Day four of the Australian Open commences today and after yet another fruitful set of best bets lobbed and landed it’s time for more.
It’s all an Australian affair between our world number one Ashleigh Barty and the girl known as ‘Dasha’ Daria Gavrilova on Rod Laver Arena.
Thanassi Kokkinakis is also in action as he faces Stefanos Tsitsipas.
#4 S. kenin v k. kanepi
margaret court ARENA 1:00PM
The defending Australian Open women’s champion Sofia Kenin fronts up for her second round clash against the hardened 35-year-old Kaia Kanepi.
Both ladies won their respective first round matches in straight sets but it was Kanepi who looked far more convincing than Kenin.
Kanepi breezed past world number 53 Anastasija Sevastova with a comprehensive 6-3, 6-1 straight sets win.
Meanwhile, Kenin took care of world number 133 Maddison Inglis with a straight sets 7-5, 6-4 victory.
However, the win did not come easily for Kenin.
The 22-year-old American was broken twice by her lesser ranked opponent and highlighted vulnerability in her service game.
Kenin only managed to hit 54% of her first serves into play but was able to win 74% of her points when the first serve did land.
The same issue also plagued Kanepi who only landed half of her first serves but was able to convert 78% of those into winning points.
This is going to be a close one and Kanepi looks the value here.
Suggested Bets:
Kaia Kanepi head to head at $2.06
Total games over 21.5 at $1.79
#5 s.tsitsipas v t.kokkinakis
rod laver arena 1:30pm
It’s been contrasting stories for these two youngsters as they clash for the first time in their careers.
Tsitsipas has skyrocketed towards the top of the ATP tennis rankings while Kokkinakis has struggled with a recurring right shoulder injury that has derailed his career.
Both players were a class above their opponents in their round one matches on Tuesday.
Tsitsipas took a proverbial hammer to French veteran Gilles Simon on his way to a 6-1 6-2, 6-1 win while Kokkinakis moved freely in his 6-4, 6-1, 6-1 battering of Kwon Soon-woo.
Kokkinakis definitely has the talent to serve it up to Tsitsipas here.
It was in 2018 that Kokkinakis upset Roger Federer in the Miami Open but that win seems like a lifetime ago.
Tsitsipas is more sound from a physical standpoint than Kokkinakis and that proves to be such a significant edge in these grand slams.
With a rock solid base of fitness compared to Kokkinakis, who has only just started to get back into the swing of things, we have to side the 22-year-old from Athens.
Suggested Bet: Total games under 31.5 at $1.99
#1 a.barty v d.gavrilova
ROD LAVER ARENA 12:15pm
The two darlings of Australian tennis are set to do battle on Rod Laver Arena with world number one Ashleigh Barty coming up against compatriot Daria Gavrilova.
Barty decided it was time for breakfast in her opening match of the tournament as she toasted Darla Kovinic for a double bagel with a 6-0, 6-0 win.
Daria Gavrilova, meanwhile, continued her comeback from a series of serious foot injuries with a convincing straight set 6-1, 7-5 victory against Sara Sorribes Tormo.
Both women have played each other four times in the past with Barty winning on three occasions.
The last time the pair met on this surface was in the 2018 Sydney International semi-final and it was Barty who prevailed in three sets with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory.
Despite the result in favour of Barty, it definitely illuminates the talent possessed by Gavrilova to make a player the calibre of Barty battle hard for a win.
The outcome of this match relies upon Gavrilova reaching that 2018 level again and if she struggles to do so then Barty will take full advantage of it.
Suggested Bet: Total games under -18.5 at $1.77
