Elena Rybakina and Victoria Azarenka set up a blockbuster semifinal showdown of former Grand Slam champions at the Australian Open.
Rybakina won her maiden title in 2022 at the Wimbledon Championships. Azarenka won both of her Slam titles Down Under, but those triumphs are now a decade old.
Will Rybakina advance into her second Grand Slam final? Or will Azarenka at the age of 33 advances into her third Australian Open final.
The tennis betting markets are cornered with the 23-year-old Kazakh, priced at -210 to win on the moneyline. But Azarenka’s story tugs at the heartstrings. It is one of inspiration, a tale of overcoming trial and tribulation to reach the summit of the game in the autumn of her tennis career. Sentimentalists will be tempted to back her as the +175 underdog.
The games handicap is projected to 3½ games while the total is set to 22 with over juiced to -105 and the under juiced to -115.
Where are the best bets to be had? On the moneyline? Games handicap? Or total? Find out as we weigh in on this Australian Open quarterfinal match between Rybakina vs Azarenka, examine the latest tennis odds, and key storylines, and serve up choice tennis picks for your consideration.
Let’s check the latest Tennis news, stats, injury reports, and Tennis lines for Rybakina vs Azarenka. We’ve got plenty of Tennis picks for you to consider.
2023 Australian Open Women’s Outrights
- Elena Rybakina +125
- Aryna Sabalenka +220
- Victoria Azarenka +400
- Karolina Pliskova +900
- Donna Vekic +1100
- Magda Linette +1800
Rybakina the Player to Beat
With one-half of the semifinal round decided, Rybakina scales the Australian Open futures market as the player to beat. She is priced at +125 to lift the title Down Under. It remains to be seen whether she will remain at the top of the tennis odds board at the close of Day 10, after the bottom half of the draw that includes in-form Aryna Sabalenka wraps up the quarterfinal stage.
Azarenka is currently the fourth-best bet at +900 to win the title – odds that are 7.2 times greater than Rybakina. If nothing else, it gives bettors an idea of the probability of her pulling through in the eyes of the market. But is it going to be an uphill battle? Keep in mind, Azarenka was the 2020 US Open finalist, losing to Naomi Osaka 1-6, 6-3. 6-3. She may have another championship in her yet.
Rybakina Path to Semis
Rybakina improved to 5-0 in Melbourne Park following a straight-set 6-2, 6-4 win over dangerous floater Jelena Ostapenko.
The 2022 Wimbledon champion underscored her championship credentials behind a solid serving display, winning 74% of her first-serve points and hitting 11 aces. Importantly, she saved four of six break points against her and broke Ostapenko on seven of eight chances.
Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina beats the world number 1 and title favorite Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-4 to reach the #AusOpen quarterfinals.
Elena is looking in Grand Slam winning form.
Iga never really looked like herself this week. Draw didn’t help. pic.twitter.com/Koo7kDHpzG
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) January 22, 2023
Azarenka in Final Four
Azarenka’s path to the semifinal was littered with stumbling blocks, none greater than No. 3 seed Jessica Pegula in the quarterfinal. Azarenka defeated the highly fancied American in straight sets, 6-4, 6-1 in arguably her most convincing match of the tournament.
The Belarusian served at 65%, hit three aces and defended two of four break points while converting on five of 13 break-point opportunities. She was relentless, and aggressive when she needed to be and worked the points to her advantage. Winning the first set was huge for Azarenka as she raised her level in the second set while Pegula ran out of ideas.
VICTORIA AZARENKA YOU WILL ALWAYS BE FAMOUS pic.twitter.com/fwCgg6NFqz
— T🌴 (@tennisispain) January 24, 2023
Rybakina vs Azarenka Head-to-Head
The pair have met once previously, in the R32 at the 2022 Indian Wells. Rybakina defeated Azarenka 6-3, 6-4.
Rybakina vs Azarenka Picks & Prediction
There is no question that both Rybakina and Azarenka are in good form and brimming with confidence after convincing quarterfinal-round wins. But at this point in the tournament, mental fortitude is key.
Rybakina has the confidence of a recent championship to lean on, over and above her positive run Down Under. As such, she is widely expected to come through against Azarenka.
The 33-year-old Belarusian’s sepia-toned memories of her 2012 and 2013 Australian Open titles are probably too far off to be a source of immediate inspiration. However, she battled against top opponents to make it this far and one can’t dismiss her for that reason alone.
The odds and predictions in the article are based on the time of writing and publication. They may differ as to when the actual event takes place.
