Tennis Australian Open Womens Preview

Serena Williams was quick to dismiss the notion that she was favourite for the Australian Open in a recent press conference though bookmakers disagree and have the American as the 10/11 (general) favourite for the tournament.

It is hard to look past the claims of Serena as she was clearly in dominant form in the second half of last season wrapping up Grand Slam success at Wimbledon and in the US Open and also claiming a Gold medal at the Olympics. Serena has history at this venue winning at Melbourne five times previously including success here in both 2009 and 2010. This season she has already picked up where she left off last year winning a title in Brisbane and enters in much better health and form then last year when she came undone in the fourth round. Williams is a deserved favourite and with question marks over most of her rivals even 10/11 looks good value.

Those who are really confident of a Serena dominanted tournament can get the American 4/1 (Coral) to go through the whole tournament without dropping a set. Though a word of caution the American has lapses in concentration that means at times she can drop cheap sets.

The strongest challenge is expected to come from the defending champion and the number one seed Victoria Azarenka. The Belarusian has the pedigre though she arrives here with a few question marks over her fitness after a pedicure that went wrong. Azarenka claims she is OK though you would want to see evidence of this for yourself (on court I mean I’m not suggesting you ask to see her feet). Also a worry is the mental block she has against Serena with a record of won one, lost eleven against the American. For reasons that annoy me the third seed can play the first seed in the semi-finals and this could be where the Belarusian makes her exit.

Another player who has been struggling with injury in the early part of the season is Maria Sharapova. The Russian was forced to miss the Brisbane event with a collar injury and I can not be rushing to back her at 103/10 (pinnacle). Seeded second though this does mean if you are willing to take on Sharapova then some each-way value lies in the other half of the draw that does not feature Azarenka or Williams. One of these names is Agnieszka Radwanska who is available at 17/1 with youwin though as we want the each-way part of the bet you need to take them with another bookmaker, william hill are the standout here at ½ the odds a place in the final and a price of 16/1. The Pole was a beaten quarter-finalist here in the last two years though on both occasions she did go out to the eventual champion. She has started the year in good form winning two tournaments already in 2013 and in a wide open section of the draw looks great value.

Another I am going to recommend at even bigger prices is Ana Ivanovic at 125/1 (boylesports). The Serb is a former finalist here (2008) and after a few years in the wilderness seemed to be finally finding some form when reaching the last eight of the US Open. She then ran into the juggernaut that was Serena. She has started the year playing in the Hopman Cup with Novak Djokovic where she looked good in singles action and once again she is in the wide open section of the draw featuring Sharapova.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Serena Williams to win the Australian Open, 10/11 (general)
SILVER: Agnieszka Radwanska EW to win the Australian Open, 16/1 (william hill)
BRONZE: Ana Ivanovic EW to win the Australian Open, 125/1 (boylesports)

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14/01/2013     © Frixo 2024