tennis | Tuesday, December 27, 2022 12:52 PM

Thursday Tennis Best Bet: ATP United Cup, Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie

Jon Reid

Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie Best Bet: Thursday, December 29th

We’re back for the 2023 tennis season! It’s only been a few weeks without tennis, but for those who enjoy betting on a sport, it certainly is nice to avoid months-long lulls and offseasons.

The season kicks off in Australia (which will make the start times for a lot of these matches interesting for Europe and North America) this week with the United Cup. Next week, several other events join the fray from elsewhere in Australia, as well as New Zealand.

Let’s take a look at Thursday’s best bet for the United Cup, featuring Nick Kyrgios representing Team Australia and Cameron Norrie, representing Team Great Britain.

In this article:

Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie Preview
Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie Best Bet

Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie Preview

December 29th, 8:00 (UK Time)

What a spot to back the Aussie to get it done on home soil against Norrie in this one.

Long known as one of the more mercurial players on tour, with many constantly questioning his desire and commitment to tennis, Kyrgios came out in 2022 and had his best ever appearance at a grand slam, reaching the final at Wimbledon (though in a cruel twist of fate, those rankings point did not count) and won his home slam in doubles with good friend and partner Thanasi Kokkinakis.

Now playing for his country, on home soil – which he’s said explicitly he misses when on the road – and playing in quick conditions with his powerful game? The United Cup should set him up to get his season off to a hot start.

The 27-year-old has one of the biggest serves on tour, loves to mix it up and play with variety, can unleash some staggering forehands and has a compact backhand that is tough to rush, even on the quickest of courts.

Throw in an athletic game for his height making him a threat on return as well, and you’ve got one heck of a tennis player.

Matching up with Norrie, there isn’t a whole heck of a lot the Brit does better than the world No. 22.

His consistency and mental strength are obvious, but game-wise, he doesn’t muster nearly as much power on his serve or from the baseline, and his lefty game shouldn’t bother Kyrgios, thanks to the Aussie’s aforementioned solid backhand.

With Kyrgios much more likely to apply pressure consistently on serve, and with the crowd at his back and not tilting him into throwing points and the match away, I’m happy to get involved in backing one of the more talented players the men’s game has.

Nick Kyrgios vs Cameron Norrie Best Bet

We’ll look to take advantage of a mistake in the market here, that has been made thanks to what I can only assume is the previous head-to-head record between these two.

Norrie leads 3-1, but that record includes a retirement in the first matchup between the two, as well as an exhibition win a few weeks ago in a format that saw each set played in a race-to-10-points format (as well as Kyrgios being notorious for not taking exhibition tennis remotely seriously). Kyrgios’ lone win was actually on home soil representing his country at the ATP Cup, where he demolished his underpowered counterpart.

With his improved play from 2022, I’m not overly concerned with the history between these guys. Kyrgios matches up far too well, and even the intangible aspect of feeding off of or giving into the crowd – which he’s been known for in the past – plays in his favour here.