World No. 4 Stefanos Tsitsipas can move one step closer to the first grand slam title of his career when he squares off against Karen Khachanov in the semifinals of the 2023 Australian Open on Thursday at Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The 24-year-old Tsitsipas has reached only one grand slam final, losing in the French Open in 2021. Meanwhile the 26-year-old Khachanov has never reached a grand slam final and has made only one semifinal (2022 U.S. Open).
The semifinal will begin after the mixed doubles final but not before 10:30 p.m. ET. Tsitsipas is a -260 favorite (risk $260 to win $100) in the latest Tsitsipas vs. Khachanov odds from Caesars Sportsbook, while Khachanov is a +200 underdog. The over/under for total games is 39.5. Before locking in any Khachanov vs. Tsitsipas picks or 2023 Australian Open predictions, you need to see what SportsLine tennis expert Jose Onorato has to say.
Onorato grew up playing competitive tennis in Caracas, Venezuela. After coming to the U.S., he trained with famed coach Nick Bollettieri at IMG Academy in Florida and faced players like Robert Farah, now one of the world's top-ranked doubles players.
Onorato, who holds dual degrees in finance and economics from the University of Miami, does extensive research before placing any tennis bets. He studies current form, players' tendencies on a particular surface, weather conditions and many other relevant factors. That systematic approach helped Onorato go 96-67-7 -- up 60.42 units -- in 2022.
Now, Onorato has scrutinized the latest Australian Open 2023 odds and released his coveted best bet for the Tsitsipas vs. Khachanov men's semifinal match. He's only sharing his pick and expert analysis at SportsLine.
Stefanos Tsitsipas and Karen Khachanov preview
Tsitsipas has dominated the series against Khachanov. Tsitsipas has won all five matches between the two, losing just two of 12 sets in the process. The last time they met, in May 2022, Tsitsipas won 4-6, 6-0, 6-3, but that match came on clay in Rome. The previous four matches came on hard courts.
Tsitsipas should be fresh entering the semifinal. Only one of his matches has gone beyond three sets. In that match, against Jannik Sinner in the fourth round, Tsitsipas saved 22 of 26 break points to win in five sets. Over the course of the tournament, he has saved 43 of 49 break points
But Khachanov has found his form in the majors. The 6-foot-6 Russian had played in 23 grand slam tournaments before reaching his first semifinal, in last year's U.S. Open. With his victory over American Sebastian Korda in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, Khachanov again is one win away from playing in his first grand slam final.
In that win over Korda, Khachanov controlled play with a dominant serve. In the first set he won 80% of his first-serve points, and in the second set he won 78%. By contrast Korda won just 50% of his first serves in the second set. Korda was forced to retire three games into the third set with an injured wrist. You can see Onorato's best bets here.
How to make Tsitsipas vs. Khachanov picks
In addition to his analysis, Onorato has found an x-factor that's made him lock in a best bet for this semifinal match. You can find out what it is, and see the rest of Onorato's analysis, at SportsLine.
What is the best bet for Khachanov vs. Tsitsipas in the men's semifinals of the 2023 Australian Open? Visit SportsLine now to see Jose Onorato's top pick, all from the tennis expert who knows the game from a player's perspective, and find out.
