2022 Miami Open: Absence of Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic Opens Door for Daniil Medvedev

Get ready to take your online tennis betting to The Lone Star state. Correct: The Texas Valero Open is back, and this time, it's bringing a wide-open field in both the men's and women's brackets with it. 

With neither Novak Djokovic nor Rafael Nadal expected to compete at the 2022 Miami Open, our best betting picks include Daniil Medvedev and a host of other options. There are even more possibilities to ponder for the women. World ranked No. 1 Ashleigh Barty is sidelined. So, too, is the third-ranked Barbora Krejcikova. A surprise winner could potentially steal the show.

First, of course, let's take a look at the latest betting odds to win the 2022 Miami Open: 

Please note these 2022 Miami Open betting lines are accurate entering Monday, March 21. Though the Miami Open also begins on March 21, that's only the preliminary qualifying rounds. You'll want to double-check all odds on the Miami Open once those qualifiers wrap up and sportsbook operators have released their official lines to win.

In the interim, consider checking out our review of the BetOnline sportsbook, for instance, you will find that they're offering new s a 50 percent Welcome Bonus that's worth up to $1,000.

Should Daniil Medvedev be Favored to Win 2022 Miami Open Men's Bracket

There is a void at the top of tennis betting odds these days when both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are unable to partake in the same tournament. Together, they represent the vast majority of the odds-on favorite pick at most events.

Alas, Djokovic's refusal to get the COVID-19 vaccine continues to leave his status on the tour up in the air. Bookmakers won't even accept bets on him now, on the off chance he does play, because it's impossible to adequately forecast his odds. Nadal, meanwhile, is dealing with a lower body injury and decided to pull out of the Miami Open in hopes of readying himself for more primetime tourneys later in the season.

Absent them, many will be tempted by Alexander Zverev. We get it. He has the most dangerous serve on tour right now, and almost no one has a bigger forehand. But he continues to be erratic during longer points and later in matches. Too many of his backhands also include poor mechanics. 

To us, Daniil Medvedev looms as the much better 2022 Miami Open bet. His blend of power and fundamentals is rare. It reminds us a little of Djokovic himself. And while Medvedev must improve his presence at the net and on break points, the data on his first serves, backhands and forehands suggests he might just be the second best men's player alive right now.

2022 Miami Open Prediction for Men's Bracket

There's no need for us to mince any more words here. Medvedev is going to be our pick. 

Give a serious look to Casper Ruud and Carlos Alcaraz. They can be impossible to break when they get going. Zverev is, of course, on this list, too. We respectfully recommend staying away from John Isner until he starts churning out better tournament finishes.

In the end, without Djokovic or Nadal, Medvedev is the closest the Miami Open has to a sure thing. You might as well invest in him.

OSB Prediction: Daniil Medvedev (TBA)

Will Aryna Sabalenka be Favored to Win the 2022 Miami Open Women's Bracket? 

Below you'll find the odds to win the 2022 Miami Open women's bracket once they're officially released:

Ashleigh Barty's recover from injury continues to cast a pall over the women's brackets at the moment. She's been out for a while, and oddsmakers haven't really figured out how to peg the next every-tournament favorite.

In this case specifically, they'll default to Aryna Sabalenka. She is not only the world's No. 2 ranked women's player, but she's proven to be one of the most dominant rally hitters on tour.

There can be moments when Sabalenka should go for more aggressive winners and doesn't. But for the most part, she's rounded out her game to include a dominant first serve, stellar net play, a reliable backhand and the capacity to work the deep lines.

2022 Miami Open Prediction for Women's Bracket

So many names pop out at us knowing Barty will be a no-go.

Definitely consider Paula Badosa and her capacity to work the backhand of opponents to no end. Leylah Fernandez remains a crowd favorite for her go-for-it attitude on serves and winners. CoCo Gauff has hit a tough streak over the past year or so, but she has the lateral speed and control off the racket to win any event.

Our money, however, is going towards what may wind up being a dark horse candidate in Belinda Bencic. We believe she's one of the most underrated players on tour. Where others are turned off by her inconstant power and tendency to hit strokes off her backfoot, we're forever intrigued by her winning percentage on points that lost longer than seven rallies.

OSB Prediction: Belinca Bencic (TBA)

Take a look at this list of the top online sportsbooks so you can decide which one to use for all of your tennis betting: