Australian Open betting tips: Sinner vs Schoolkate, Zverev vs Pedro Martinez, Sabalenka vs Bouzas Maneiro & Gauff vs Burrage

The 2025 Australian Open is in full swing after the men’s and women’s favourites progressed past round one with relative ease. 

In the men’s draw, leading favourites Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev and Carlos Alcaraz reached round two comfortably. However, there was one major shock as the 11th seed Stefanos Tsitsipas was stunned in four sets by American Alex Michelsen.

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It was plain sailing for the women’s favourites, with reigning champion Aryna Sabalenka beating veteran Sloane Stephens in straight sets. Second and third seeds Iga Swiatek and Coco Gauff also booked their places in the next round with clean victories.

Here are FIRST’s top picks for the biggest upcoming matches in round two at the 2025 Australian Open. 

Jannik Sinner vs Tristan Schoolkate (Thursday - 8:00am) 

Reigning Australian Open champion Sinner was made to work in his opening two sets against Nicolas Jarry in round one. The Italian eventually showed his class though, notching a 7-6; 7-6; 6-1 triumph against his Chilean opponent. Sinner’s first-round win at the Australian Open took his current winning streak to 15 consecutive matches – a run stretching back to September 2024. 

The world number one set up a second-round meeting against Australian player Tristan Schoolkate. The 23-year-old dropped the first set in round one against Taro Daniel before rallying back and taking the next three sets.

It was Schoolkate’s second victory in his last seven matches. Ranked 173rd in the world, Schoolkate faces a tough test against Sinner in round two. The Aussie has also never progressed past round two at a grand slam tournament but will have the support of the home crowd here.  

FIRST’s top tip for Jannik Sinner vs Tristan Schoolkate

Sinner was composed against a potentially tricky opponent in Jarry and the Italian looks in good shape to defeat inexperienced opponent Schoolkate. Stick with the Italian to get this match wrapped up quickly with under 27.5 games a good pick. (13/20 with Betway)

Alexander Zverev vs Pedro Martinez (Wednesday 9:10am)

Second seed Zverev looked comfortable in his straight-sets first-round victory against Lucas Pouille.

It was a one-sided 6-4; 6-4; 6-4 triumph, where Zverev hit 37 winners and prevented Pouille from capitalising on his two break points. The world number two has now won 11 of his previous 12 matches and has only dropped three sets across his last 10 outings.  

Up next for the highly ranked 27-year-old German is Pedro Martinez. The Spanish player was cruising towards a first-round win over Luciano Darderi after taking the opening two sets. Martinez, also 27, then progressed via a walkover following Darderi’s withdrawal due to injury. 

The extra rest time may help Martinez to put in a performance against Zverev. However, he struggled in his only previous clash against a top-10 opponent, losing in three sets against Casper Ruud in the 2024 Estoril Open semi-final. 

FIRST’s top tip for Alexander Zverev vs Pedro Martinez

Zverev has winning form heading into this second-round clash and rarely drops sets against lower-ranked opponents. Another commanding win for Zverev looks likely and the second seed can cover a -9 game handicap. (4/7 with Matchbook)

Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro (Wednesday)

Aryna Sabalenka began her Australian Open title defence with a strong victory against an experienced round-one opponent Sloane Stephens. Sabalenka dropped just five sets in the one-sided triumph and extended her winning run at the Australian Open to 15 consecutive matches. 

The Belarusian has not lost at Melbourne Park since 2022 when she crashed out in the fourth round against Kaia Kanepi. That means she’s going for a third Australian Open title on the bounce, a feat not managed since Martina Hingis in 1999. In addition, Sabalenka has won 28 of her last 29 grand slam hard-court matches, adding to her credentials as the 2025 Australian Open favourite.

Jessica Bouzas Maneiro awaits the world number one in round two. The Spanish player looked confident after taking a 6-1 first-set lead against British player Sonay Kartal in round one. But Bouzas Maneiro was given a scare in the second set when Kartal hit back to force a tie-break. Eventually, Bouzas Maneiro got over the line but was unconvincing in closing out what should have been a routine victory.

FIRST’s top tip for Aryna Sabalenka vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

Sabalenka is incredibly dominant on hard courts and the world number one was convincing against Stephens in round one. We are tipping the Belarusian to cover a -7 game handicap against Bouzas Maneiro on Wednesday. (8/15 with BetMGM)

Coco Gauff vs Jodie Burrage (Wednesday)

Coco Gauff arrived at the Australian Open in fine form and easily saw off compatriot and former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin in the first round with a 6-3;6-3 victory. Gauff, who is on the same side of the draw as Sabalenka, barely put a foot wrong and hit 28 winners and 12 aces to book her place in the second round. 

The impressive 20-year-old has now won 10 matches in a row following title wins at the 2024 WTA Finals and the United Cup.

British hopeful Jodie Burrage will take on Gauff in round two at Melbourne Park. This will be the first clash between the two players since Eastbourne in 2023 when Gauff emerged as the winner. 

Ranked 173rd in the WTA, Burrage will be the big underdog for this clash. Despite cruising to a 6-2; 6-4 win over Leolia Jeanjean in round one, the British player has generally struggled for recent form and fitness. In her previous six matches in 2025, she has only won three times and has admitted to nearly retiring from the game in 2024. 

FIRST’s top tip for Coco Gauff vs Jodie Burrage

Gauff rediscovered her best form in late 2024 and in early 2025 seems focused on grand slam success at Melbourne Park. The American should seal another dominant 2-0 victory over an inconsistent Burrage. (1/14 with BetMGM)

(UK Time). Odds correct at the time of writing.