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The 2026 Australian Open is now in full motion at Melbourne Park, with the world’s elite gathering for the first Grand Slam of the year. After advancing through the early rounds, Marin Čilić and Casper Ruud are set to clash in the third round this Saturday. With both players aiming to make a deep run at this year’s title, we’ll break down the latest tennis betting lines and look for opportunities that could offer solid value ahead of their matchup.
- What? Australian Open Third Round
- Where? Melbourne Park, Australia
- When? January 23 and 24, 2026
Marin Cilic vs. Casper Ruud
Below are the odds from three of the best Tennis betting sites.
| Australian Open |  |  |  |
| Marin Cilic | +200 | +200 | +198 |
| Casper Ruud | -250 | -250 | -250 |
| Marin Cilic +4.5 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Casper Ruud -4.5 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Over 38 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
| Under 38 | -115 | -115 | -115 |
Saturday’s meeting will mark the fifth time Marin Čilić and Casper Ruud have shared the court, and the matchup history has been decidedly one-sided. Ruud has come out on top in all four prior clashes, proving his versatility by beating the veteran Croat across multiple conditions. Those wins include victories on indoor hard courts, outdoor hard courts, and twice on clay, underscoring Ruud’s ability to handle Cilic regardless of surface. Their most recent encounter came last autumn in Stockholm, where the Norwegian edged a tight first set before pulling away for a 7-6(2), 6-4 straight-sets victory.
Despite being 37 years old, Čilić continues to show that he can still be dangerous on the sport’s biggest stages. The former U.S. Open champion enjoyed a solid Grand Slam showing at Wimbledon last summer by reaching the fourth round, and he has looked sharp again in Melbourne. Through the opening rounds of the Australian Open, the world No. 70 has brushed aside both Daniel Altmaier and Denis Shapovalov without dropping a set, relying on his powerful serve and flat groundstrokes to control play.
Ruud, meanwhile, has remained fully focused on his tennis despite major life changes off the court, with he and his fiancée expecting a child. Any potential distractions have been nonexistent so far, as the 13th-ranked Norwegian has cruised into the third round with commanding straight-set wins over Mattia Bellucci and a red-hot Jaume Munar. Based on his current level, consistency from the baseline, and flawless head-to-head record against Čilić, Ruud enters this contest with a clear advantage and appears well positioned to advance.
Ruud in 4 sets.
Other Australian Open Third Round Betting Picks
Novak Djokovic has moved smoothly through his opening two matches, rarely looking troubled as he’s progressed through the early rounds. His next opponent, however, represents a far sterner challenge in Botic van de Zandschulp, especially considering the Dutchman came out on top when they last met in 2025. That result will give van de Zandschulp some confidence heading into this encounter.
Even so, the circumstances here strongly favor Djokovic. His level in Melbourne has looked sharp, and history shows that overcoming him in a best-of-five Grand Slam setting is an entirely different proposition. While van de Zandschulp has proven he can trouble the Serbian under the right conditions, sustaining that success across a long, physically demanding match against a locked-in Djokovic is a much taller order.
Djokovic in straight sets.
Luciano Darderi produced an impressive performance in the second round, knocking off Sebastián Báez and continuing what has already become the most successful Australian Open run of his young career. The Italian has looked confident and composed in Melbourne, making the most of his opportunities and building momentum with each match.
That said, the next hurdle appears significantly steeper. Karen Khachanov brings a different level of experience, physicality, and consistency, particularly in Grand Slam settings where his power and endurance tend to shine over longer matches. While Darderi’s recent win deserves plenty of credit, this matchup feels like a step too far, and it’s hard to see him finding a way past a seasoned opponent of Khachanov’s caliber.
Khachanov in 4 sets.
Below are the best offshore sportsbooks where you can place your Australian Open Third Round bets.
Sports Betting Sites 