WTA Australian Open Odds Day 2: Muguruza, Kvitova, Raducanu Headline Action
WTA Australian Open Odds Day 2: Muguruza, Kvitova, Raducanu Headline Action
A star-studded cast highlights the second day of the Australian Open as a slew of the best in the women’s game feature on the day’s card. Amongst them are multiple grand-slam champions Garbine Muguruza and Petra Kvitova and the WTA Tour’s latest it-girl Emma Raducanu, who stunned the tennis betting world by winning the 2021 US Open as a qualifier. Join us as we preview these and others in their first-round contests on Tuesday, January 17.
Garbine Muguruza vs Clara Burel
This is the first-ever meeting between Spain’s Garbine Muguruza and France’s Clara Burel. Muguruza’s preparations for the Australian Open were cut short with a second-round loss to Daria Kasatkina. Burel, similarly, went 1-1 in her Aussie Open preparations, losing to Andrea Petkovic in the second round of the Melbourne event a fortnight ago.
At face value, this looks like a straightforward matchup for the two-time grand slam champion Muguruza. Betting on Muguruza in moneyline markets offers little value, with odds of -900 set for a straight-up win. Better value offers are in set betting markets where a straight-sets win is priced at -275.
- Pick: Mugruza in two sets -275 (Bet $275 to win $100)
Petra Kvitova vs Sorana Cirstea
Two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova opens her campaign against veteran and dangerous floater Sorana Cirstea. The pair have met eight times, with Kvitova leading 5-3 in their head-to-head. Last year, Cirstea upset Kvitova in the R64 at the Australian Open, beating the Czech 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. Cirstea is sure to fancy her chances, even if the tennis odds are stacked against her. It’s quite likely this will be another three-set thriller that could go either way. The inclination is towards betting on Kvitova, but a bet on just a three-set affair might be the best option.
- Pick: Kvitova to win in three at +500 (Bet $100 to win $500)
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Iga Swiatek vs Harriet Dart
Iga Swiatek got some solid match play under her belt in Adelaide, reaching the semis where she lost to Ashleigh Barty. Along the way, she beat Canadian rising star, Leylah Fernandez and veteran Victoria Azarenka. Swiatek opens her campaign against Britain’s Harriet Dart, who is a qualifier. By all accounts, Swiatek should sail through her first-round, tournament opener.
Picks: Swiatek to win in straight sets -400 (Bet $400 to win $100)
Aryna Sabalenka vs Storm Sanders
Belorussia’s Aryna Sabalenka comes into the tournament as the second seed, but form is a serious question mark that hangs over her. Sabalenka crashed out in the first round of back-to-back warm-up events, and she comes into the first round with a 0-2 record on the season. She takes on Australian Storm Sanders in the first round. The pair crossed paths five years ago in Perth. Sabalenka won that contest in three sets.
Sanders competed at both events in Adelaide to start her season with a 2-2 record. In addition, she has a perfect 3-0 record in doubles after winning the Adelaide title with doubles partner Ashely Barty. All that match play will help the diminutive Aussie against the big-hitting Sabalenka. Add to that crowd support, and Sanders may well pull through with a big first-round upset. It’s a longshot bet by the tennis odds, but not an unreasonable one if Sabalenka is lacking in confidence right now.
- Pick: Sanders to win +250 (Bet $100 to win $250)
Sloane Stephens vs Emma Raducanu
On paper, the clash between former US Open champion Sloane Stephens and reigning US Open champion Emma Raducanu is the blockbuster matchup of the day’s card. However, several factors could take away from this otherwise top-caliber contest. Stephens comes into the tournament short on match play while Raducanu is recovering from covid-19. Raducanu’s only match was a total evisceration by Kasatkina, 6-1, 6-0.
This match is scheduled to get underway in the late session on Margaret Court Arena, and it is the first meeting between Stephens and Raducanu. Given the uncertainty and serious fitness concerns, this could be a three-setter that goes any which way. Indeed, the tennis betting markets aren’t quite a pick’em, but close enough with Stephens priced at Even and Raducanu the slight favorite at -125.
- Picks: Three sets at +125 (Bet $100 to win $125)
Nikki Adams is a freelance sports writer that’s honed in on the world of sports betting. She joined OddsChecker in 2021 after having covered a number of major American sports, including NFL and NCAAF, for several other publications in the industry. When she’s not looking for the best betting angles and writing engaging and insightful articles, she’s likely on a tennis court or binging on reality TV.