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Victoria Azarenka v Elina Svitolina – Set Betting: Azarenka to win 2-1
- Estimated start time: From midnight Friday
- TV: Amazon Prime Video
This is the pick of the third round matches in the ladies draw. We have two veterans of the game battling it out to get into the business end of the Australian Open. The Belarussian Azarenka has come through her opening two matches relatively unscathed and will be ready and willing to give her Ukrainian opponent the same treatment.
These two have played four times over the years and Svitolina will have to break her opposition for the first time in her career if she wants to progress. She has had two tough enough battles to get here, after coming through a tight two sets in Round 1 and then going all the way to three sets in her last match.
Consequently, with the form in her favour, Azarenka has been installed heavy favourite, but her opponent loves a battle and I think this match will go the distance. Azarenka will prevail in the end, though.
Carlos Alcaraz v Matteo Berrettini – Set Betting: Berrettini to win 3-1
- Estimated start time: From 4am Friday
- TV: Amazon Prime Video
It’s Spain v Italy here in what will be their second meeting. Carlos Alcaraz won at the death 7-6 in the final set on an indoor hard court late last year, and he’s been in impeccable form of late. But, aged just 18, he’s yet to get much Grand Slam experience under his belt.
Matteo Berrettini, on the other hand, has solidified his status as one of the top and most formidable players on the tour, and after reaching the Wimbledon final in July that Grand Slam experience is definitely on his side.
Berrettini has been carrying a niggling injury and that’s why Alcaraz has been installed favourite here, but in his latest interview at Melbourne he said he has fully recovered and will be ready for this third round affair. At the price on offer, he’s the value selection.
Karen Khachanov v Rafael Nadal – Set Betting: Nadal to win 3-1
- Estimated start time: From 10am Friday
- TV: Amazon Prime Video
Both men have breezed through their opening encounters with relative ease to reach the third round and set up what will be their ninth encounter. The last time they played was in 2019 and Nadal leads the head-to-head 8-0.
I would be shocked if it didn’t go 9-0 here.
The Spaniard has been in scintillating form since coming to Australia, which was surprising given he missed Wimbledon and the U.S. Open in 2021 due to injury. Khachanov has improved leaps and bounds since their last encounter and can give Rafa a bit of a game here and push him enough to win a set.
Australian Open tips
Friday’s trader tips
Victoria Azarenka v Elina Svitolina – Set Betting: Azarenka to win 2-1
Carlos Alcaraz v Matteo Berrettini – Set Betting: Berrettini to win 3-1
Karen Khachanov v Rafael Nadal – Set Betting: Nadal to win 3-1
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