- What: Australian Open Men's Singles Second Round - Jenson Brooksby vs. Casper Ruud
- When: Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. EST (midnight)
- Where: Melbourne Park, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- How to Watch: ESPN, ESPN+
The second round of the 2023 Australian Open is set to get underway on Wednesday, with the opening stage of play rounding up on Tuesday. The Jan. 18 slate is loaded, and world No. 3 Casper Ruud is set to take the court for the second time for a highly-anticipated matchup against Jenson Brooksby. We're going to make some Australian Open Men's Singles picks for Wednesday's showdown featuring the Norwegian and his American counterpart.
Before diving into the Australian Open Men's Singles picks, make sure to check out our tennis betting guide to get all the information you need, as well as our Australian Open betting guide, which is full of useful tips and tricks.
Australian Open Odds - Ruud vs. Brooksby
 | Spread | Money Line | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jenson Brooksby | +5.0 (-115) | +225 | O 37.5 (-120) |
| Casper Ruud | -5.0 (-115) | -275 | U 37.5 (-110) |
Heading into Wednesday evening's matchup, it's Casper Ruud who is favored to win over Jenson Brooksby. Ruud (-275) is anticipated to live up to the hype as the world's third-ranked player, while an upset for the American is considered somewhat unlikely (+225). The total games is expected to be at 37.5, while Ruud is expected to win by a spread of 5.0 games.
Jenson Brooksby Best Bets
The American faces an uphill battle if he wants to take down the up-and-coming Norwegian sensation. Brooksby is still a top player, coming in at No. 39 on the latest men's singles rankings. To reach the second round at the Australian Open, Brooksby defeated Australian native Christopher O'Connell in four sets. O'Connell is the 80th ranked player in the world, so it was a good win for Brooksby to secure in the opening round.
In his win over O'Connell, who was playing in front of his home nation, Brooksby won 21 games across the four sets. In his most recent tournament before the Australian Open, Brooksby advanced to the Semifinals of the ASB Classic in New Zealand. During his four matches at that tournament, Brooksby secured three wins before being bounced in his fourth match.
In singles matches in 2022, Brooksby went 24-22, failing to win any singles or doubles titles across the calendar year. The 22-year-old only turned pro in 2021 so he's still seeking his first career tournament win on the ATP Tour. Unfortunately for him, it'll take a major upset of Casper Ruud in order for him to get closer towards achieving that.
In terms of the best bets for Jenson Brooksby, I'm targeting his individual games total at UNDER 18.5 games. That prop has odds of (-135) and feels like a safe bet, barring an upset win for the American. Ruud should hold his own here, and it'd be surprising to see Brooksby win 19 games against the Norwegian.
Casper Ruud Best Bets
The Norwegian sensation made quick work of his first-round opponent at the Australian Open, defeating Tomas Machac in four sets. Ruud is the No. 2 seed at the Australian Open and currently holds the title of the world's No. 3 ranked player, and for good reason. Ruud is just 24 years old, but already took home three singles titles in 2022, as well as five in 2021. In his young career on the ATP, the Norwegian already boasts nine total singles wins, and will be eager to add to that.
He enters play as a big favorite against Brooksby, and I'm not anticipating him to fall short of expectations. Ruud is one of the best in the world, and while Brooksby presents an intriguing opponent, the Norwegian should advance to the third round without much problem.
Ruud struggled during the ASB Classic earlier this year, losing in just the second round against Laslo Djere. He will be looking to bounce back with some strong showings in Melbourne, and a statement victory over Brooksby in the second round of the Australian Open is a prime opportunity to do just that.
Not only am I expecting Ruud to beat Brooksby, but I'm expecting the Norwegian to take down the American in straight sets, defeating his opponent 3-0. It would be a surprise for Brooksby to take even a single set against Ruud, and while the Norwegian needed four sets in the first round, he should be quicker to record a victory in Round Two. The first bet I'm targeting for this showdown is Casper Ruud to win 3-0 (+160).
In addition to the straight-set victory, I'm also expecting Casper Ruud to get off to a strong start in the match, taking home a first-set victory. Ruud blew past Machac 6-3 in the opening set of his first-round matchup, and he should get off to a similarly strong start against Brooksby. Not only will he win the first set, but he will do so commandingly. The second bet for this Australian Open Men's Singles second-round matchup is Casper Ruud -1.5 in the first set (-135).
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