WTA Australian Open Odds: Barty, Osaka, Keys, and Sakkari Headline
WTA Australian Open Odds: Barty, Osaka, Keys, and Sakkari Headline
The second round of the Australian Open gets underway today with a veritable smorgasbord of stellar matchups in the women’s top half of the draw. The night session will feature Naomi Osaka and US Open finalist Maria Sakkari as the pair look to reach the third round. Elsewhere, in the day session, American Madison Keys, World No.1 Ashleigh Barty, and gold medalist Belinda Bencic look to continue the momentum Down Under and book their spots in the third round.
Join us as we preview these matchups and serve up tennis picks to spot.
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Ashleigh Barty vs Lucia Bronzetti
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty comes into the Australian Open in fine form. She took less than an hour to dispatch Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-1. It was a comprehensive win that underscores Barty’s firm odds to win her first Australian Open and third grand slam title. Lucia Bronzetti shocked Varvara Gracheva 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 in the first round in Melbourne. This will be the first meeting between the pair, but the oddsmakers appear confident – as do many tennis bettors – of a Barty win. Barty is an astronomical -6000 to win and, even, a straight-sets win is priced at -1200.
- Pick: Over 16.5 (-110) total games (2-way) (Bet $110 to win $100)
Madison Keys vs Jacqueline Cristian
Madison Keys extended her solid form on the season with a hard-fought win over former Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. Keys beat Kenin 7-6 (2), 7-5 to clinch her sixth straight win after winning the title in Adelaide last week. Next up is Italian Jacqueline Cristian, who improved to 2-2 on the season after beating Greet Minnen 7-5, 6-4. This could be a more competitive match than the odds would have it given Cristian’s prowess in doubles. Keys should win, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it went the distance.
- Pick: Keys to win in three sets +300 (Bet $100 to win $300)
Belinda Bencic vs Anastasia Anisimova
This clash between Belinda Bencic and Anastasia Anisimova is one of the most anticipated matches of the second round. Bencic is coming off a solid 2021 campaign during which she won the gold medal in Tokyo. Oddsmakers give Bencic the slight edge, a market outlook that is underscored by a 1-0 head-to-head edge over the American. Bencic beat Anisimova three years ago in Mallorca 6-2, 6-2.
That said, Anisimova comes into the Australian Open undefeated with a 5-0 record on the season after clinching the Gippsland trophy. She clinched her sixth-straight win in the first round of the Australian Open, but she needed three sets to dispatch Arianne Hartono.
For all intents and purposes, this is a right tossup for tennis picks. Bencic strikes a convincing pose as the -163 favorite to win, while Anisimova is a tempting underdog bet at + 130. A three-sets win irrespective of the winner might be the best way to approach this match, with odds of +137 at bet365.
- Pick: Three sets +137 (Bet $100 to win $137)
Madison Brengle vs Naomi Osaka
Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka goes into the second round as the firm favorite, but she faces an opponent she’s yet to beat. American Madison Brengle owns the only meeting between the pair but that match dates back to 2013 when the pair were teenagers honing their craft, respectively. This is the first WTA Tour-level meeting, and both come into the second round with a measure of confidence. Osaka won her opener comfortably while Brengle had to battle Dayana Yastremska in three sets.
Brengle is a fierce competitor, and she’ll give Osaka a good run for her money, but the Japanese to win in straight sets is the bet here.
- Pick: Osaka in straight sets -275 (Bet $275 to win $100)
Qinwen Zheng vs Maria Sakkari
Qinwen Zheng had to go the distance against Aliaksandra Sasnovich in the first round. Her reward: a second-round clash against Maria Sakkari, who reached the US Open final last year. Sakkari’s preparations for the Australian Open weren’t the best, something she’s admitted herself. She went 1-1 in Adelaide where she beat Tamara Zidansek in three sets before losing to Shelby Rogers in three sets.
This will be the first meeting between Sakkari and Zheng. Books are tipping the match in favor of Sakkari, but this might be more of a tossup than the odds would have it, especially if Sakkari’s confidence isn’t where it should be.
- Pick: Three sets +175 (Bet $100 to win $175)
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.