While Novak Djokovic has been dominating the male tennis world Serena Williams has been equally as dominant in the female side of the game and she will be looking to defend the first Grand Slam title of the year when the Australian Open gets underway on Monday.
Serena was two wins from the Serena Slam last year but Roberta Vinci hadn’t read that particular script but the American legend hasn’t been seen since losing that semi-final in New York.
She returns from injury in this tournament and does so as the 3/1 favourite to win the title. It could be that in two weeks time we look back on that as a massive price but if she is to come back and win a major title immediately she may well need to overcome a number of tough obstacles.
Camila Giorgi is first up for Serena and while you would expect her to come through that there were far easier first round draws that she could have had. After that it gets no easier. Caroline Wozniacki is a potential last 16 opponent and Maria Sharapova could await in the quarter final so Serena has a tough draw in this tournament.
With Serena’s fitness an unknown the women’s event does look very open this year but even though she’s not played in five months there is something about taking Serena on which makes me uneasy so I’m going to overlook the likes of Agnieszka Radwanska, Petra Kvitova and Sam Stosur in the second quarter and move to the bottom quarter for some outright interest.
Victoria Azarenka is twice a winner of this tournament and she looked back to her very best when she stormed the Brisbane International recently, winning the event without losing more than three games in any set along the way. Azarenka looked to be hitting the ball as well as ever in that competition and she arrives in Melbourne a leading chance for a third title.
Azarenka will need to be at her best here because there are a number of challenges in her way between the first round and the final but one thing we know about the Belarussian is that she has no quit in her and when the pressure cranks up, unlike some women she doesn’t melt which is important. At 4/1 I think she’s well worth investing in for a third title.
Azarenka is in the third quarter but there is someone in the fourth quarter who looks overpriced and that is the back to form Venus Williams.
Venus was beaten in an excellent quarter final by her sister in the US Open last year but she won two titles after that and has risen back into the top 10 in the world rankings in the twilight of her career.
Although Simona Halep and one or two others have the potential to be dangerous I’m sure Venus will be glad that she’ll go nowhere near her sister until at least the final and if she can get past Jo Konta in the first round and build up a head of steam she could play herself into a position to take advantage should the bottom half open up.
Back V.Azarenka to win Women’s Australian Open for a 3/10 stake at 5.00 with Boylesports
Back V.Williams to win Women’s Australian Open (e/w) for a 1/10 stake at 67.00 with Paddy Power (1/2 1-2)
