Tennis Betting: Our traders say back Djokovic to end Federer's miracle run

A Barty v S Kenin – #WhatOddsPaddy: Barty Breaks serve first, wins the first set & wins the match @ Evens

Thursday morning, 3am

The home favourite has come through some tough matches in convincing fashion. In the previous round, she beat big-hitting Czech Petra Kvitova. She leads the head to head against Kenin 4-1. Kenin’s only win came on the hard courts of Canada in a close three-set encounter. The match could go to three again with Kenin also in fine form.

Barty has more breaks of serve this tournament than her opponent with 23. Kenin has had a relatively easier run to the semis with Barty being the first seeded opponent that she will face. She’s played very well so far. It remains to be seen if the pressure to have a home champion will plague Barty the same way it did Murray for years. It doesn’t appear that the pressure has gotten to the French Open champion so far. Expect Barty to get the win here.

The Australian Open odds on Paddypower.com are, err, bonzer

S Halep v G Muguruza – Set betting: Muguruza 2-1 @ 7/2

Thursday morning, 4.30am

Muguruza has been quiet in the Grand Slams lately with this being her first Slam Semi on hard court and first semi in any Slam since the French Open 2018. The Venuzuelan born Spaniard has been candid about her poor results in the hard court slams and cited it as something she wanted to improve on. Back with super coach Conchita Martinez who helped to her 2017 Wimbledon title, it’s clear Muguruza has benefitted from the change in backroom staff. She’s been playing exceptionally well, crushing 5th seed Svitolina along the way.

Halep has been playing well too. The question is whether or not she has been tested enough to deal with the power of Muguruza. The Romanian is yet to drop a set in the tournament. Despite this she has failed to beat Muguruza on hard courts and trails in their H2H 3-2 overall.

Aug 7, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a shot against Mirza Basic of Bosnia and Herzegovina (not shown) in the Rogers Cup tennis tournament at Aviva Centre. Mandatory Credit: Dan Hamilton-USA TODAY Sports

Roger Federer v Novak Djokovic – Djokovic Set Betting 3-1 @ 12/5

Thursday morning, 8.30am

Federer has had the much tougher route to the Semis than Djokovic. The Serb’s only blip came in the first round against Struff. Since then he’s been in imperious form. Players that were expected to test him were ruthlessly dispatched. Roger Houdini Federer, however, is fresh off saving seven match points against Tennys Sandgren. Yep his name is Tennys (he apparently uses a different name in Starbucks, can’t blame him).

Federer also battled a groin injury with his movement and service being greatly impacted in the second and third set. It’s unlikely Federer will be able to pull another rabbit out of the hat with Djokovic being too good lately. We all know what happened the last time they played best of five. Djokovic pulled off a victory saving two match points in a thrilling encounter for the Wimbledon title. While he did get the win in their most recent matchup, the last time he beat him in a five-set match was in the 2012 Wimbledon semi-final.

Federer believes in miracles however it’ll be a miracle if he gets more than a set here. Two miracles in one tournament? How lucky can one man get?