Tennis Best Bets and Predictions for Saturday, July 26th:
The journey to the 2025 US Open has officially begun. In the coming weeks, top tennis players will compete in significant hard-court tournaments. This week, my focus is on Washington DC, where both men and women are participating in the Mubadala Citi DC Open, a 500-level event. Read on for my best bets for Saturday, July 26th, and don’t forget to check out the Pro Picks page for my selections on smaller events, including various clay-court tournaments.
I occasionally update my picks throughout the day, as I monitor how the odds shift. Keep checking the picks page every few hours for more insights. You’ll also find selections from Gill Alexander, who offers excellent tennis handicapping on A Numbers Game. You can watch Gill analyze tennis on weekdays from 10:00 am to noon ET. If you’re a tennis enthusiast, consider becoming a VSiN Pro.
MORE: Explore our Pro Picks page for expert selections!
2025 Record: 917-889-1 (+47.65 units)
Leylah Fernandez vs. Elena Rybakina
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs. Ben Shelton
I’m placing a two-leg parlay for Saturday, given the good matchups and limited value in individual matches. For the first leg, I’m backing Rybakina to defeat Fernandez. Although I’m cautious about opposing Fernandez—she’s a spirited competitor who often captivates the crowd—there’s a significant contrast in their serving statistics. Fernandez has struggled with a hold percentage below 70% this year, facing an opponent with an 80.4% hold percentage. This disparity will make it challenging for the Canadian unless she plays exceptionally well, especially after showing vulnerabilities against Taylor Townsend.
In the second leg, I’ll be going against Davidovich Fokina following his exhausting match with Taylor Fritz. I respect his determination in pulling off that win, particularly after finding himself in a tough position. However, with that match ending late, it’s uncertain how much energy he’ll have left for today’s match. Shelton has been impressively solid as a returner this week, making him a tough opponent to beat under the circumstances.
I wouldn’t be surprised if the players I’m fading today end up withdrawing.
PARLAY: Rybakina ML & Shelton ML (-152 – I’m opting for a less favorable price on FD for better retirement rules)
Anna Kalinskaya vs. Emma Raducanu
Raducanu faced struggles with the conditions last Friday, even requiring a medical check for blood pressure towards the end of the second set. If today’s matches occur amid projected rain, it will again be hot and humid, likely benefiting Kalinskaya in the physical aspect of their match. However, my confidence in Kalinskaya also stems from her impressive performances this week, as she hasn’t lost a set yet, even against tough opponents like Magda Linette and Clara Tauson, the latter being one of the best on hard courts this year.
When Kalinskaya is in form, she displays the caliber of a top-10 player, making the +130 odds appealing, especially given Raducanu’s inconsistency.
Additionally, I’m placing a small wager on Kalinskaya winning the tournament at +650, which seems undervalued based on her performances so far.
Bet: Kalinskaya ML (+130) & Kalinskaya to win DC (+650 – 0.5 units)
Added Plays
I typically have additional selections on the Pro Picks page. These plays contribute to my record and have significantly influenced my success this season. Be sure to check them out, as I plan to add more throughout the day!
