odds on the big tournaments and matches.
One of the difficulties for those who like to bet on tennis is that the odds on the established big-name players available at tennis betting sites are often extremely small. But occasionally, even in the big tournaments, an underdog will spring a surprise at huge odds, to the delight of both spectators and those who simply enjoy tennis betting.
Mats Wilander – 1982 French Open
One of the biggest shocks in modern tennis came in 1982 when Mats Wilander became the youngest men's Grand Slam winner at the French Open at the age of 17. In a battle that lasted four hours and 42 minutes, the Swedish star upset third seed Guillermo Vilas in the final. Wilander, of course, had an illustrious career, winning seven grand slams and rising to the top of the male tennis rankings in 1988. At the time of this initial success, he was an unheralded youngster and his victory rocked the tennis world.
Boris Becker – 1985 Wimbledon
German star Boris Becker will always be remembered as one of the greatest grass-court players ever, but back in 1985, no one was talking about Becker. The 17-year-old was still technically a schoolboy and had turned pro only one year before. No one was tipping him to make any progress in the tournament, let alone win in. However, Becker stunned everyone, beating Tim Mayotte, Henri Leconte, Kevin Curren and fifth seed Anders Jarryd on his way to the trophy.
Gaston Gaudio – French Open 2004
Gaudio’s success in the 2004 French Open was a classic underdog tale. He went into the tournament having never won a Grand Slam but battled through to the final where he faced Guillermo Coria. He won just three games in the first set of the final, trailing 0-6, 3-6 but then staged one of the greatest comebacks in tennis history to claim the trophy. His live tennis betting odds would have been almost as long as his pre-tournament odds, but Gaudio came through, to the delight of all.
Emma Radacanu – US Open 2021
Emma Radacanu is a name that most tennis fans have quickly become familiar with. She is just 19 years old and was virtually unknown until mid-2021, when she began her tennis career. At Wimbledon, she made her Grand Slam debut, reaching the fourth round before retiring with breathing problems. What came next was remarkable. At the US Open she battled through to the final to claim her first, but no doubt not her last, Grand Slam event, against the women’s tennis betting odds and in defiance of all predictions.
Of course, the long odds on Radacanu soon disappeared. She started at a much shorter price for the Australian Open last month and bookmakers will be wary of underestimating her for the foreseeable future. This just underlines the importance of looking into tennis betting tips, which can be helpful in spotting these potential champions before they make a big splash on the world tennis stage.
Such predictions are obviously tough to make, and the progress from talented young hopeful to Grand Slam contender can be quick, slow or may never happen. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try, and there are a couple of names worth considering in 2022.
Leylah Fernandez
Leylah Fernandez was, of course, the player who Raducanu defeated in the US Open. The fact that she fell short in the Final may mean she flies under the radar for a little. Before Flushing Meadow, she had only once made it to the third round of a Grand Slam event, so her 2021 efforts represented a sudden and dramatic improvement as she beat three top-five players along the way. She went out in the first round in Melbourne, but she will be back and potentially at long odds.
Brandon Nakashima
The United States is a big tennis-supporting nation, but while fans have been able to enjoy the dominance of Serena and Venus Williams in the women’s game, US supporters have not had a US male Grand Slam winner since 2003. Could Brandon Nakashima be that man? Nakashima is only 20 but has been climbing the rankings steadily and has huge potential.
The future star experienced the main rounds of a Grand Slam event for the first time in Melbourne last month and could be the type of player to rise rapidly through the standings in 2022.
