Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis hit the courts again as the pair get set for huge semi-final double clash which headlines the BetDeluxe Australian Open Preview on Day 11.
All the best bets are in and ready to go.
T. Kokkinakis/N Kyrgios vs. M. Granollers/H. Zeballos
Scheduled for 2:35pm
Rod Laver Arena will erupt when Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis take to centre court for their semi-final doubles clash against Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos.
Kyrgios and Kokkinakis have sent the tournament into a spin with their shots and on-court antics, which has basically put doubles tennis back on the map.
Being dubbed “The Special Ks,’ both Aussies have had crowds on the edge of their seat having defeated all before them as they serve bomb after bomb and win rally after rally.
But Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos will likely prove to be the toughest opponents they face.
Granollers and Zeballos are two of the calmest and most professional doubles players to grace the court at Melbourne Park this year.
The crowd for Kyrgios’ and Kokkinakis’ opponents has been a major factor in their demise.
Happy Gilmore would be proud of what the Aussie lads have conjured up and it could very well pay dividends yet again.
They are an irresistible force at the moment and whether you like them or hate them, they are must watch material.
Suggested Bet: T. Kokkinakis/N. Kyrgios 2-0 at $2.85
m. purcell/m. ebden vs. j. salisbury/ r. ram
scheduled for 2:30pm
The forgotten Australians for the men’s double get the chance to book their spot in the final when Max Purcell and Matthew Ebden front up on Margaret Court Arena against Joe Salisbury and Rajeev Ram.
All the headlines of the double’s tournament have been taken by Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis, but Ebden and Purcell have snuck their way under the radar with a live chance of progressing into what would be their first ever grand-slam final.
Salisbury and Ram will surely prove tough opposition given their form and number two seed status in this tournament.
The American and British duo toppled Italians Simone Bollelli and Fabio Fognini in straight sets (6-2, 6-3) in what was a dominant display.
Ebden and Purcell needed a third-set tiebreak to overcome their quarterfinal clash and looked to be out on their feet in that game.
The extra day break they have over their opponents might be pivotal to their chances, but Ram and Salisbury are playing some of the best doubles tennis we have seen so far.
Suggested Bet: J. Salisbury/R. Ram 2-1 at $3.50
Ashleigh Barty vs. Madison Keys
scheduled for 7:35pm
The wave of momentum is well and truly with the Queen of Australian tennis as Ash Barty rolls into her semi-final as the unbackable $1.25 favourite against Madison Keys.
Barty has looked in career-best form with no sign of any niggles causing her issues having crushed, smashed and embarrassed all her rivals.
The number one seed and number one women’s player in the world sent an ominous warning to the competition when she swept aside Jessica Pegula with no mercy during a 6-2, 6-0 quarter-final victory.
This will be he fourth time Keys meets Barty in a competitive match.
Keys trails Barty in the head to head record by 2-1, but that sole win for Keys came on clay.
Barty is a completely different beast on the hardcourt and with the home crowd behind her, it would be one of the biggest upsets in the sport this year if Keys were to knock off our great Australian hope.
Suggested Bet: Ash Barty 2-0 at $1.55
danielle collins vs. iga swiatek
scheduled for 9:00pm
The second semi-final of the Women’s Australia Open gets underway at Rod Laver Arena tonight when number seven seed Iga Swiatek takes on Danielle Collins.
Swiatek ended the surge of 36-year-old veteran Kaia Kanepi in a three-set battle to progress through to what has been her best performance in Melbourne to date, while Collins seems to have completely overcome an injury-plagued 2021.
Collins was brilliant at holding her points on first serve during her straight sets triumph over Alize Cornet.
The 27-year-old American converted 90% of her first serve points and that type of efficiency is going to be crucial in her chances against Swiatek.
But Swiatek, despite her inexperience, is already a grand-slam winner and is battle hardened for this clash.
She has a great mix of class and tenacity in tandem with her great balance in offence and defence.
Expecting the 20-year-old Polish star to the get job done.
Suggested Bet: I. Swiatek 2-0 at $2.35
