Australian Open Odds – Without Sharapova, Williams sisters an easy pick
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Australian Open sportsbook odds: If Williams’ focus, the tournament is theirs
- Defending champion Maria Sharapova is injured
- Williams sisters favorites to win
- Dinara Safina looks to carry over 2008 momentum
The tennis betting season kicks off in a big way as the Australian Open arrives Monday, January 19.
Australian Open betting was shifted significantly earlier this week as defending champ Maria Sharapova pulled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. Now the Australian Open lines favor Serena Williams (+275) and her sister Venus Williams (+450) as the two top candidates for the first tennis Grand Slam of the year.
As most tennis betting handicappers know, the sport has become very top heavy on both the men’s and women’s circuits.
On the women’s side, there are really only a handful of players capable of winning this tournament, and the oddsmakers seem to agree. Aside from the Williams sisters, only Jelena Jankovic (+600) and Ana Ivanovic (+900), Dinara Safina (+1100) and Elena Dementieva (+1400) are below the +3300 threshold.
The two Serbians are worth keeping an eye on for Australian Open betting. Both are capable of winning and both for different reasons.
Ivanovic is the apple of everyone’s eye and she has, in fact, broken through with a Grand Slam win, capturing the 2008 French Open. But she has been wildly inconsistent in other tournaments; Ivanovic lost in the finals of the 2008 Aussie Open and won the French, but she was also upset unexpectedly prior to the fourth round in both Wimbledon and at the US Open.
Her country mate, Jelena Jankovic, has yet to win a Grand Slam but she’s been inching closer. Prior to 2008 she had reached the semifinals only twice in her Grand Slam career. Last year alone she made the semifinals in three of the four Slams and played in the U.S. Open finals.
The Russian contingent is represented by Dementieva and Safina, but only one is a real threat for Australian Open odds. Dementieva seems to creep her way through the Grand Slams but she’s never strong enough to beat the elite women. Meanwhile, Safina might be one to keep an eye on for tennis betting this year. She had a stellar 2008 campaign as she reached the U.S. Open semifinals, French Open finals and won a silver medal at the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Safina has never passed the third round at the Aussie Open, though, which means that investing in her – even though the tennis odds of +1100 are enticing – is always risky.
The Williams sisters are both the odds-on favorite to dominate this tournament as evidenced by the sportsbook lines. The only thing stopping them is themselves. As long as they are motivated, both should make the Australian Open finals.
BRADEN’S PICK: Bet both Serena (+275) and Venus (+400) to win and you’ll come out profitable if either of them wins.
For more analysis on sports betting and the 2009 Australian Open odds, visit the Betting Edge for all of Braden Bayley’s articles.
Braden Bayley could whip you on the court, and he could do it with his picks, too. He has no patience for other sports ? it’s tennis, tennis, tennis for the Englishman. So, for everything tennis handicapping, keep reading Braden’s BetOnline.com articles. Thoughts or questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
