Women’s Australian Open: Sabalenka 5/4 favourite for maiden grand slam
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Women’s Australian Open odds: Rybakina 6/4 to win Down Under
Aryna Sabalenka is the new 5/4 favourite in the women’s Australian Open odds after reaching a fourth grand slam semi-final with an impressive victory over Donna Vekic.
The Belarusian has yet to drop a set following a 6-3 6-2 quarter-final success and next faces surprise package Magda Linette for the chance to win a maiden major.
We’re looking at the four remaining players and their prospects in the semi-finals and you can click on the link for the latest men’s Australian Open odds.
Aryna Sabalenka
Age: 24
Grand slams: 0
The serving yips that cursed Sabalenka’s 2022 season, during which she produced a mammoth 480 double faults, seem to be a thing of the past and she is now the favourite for success Down Under.
She ended 2022 losing to Garcia in the end-of-season WTA Finals and started 2023 with an 11th career title in Adelaide, form which has continued in Melbourne.
Sabalenka hit 38 winners against Croatian Vekic and has now set her sights on a maiden grand slam title having lost all three previous semi-finals.
She said: “I feel a little bit different. I think that I lost those three semi-finals just because I wasn’t really calm on court. I was overdoing things. I really wanted to get this slam. I was rushing a lot. I was nervous a lot. Screaming, doing all this stuff.
“Right now I’m a little bit more calm on court. I think I really believe that this is the only thing that was missing in my game.”
Chances: Won both previous encounters with Linette comfortably, so a place in the final looks on the cards.
Elena Rybakina
Age: 23
Grand slams: 1
Rybakina’s decision to switch allegiance from Russia to Kazakhstan in 2018 is certainly paying dividends as she stands on the cusp of a second grand slam final in just over six months.
The 23-year-old Muscovite has dropped just one set over the course of the fortnight and next faces two-time champion Azarenka, a player she beat 6-3 6-4 in Indian Wells last year in their only previous meeting.
Rybakina was a surprise champion at the All England Club but it would not be a shock if she ended the fortnight lifting the trophy here, particularly with the conditions favouring flat hitters.
She said: “I think of course I got all the experience at Wimbledon and it’s helping me now this time here in Australia and I know what to expect. I already did it once and of course I got confident that I can do it again. I did really good preparation with the team. I’m not really surprised with the results. I’m happy. I’m just hungry to work and improve more.”
Chances: Rybakina was 16/1 before her clash with Swiatek, but now finds herself in the position of second favourite.
Victoria Azarenka
Age: 33
Grand slams: 2
The Belarusian is rolling back the years and remains on course to win the tournament for a third time following back-to-back successes in 2012 and 2013.
Making every step count 💯@Infosys • #FindYourNext • #AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/lxn0nLl5yb
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2023
Azarenka proved too strong for quarter-final opponent Jessica Pegula, who had become the tournament favourite once Swiatek fell in the fourth round.
Chances: Two potentially tough matches against Rybakina and Sabalenka await, but her form and fitness are holding up.
Magda Linette
Age: 30
Grand slams: 0
The 30-year-old Pole is enjoying her best ever run at a grand slam and before this month had never been in the fourth round of a major.
SEMIFINAL🔥🔥🔥#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/ahVU0bqAHV
— Magda Linette (@MagdaLinette) January 25, 2023
Linette will break into the world’s top 30 for the first time when the new rankings are released on Monday after an impressive run in Melbourne which has seen her drop just one set following a 6-3 7-5 quarter-final victory over Karolina Pliskova.
Despite having won just two titles in a 13-year career, Linette has beaten three top-20 players over the fortnight, including a last-eight win against WTA Finals champion Caroline Garcia.
Asked how she was able to stay so in control, Linette said: “I don’t know. Maybe I still don’t really believe it. Just I think also I had so much experience on those big courts before, because almost every grand slam I ended up on a big court one way or another. I played so many big players already.”
Chances: Has never beaten in-form Sabalenka, so has a tough task on her hands to reach the final
All odds and markets correct as of date of publication
