US Open Women's Betting: Azarenka to storm past Vesnina

"The Belarusian is undoubtedly still working her way back to top form and fitness, but her winning pedigree hasn’t left her and she is showing signs of getting back to somewhere near her best."

The third round concludes on Saturday but with more top seeds crashing out of the tournament, Abelson Info take a closer look at the remaining pack...

Friday produced its fair share of upsets with Simona Halep, Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams all losing much earlier than expected.

Add that to the top seeds that we have already lost and suddenly the field is becoming a little more interesting, with a realistic prospect of seeing a surprise package emerge in the quarter-finals.

Nevertheless, world number one Serena Williams will be in no mood to join those big names on their way home, as she looks ahead to her next test against Varvara Lepchenko.

The top seed has coasted through her opening two matches, dropping just one game last time out against Vania King, and she now faces another fellow American en route to defending her crown.

The two-time defending champion is a huge favourite to emerge from her quarter of the draw, and with her only real test expected in the semi-finals, she will be hoping to continue to do a professional job against inferior opposition.

She has won both her previous meetings with Lepchenko with minimal fuss, and we envisage this encounter going the same way so the games market is worth investigation.

Elsewhere, Victoria Azarenka continues on her comeback trail as after struggling in the opening round, she produced a solid performance to overcome Christina McHale.

The Belarusian is undoubtedly still working her way back to top form and fitness, but her winning pedigree hasn't left her and she is showing signs of getting back to somewhere near her best.

Having made the final in New York last year, she will be desperate to produce a repeat performance, but while it will get tougher soon enough, she will be confident of her chances against Elena Vesnina.

Azarenka has won all five of their previous meetings, the last two at Grand Slams last year, and perhaps the most telling statistic of all is that all five victories have come in straight sets.

This isn't a vintage version of Azarenka, but she clearly has the beating of her rival and as she continues to display signs of improvement, back her to get the job done.

Meanwhile, we expect Flavia Pennetta to also come through in straight sets against American youngster Nicole Gibbs, particularly as the latter has already come through back-to-back gruelling three-set matches.

The Italian will be the fresher of the two and she can use her experience to get the better of her opponent which will result in a favourable looking fourth round clash against either Casey Dellacqua or Karolina Pliskova.

Following Pennetta into the fourth round will be Eugenie Bouchard, as the Canadian ace continues to show an ability to produce her best at the majors.

Despite struggling in the build up to this tournament, the world number eight is back doing what she does best, winning matches.

Recommended Bets:
Back Under 16.5 Games in Williams-Lepchenko @ 1.9520/21
Back Azarenka to beat Vesnina 2-0 @ 1.75/7
Back Bouchard to beat Strycova 2-0 @ 2.186/5

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US Open Women's Final: Williams to win but Azarenka to fight hard

"We can envisage Azarenka taking seven or eight games and that immediately directs our attention to the Azarenka handicap markets for total games.

Selection: Azarenka +5.5 Games @ 2.01/1

Serena Williams is a hot favourite to win the Women's US Open later tonight but what does Abelson Info rates as the best bet of the game?

Victoria Azarenka (1) 5.39/2 v Serena Williams (4) 1.232/9
H-to-H 1-9

You will rarely find a Grand Slam final with such a short priced favourite as we have here. Serena has been in scintillating form all tournament and it will take more than a mere mortal to stop her.

Azarenka may have the number one seeding next to her name but we all know Serena is the real number one player in the world. Add in a crushing head to head record in favour of Williams and you will struggle to see much hope for Azarenka. There is just a little however as Serena has once or twice under performed in finals and has been known to get a little nervy with the finish line in sight. We are not saying Azarenka will win but she may well take more games off the American than most.

We can envisage Azarenka taking seven or eight games and that immediately directs our attention to the Azarenka handicap markets for total games. Azarenka +4.5 is tempting but the better bet is Azarenka +5.5 games.

Selection: Azarenka +5.5 Games @ 2.01/1

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Indian Wells Betting: Azarenka to keep the winning streak going

Events / Guy McCrea / 08 March 2012 / Leave a Comment

Victoria Azarenka has become mentally and physically stronger and is starting to manage her workload better

"Throughout her Australian Open title run, Azarenka exhibited emotional stability she had never shown before at the Slams – even when she got understandably nervous during her semi-final win over defending champion Kim Clijsters."

