Tennis Today – Matches on Oct. 18
For my tennis tips today, Sunday is all about the finals: In Shanghai, there will be an all-Spanish final between Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rafael Jodar, while in Wuhan, Maja Chwalinska and Sonay Kartal will battle it out for the title.
I’ll also take a look at the matches at the European Open in Brussels, where Jan-Lennard Struff faces Marcos Giron and Holger Rune takes on Raphaël Collignon. You can find these matches as well at established betting providers that specialize in tennis betting.
Tennis Picks Today – October 18, 2026: Who Will Win in Shanghai?
Here’s a breakdown of my tennis picks for today: From Shanghai, I’m analyzing the final between Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rafael Jodar, and from Wuhan, the final between Maja Chwalinska and Sonay Kartal.
In addition, I’ve asked the bookmakers for their best odds on two matches at the European Open in Brussels, where Holger Rune faces Raphaël Collignon and Jan-Lennard Struff takes on Marcos Giron.
So, in total, there are four tennis bets—rather than the usual six—that I’ve deemed “worth betting on” today. You can take advantage of a free bet at any time.
Shanghai Picks Today, Oct. 18: Davidovich Fokina – Jodar (10:30 a.m.)
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Rafael Jodar are competing for the title in the Shanghai Masters final. It’s the first all-Spanish final at a Masters 1000 tournament since Monte Carlo 2017 and the first ever on a hard court.
Davidovich Fokina defeated top-seeded Alexander Zverev 5–7, 6–4, 6–3 in the semifinals and has now won nine straight matches in China. Earlier, he saved a match point against Frances Tiafoe.
Jodar advanced to his first Masters final with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Daniil Medvedev, but in the previous rounds he had to come back from a set down each time and went the distance against both Jiri Lehecka and Botic van de Zandschulp.
Both players have shown this week that they can turn things around when trailing. I therefore expect a final that goes the full distance.
My pick: Davidovich Fokina and Jodar in a three-set thriller!
Brussels betting today: Rune – Collignon (12:30 p.m.)
Holger Rune and Raphaël Collignon will face off in the first round of the European Open in Brussels. The Dane is playing on a wild card and is currently ranked only No. 195 in the world. The former top-four player returned to the tour in October 2025 after tearing his Achilles tendon and taking a nearly 11-month break.
Collignon is significantly higher in the rankings at No. 50 and reached his first ATP final in Gstaad this summer. Last year, he reached the semifinals in Brussels as a wildcard entrant; he feels right at home playing indoors in front of his home crowd. However, the Belgian hasn’t played an official match since the US Open due to a knee injury.
Rune brings the higher ranking, but the lack of match practice remains a question mark for both players. I believe the Dane will make the difference with his versatile game and his experience on the tour.
My pick: Rune wins his opener in Brussels!
Brussels Prediction Today: Struff – Giron (12:00 p.m.)
Jan-Lennard Struff and Marcos Giron will kick off the European Open in Brussels. The two have faced each other only twice, with the head-to-head record standing at 1–1.
The 36-year-old Struff reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon this year, defeating Hubert Hurkacz, among others. With his powerful serve and height of 1.93 meters, he’s always capable of putting on a strong performance on fast indoor courts.
At 33, Giron is also an experienced pro who stands out on the tour for his consistency from the baseline. However, he is significantly shorter and has fewer tools to put pressure on Struff’s serve. I therefore believe the German will win.
My pick: Struff will use his powerful serve!
Wuhan Betting Today, Oct. 18: Chwalinska – Kartal (12:30 p.m.)
Maja Chwalinska and Sonay Kartal are set to face off in the Wuhan final for the title. This is their first meeting on the tour, and for both, it’s their first final at a WTA 1000 tournament.
The Polish player defeated her compatriot Iga Swiatek 7–5, 6–1 in the semifinals, saving two set points in the first set before winning ten of the last eleven games. The French Open finalist, who reached the final in Paris as a qualifier, is now on the verge of winning the biggest title of her career.
Kartal defeated Jelena Ostapenko 7-6, 7-6 and, as the world No. 170, is the lowest-ranked finalist in a 1000-level tournament since the format’s inception. The British player returned just three tournaments ago after a six-month injury layoff.
After two tiebreak sets in the semifinals, however, she’s likely to run out of steam in the final, while Chwalinska heads into the match with plenty of momentum following her commanding performance against Swiatek.
My pick: Chwalinska caps off her dream season!
