Tennis tipster Gavin Mair suggests three interesting bets for the Australian Open women’s singles in Melbourne, with the draw offering both opportunities and challenges for the top seeds.
Key Bets:
- Former champion Osaka at 25/1 – A value bet for the Japanese player making a comeback.
- Take on Elena Rybakina with Paolini at 4/1 – Rybakina’s recent form and off-court distractions leave room for upset.
- Back Iga Swiatek to reach the final at 21/10 – A favorable draw and current form make Swiatek a strong contender.
Breakdown of the Draw:
- Top Seeds: Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek will both be content with their draws. Sabalenka is aiming for a third consecutive title in Melbourne, while Swiatek will be looking for at least a semi-final finish in her manageable fourth quarter.
- Coco Gauff: Gauff has had an impressive start to 2025 and is a solid contender for a deep run. After an unbeaten run in the United Cup, including wins over Karolina Muchova and Iga Swiatek, Gauff’s semi-final chances are promising.
- Naomi Osaka: After returning to form in Auckland, Osaka impressed before retiring in the final. At 25/1, she’s a great outside bet to make a run at the title, offering strong value compared to other contenders outside the top five.
- Elena Rybakina: Rybakina is the favorite in her quarter at 11/8, but persistent health issues and off-court drama have impacted her preparations. Paolini (4/1) could take advantage of this. Paolini had an impressive 2024 season, including a WTA Finals win over Rybakina, making her a strong contender in this quarter.
- Iga Swiatek: Swiatek is likely one of the biggest beneficiaries of this draw. With a solid attacking approach under coach Wim Fissette, Swiatek is well-positioned for a deep run and looks like a good bet at 21/10 to reach the final.
Other Notable Players:
- Sabalenka vs Zheng: The potential re-match of the 2024 final, with Sabalenka likely to come out on top given her dominant record against Zheng in their past meetings.
- Mirra Andreeva (15/2): A young rising star with Grand Slam semi-final experience. She’s one to watch for the future.
- Marketa Vondrousova (20/1): While Vondrousova has the talent to win on her day, recent injury concerns make her a more uncertain pick.
