The women’s semi-finals of the Australian Open take place on Thursday morning, with Aryna Sabalenka now looking the one to beat following her win over Belinda Bencic in the quarter-final.
Her match against Magda Linette is part of our double here, which can be backed at 10/1.
Australian Open Thursday Tips
Aryna Sabalenka to beat Magda Linette 2-1 @ 3/1
Victoria Azarenka to win @ 7/4
Aryna Sabalenka to beat Magda Linette 2-1 @ 3/1
Sabalenka is by some distance the highest-ranked player left in the women’s singles draw.
The Belarusian entered the tournament as the number five seed, with Elena Rybakina next in line at 22.
The draw has undoubtedly opened up nicely for her, and if you offered her an unseeded player in the semi-finals at the start of the tournament, she probably would have accepted it.
However, that is not to say that Linette will be a soft touch. The Pole has been outstanding in getting to her first-ever Grand Slam semi-final, and she will hope to make more history.
The 30-year-old has dropped only one set en route to the last four, and that was back in round two against 16 seed Anett Kontaveitt of Estonia.
Her performances have seen off some big names, including number four seed Caroline Garcia.
However, Sabalenka has cruised through to the semis without even dropping a set and looks in great shape to claim what would be a first-ever singles Slam title following three previous semis.
She arrived at the tournament having won the warm-up Adelaide International, beating Linda Noskova in straight sets. That recent winning experience should stand her in good stead, despite Linette’s excellent displays.
Victoria Azarenka to win @ 7/4
Two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka is hoping to make it a hat-trick, and she is two games away from glory.
The Belarusian has not won at Melbourne Park since 2013 and is regarded to be past her best years.
However, she has displayed some excellence over the past week and a half and could be set to roll back the years.
Azarenka dismantled Jessica Pegula 6-4 6-1 in the last-eight stage, and despite being well into her 30s, she has shown great energy on the court.
Only one set has been lost by her through the whole tournament and now she faces Kazakh star Elena Rybakina.
The defending Wimbledon winner beat number one seed Iga Swiatek in straight sets in round four and will enter this game as the favourite.
Yet Azarenka’s record in this tournament cannot be discounted and she will be full of confidence heading into this game, which is likely to be very close.
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