The Australian Open enters the quarterfinals stage with the top half of the draw featuring World No. 1 Ashley Barty getting underway in Monday’s round of Australian Open betting. The bottom half of the draw, featuring Iga Swiatek, will get underway in Tuesday’s round of Australian Open betting with BetUS.
Tennis betting fans are in for scintillating showdowns Down Under as three Grand Slam champions are in the mix and looking to advance into the final four. So, who will win? We dive into the matchups and serve up some discerning thoughts along with choice picks.
Women’s Quarterfinals at Australian Open
Barbora Krejcikova vs Madison Keys
Monday, 8:30 p.m. ET
Barbora Krejcikova’s Australian Open sojourn is going better than most would have expected as she reaches yet another Grand Slam quarterfinal since stunning the world of tennis by winning a maiden title at the French Open last season. Krejcikova was previously known as a doubles specialist and not so much for her singles prowess.
The No. 4 seed crushed former Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to book her place in the last eight of the tournament. Through four matches, the Czech has dropped just one set – to Jelena Ostapenko in the third round before storming back from the set down to win 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.
Madison Keys is having a great summer Down Under. She came to Melbourne in fine form after putting together a 6-1 record. Keys reached the second round at the Gippsland Trophy tournament before winning the Adelaide International 2 (d. Alison Riske).
Unstoppable 💯@Madison_Keys is into the #AusOpen quarterfinals for the first time since 2018, taking down Paula Badosa 6-3 6-1. #AO2022 pic.twitter.com/dIGsi7zf5q
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2022
Keys received no favors from the draw as she opened her tournament against 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin. She took care of the American in two tight sets, 7-6 (2), 7-5. Most recently, Keys dismantled Spain’s promising, rising star Paula Badosa 6-3, 6-1.
Krejcikova and Keys set up a fascinating contest between two players with contrasting styles. It’s their first-ever meeting in singles. Krejcikova is a crafty player that relies on her guile and wit to win points. She’s consistent and solid and brings an all-round game that can counter Keys’ power game and big serve. On a good day, Keys might be able to blow Krejcikova off the court. However, it’s hard to look past Krejcikova, who thinks like a chess player and constructs points with purpose.
BetUS sportsbook favores Krejcikova at -125 to win, but Keys is a tempting and reasonable underdog at -105.
Pick: Barbara Krejcikova -125
Ashleigh Barty vs Jessica Pegula
Tuesday, 3 a.m. ET
World No.1 Ashleigh Barty carries the expectations of a nation that is hankering after a homegrown champion at the Australian Open. She’s come close before, but not close enough. Is this her year, finally?
Barty reached the final eight without dropping a set and just a handful of games. She went through her first two matches dropping just three games. Camila Giorgi was able to take five games off the Aussie in the third round, while American Amanda Anisimova took seven games off Barty. Thus far, Anisimova “pushed” Barty the most in the 6-4, 6-3 win by the Australian.
Next up for Barty is another American, Jessica Pegula. The 27-year-old advanced into the quarters after upsetting Maria Sakkari in the fourth round, 7-6 (0), 6-3. Since dropping a set in her first-round match, Pegula has made solid progress through the rounds.
This is the first meeting between Barty and Pegula, but according to the tennis odds, it’s a mismatch. Barty is the prohibitive favorite at -725 to win while Pegula is priced as the +525 underdog for the upset. Color the world shocked if Pegula pulls it off.
Pick: Ashleigh Barty -725
Danielle Collins vs Alize Cornet
Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET
American Danielle Collins is through to her second career Australian Open quarterfinal after a banner run Down Under a few years ago. Veteran Alize Cornet is through to her first Australian Open quarterfinals after previously coming close 13 years ago, only to lose to Russia’s Dinara Safina in the Round of 16.
Collins expended quite a bit of energy in her last two matches, going the distance to beat Clara Tauson and Elise Mertens. Both times, Collins was forced to come back from a set down. How much energy does she have left in the tank?
Cornet has been on a bit of a giant-killing spree Down Under. In the second round, the Frenchwoman took out early tournament favorite Garbine Muguruza in straight sets. In the previous round, she took out multiple Grand Slam champion Simona Halep in three sets. Arguably, it was one of the best matches of the tournament.
For some reason, bookmakers are tipping Collins as the -300 favorite and Cornet as the +250 underdog. Collins and Cornet are set to collide for the first time, so there is no head-to-head to underline this tennis betting market.
Both players are feisty, competitive and willing to grind out points if necessary. If there’s one thing that tips the scale toward Cornet, it’s that she might have a fitness advantage over Collins. In any event, this should be a tight match (possibly a three-setter) that could go either way. The value, though, surely has to be with Cornet.
Pick: Alize Cornet +250
Iga Swiatek vs Kaia Kanepi
Tuesday, 7 p.m. ET
Iga Swiatek was made to battle in the fourth round by Sorana Cirstea after dropping the first set. However, the 2020 French Open champion showed poise and regrouped admirably, coming through in the end with a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 win.
Cirstea proved to be Swiatek’s toughest matchup to date. Before the Round of 16, the Polish star sailed through the rounds without dropping a set or sweating it on games (she dropped no more than five games in the first three rounds).
Never count @KanepiKaia out 🙅♀️
At 36 years of age, world No.115 upsets world No.2 Aryna Sabalenka 5-7 6-2 7-6[7] to reach the #AusOpen quarterfinals for the very first time.#AO2022 pic.twitter.com/358aIfkf1R
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 24, 2022
Kaia Kanepis took out No. 2 seed Aryna Sabalenka in three sets. Sabalenka won the opening set, but the 36-year-old veteran came back in the second to push a third and deciding set. It was a tight contest in the decider, but the Estonian persevered over the Belarusian in a 10-point tiebreaker.
The big-hitting and serving Kanepis brings a power game that will test Swiatek’s athleticism and guile. The tennis market is cornered with Swiatek, but that’s a function of her higher ranking more than anything else. The pair have never met before and with Kanepi now playing with house money, she looms as the tempting underdog for the upset.