She's the Australian Open champion, the new World Number One and is on an unbeaten run spanning 17 matches. But what is it that's all of a sudden clicked in Victoria Azarenka's game that's made her the one to beat, asks Guy McCrea.

Seventeen straight match wins. Three titles, including a first Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open. World number one for the first time. It's definitely been the stuff of dreams so far in 2012 for Victoria Azarenka, currently priced around 2.98 favourite on Betfair to win the BNP Paribas Open.

Assessing Azarenka's rise, I like to think back to almost a year ago in Miami. There, Azarenka ripped through a slew of top names to lift her second Sony Ericsson Open title. Entry to the top 5 for the first time and then a maiden Grand Slam semi-final appearance at Wimbledon soon followed. Azarenka later ended her 2011 season with a runner-up finish at the year-end WTA Championships.

My point is that these first couple of months of 2012 - particularly her maiden major title in Melbourne - are simply the culmination of what was likely for some time. And thanks largely to that Grand Slam success, Azarenka already holds a greater acceptance of her status from most general tennis followers than Caroline Wozniacki ever did during her 67 week stay at the WTA summit.

For me, the key factor behind Azarenka's rise is that she is just so much more mentally strong than in the past, when she would often implode and lose matches that should have been won. Throughout her Australian Open title run, Azarenka exhibited emotional stability she had never shown before at the Slams - even when she got understandably nervous during her semi-final win over defending champion Kim Clijsters.

There have also been a couple of key changes in Azarenka's game. She has markedly improved her movement around the court and also hits her groundstrokes with much greater margin now than earlier in her career. Azarenka does still have weapons - her first serve and backhand can be extremely potent - but these changes have allowed her to fully prosper, particularly on the slow hardcourt surfaces which dominate modern professional tennis.

Add to this Azarenka's improved fitness record and you understand why she's reached the top. The Belarusian is clearly stronger and there is also evidence that she and her team are looking to better manage the demands of her playing schedule. Remember, this is a player who retired hurt from almost a third of the tournaments she played during the 2010 season.

Azarenka's withdrawal from Dubai two weeks ago is a good example. Fresh off winning the title in Doha, where she picked up an ankle knock - Azarenka decided she wasn't fit enough to go straight into playing another event the following week. In the past Azarenka's record suggests she may well have played, would have then struggled through a match or two before pulling out, having aggravated the problem.

Now fully fit again and still full of confidence, Azarenka is out to continue her winning streak at Indian Wells, one of the sport's most prestigious events. It is tough to bet against Azarenka on current form. After an opening round bye, she is unlikely to have too much trouble with Mona Barthel in their second round clash. The German is also a young woman on the rise, but she isn't good enough yet to entertain the upset. It has to be Azarenka [1.32] in straight sets.

Beyond that, it is true the world number one is still to show that she can consistently beat her good friend Caroline Wozniacki [11.5] and Petra Kvitova [5.4]. Both have had Azarenka's number in the past - not least Kvitova who beat the Belarusian three times in 2011, including at the WTA Championships final.

But far from being fearful of the prospect, I think Azarenka would fancy the challenge of playing one, or both of them should they meet in the latter stages in California. Kvitova hasn't played since reaching the Australian Open semi-finals and also hasn't proven yet that she can play her best tennis on American hardcourts. There is huge pressure too on Wozniacki, who is defending champion in Indian Wells. The Dane could crash out of the WTA top 5 for the first time since September 2009 if she can't produce another deep run in the desert.

Outside of those two, it is tough to see who else can really challenge Azarenka - especially in the absence of both Kim Clijsters and Serena Williams. Along with her sister Venus, the American has boycotted Indian Wells every year since a controversial incident back in 2001.

Maria Sharapova [7.0] is in decent form, but Azarenka thrashed the Russian in the Australian Open final and thrives in their match-up. There is also Agnieszka Radwanska [13.0] who Azarenka could meet in the quarter finals. The Pole has enjoyed an excellent past six months on the WTA, most recently winning in Dubai to crack the WTA top 5 for the first time. But tellingly, all her three losses so far in 2012 have come at the hands of Azarenka.

Who knows how long she can keep her streak going? But for the moment at least, everything points to a fourth straight WTA title of 2012 for Azarenka next weekend.

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