Australian Open 2026 Best Bets Today: Predictions by Tennis Experts

Carlos Alcaraz inched closer to his first Australian Open title by sweeping aside hometown favorite Alex de Minaur 7-5 6-2 6-1 in the quarterfinals. The Spaniard has yet to drop a set in the tournament, while only going to a tiebreaker three times. This is the furthest stage he’s reached Down Under in his career.

His opponent, Alexander Zverev, looks to return to the final after losing to Yannick Sinner at the final stage last year. In 2024, Zverev defeated Alcaraz in the quarterfinals, before losing to Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals. He’s still searching for his first Australian Open and Grand Slam title in his career.

Zverev has been tested slightly more to reach this stage, needing four sets in four of his five matches to reach the semis. That was the case last round against Learner Tien where two sets needed tiebreakers in his 6-3 6-7(5) 6-1 7-6(3) win. The match saw him deliver 24 aces, and suffer just one double fault. Zverev leads all players in the tournament with 80 aces.

Historically, this matchup has been close with each player winning six times. But more recently, it’s been Alcaraz who’s won three of the past four, including their most recent match last summer in Cincinnati, 6-4 6-3. Zverev has been playing well enough to grab a set, but it’s likely the highly favored Alcaraz (-550) who advances. Betting on Over 3.5 sets comes in at -125 odds, while combining the Over with an Alcaraz win can up your return.

Tournament favorite Aryna Sabalenka is into the semifinals for the fourth-straight year, winning two of the past three Aussie Opens. In the quarterfinals, she cruised past 18-year-old Iva Jovic 6-3 6-0, keeping her streak of not dropping a set in the tournament. She produced 31 winners in the match, giving her a tournament-high 143.

Sabalenka is 10-0 in 2026, has already won the Brisbane title, and has yet to drop a set through all ten matches.

Elina Svitolina also had a straightforward win in her quarterfinal match against Coco Gauff, winning 6-1 6-2 in just under one hour. She converted 6/7 break points, had four aces, and just 16 unforced errors, compared to Gauff’s 26.

Svitolina hasn’t dropped a set either in the tournament, and reached the semifinals in Australia for the first time in her career, plus, her first grand slam semi since Wimbledon 2023.

She’s also been in impressive form in the early stages of 2026, having won in Auckland, and now being 10-0 overall, while only losing one set. The problem is that her next opponent is on another level.

Sabalenka owns a dominant 5-1 lifetime mark versus Svitolina, including winning each of their past four matches. Last year, she won 6-3 7-5 in Madrid in May. Those wins have come by a total of five, six, four, and four games.

She’s been nearly unbeatable in Melbourne, winning 25 of her last 26 matches. Sabalenka has also been unbeatable in Grand Slam tiebreakers, going a perfect 20-0 since 2023. Svitolina might keep the opening set close, but I’ll still back Sabalenka to win in straight sets for today’s Australian Open picks.