Casper Ruud vs. Tommy Paul – Round 2, 2021 Australian Open

Both Casper Ruud and Tommy Paul started their Australian Open 2021 experience with a clean victory. The youngsters will be eager to rise in the ATP rankings this year, and a strong performance in Melbourne would be an excellent boost to their ambitions.

I’m sure that both players will fancy their chances to reach the third round, but one of them will be forced to go home.

I share my expectations about the upcoming clash in this Casper Ruud vs. Tommy Paul betting preview. The post includes an analysis of both athletes, my prediction, and a free betting pick.

As you can see from Casper Ruud vs. Tommy Paul odds above, the top-rated tennis bookmakers online except a close clash that should reach at least four rounds. There’s no clear favorite either, and it’s hard to argue against such an evaluation.

A quick look at the early careers of both players shows that Casper Ruud is the more successful one at this point. He broke into the top 30 of the ATP rankings and had plenty of success last season.

The Norwegian is yet to achieve something significant in Grand Slam competitions, but that’s normal at his age. The best-of-five format is hard for young players, and it takes time to get used to it.

What’s more concerning is that Ruud’s last victory before the start of the 2021 Australian Open came way back in September. He has struggled to find consistency since, but his opening display in Melbourne was solid and brought a win over Jordan Thompson.

It looks like Ruud has been practicing with Rafa Nadal for the competition, and that might be helping.

The question is if Ruud can stay consistent enough with his serve. He allowed Thompson several break points, and a better player could take advantage of his weaknesses.

The Australian Open is Tommy Paul’s favorite major tournament after he reached the third round last year. That allowed the American to climb the rankings and opened the door to more lucrative competitions throughout the season.

I’m sure that Paul will be confident in his chances for another decent run this year, and the good start against Nikoloz Basilashvili confirms that.

The American overcame a top 50 opponent without losing a set, and his serve was consistent for most of the match. If Paul can continue playing like that, he could at least match his performance from 2020.

Based on recent form, I like Paul’s chances to win this match more. It will be close, no doubt about that, but the price of +110 and Ruud’s struggles give me enough reasons to back the American with my betting pick.

If you intend to regularly bet on the competition, I suggest you check our Australian Open gambling guide. We designed the page with one goal in mind – to help you recognize value and improve your chances to win money.