The WTA Australian Open is the most unique Major, to me. Because it’s in early January, nobody has had time to build up to it or prepare for it through competition. For many competitors, it’s their first tournament of the year. This has always made it more interesting than the others, and part of why it has had so many unique winners. The setting and timing lend themselves to a fantastic tournament. Here are my best bets for these matches. Please share yours in the comments section.     

WTA Australian Open
Inglis – Siegemund: Time 16:00

H2H: 0-0

Maddison Inglis and Laura Siegemund’s second-round match at the WTA Australian Open will be their first time playing. This match is the Australians’ first time making it out of the first round since Inglis made the third round in 2022, which is also her career high. Siegemund is used to playing in the first three rounds of this tournament, failing to qualify only once in her career.         

Best Bet to Make

The books have Siegemund as the favorite, and I agree. When you look at how much tennis Inglis has played at the Australian Open, it’s definitely eye-opening. Three out of her four matches have gone to a third set, with a bunch of tiebreakers in the first and second rounds. Even the one two-set match went 6-4, 6-4. Siegemund also seems to do better on a general level within the first three rounds of the Australian Open.

That being said, Siegemund winning is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/the best odds: Siegemund winning @1.80 @Bet365

Stearns – Marcinko: Time 16:00

H2H: 0-0

Peyton Stearns vs Petra Marcinko is one of the more low-key interesting matches. Both players are firmly within the Top 100 in the World. Stearns is 4-6 in her last ten matches, but she’s 2-2 to start the year. Marcinko is 8-2 in her last two matches, and she’s 3-2 in 2026. Marcinko also won five tournament titles in 2025, but only one of them was at the WTA level, which was WTA Rome 2. That’s still much better than the zero titles won by Stearns last year.

Best Bet to Make

The line on this match truly boggles my mind. Even though she’s 4-6 in her last ten matches, the books still see Stearns as a favorite. She’s only the favorite by about a half-point, but she’s a favorite nonetheless. I don’t agree with this call and think Marcinko is the better pick. Considering you can get Marcinko straight for 2.25 on Betfair, the pick makes itself. Marcinko winning 2:0 is even more tempting at 3.25 on Bet365.

That being said, Marcinko winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/the best odds: Marcinko winning 2:0 @3.5 @Bet365

Osaka – Cirstea: Time 16:00

H2H: 0-1

Our featured match is Naomi Osaka vs Sorana-Mihaela Cirstea. The only other time these two met was at the 2015 WTA Wimbledon, where Cirstra won their qualifying round match in three sets. Cirstea is 7-3 in her last ten matches, but she’s 5-1 to start the year. Osaka is 2-1 in 2026, but she also had a four-match losing streak entering the year. This match is likely to see betting from all sides and angles.

Best Bet to Make

Naomi Osaka is the favorite in this match by a full point, and I think that’s a monumentally bad pick. Cirstea is 5-1 for a reason, and her only loss came to Aryna Sabalenka. I’m not toing to sit here and say she’s faced the best competition, but she did beat Jelena Ostapenko, Eva Lys, Kamilla Rakhimova, and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Give me Cirstea straight in the upset.

That being said, Cirstea winning is a value bet for sure

Value bet/best odds: Cirstea winning @2.63 @Bet365

Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey–USA TODAY Sports