Sport
Australian Open Quarter-Final preview: Can anyone stop Djokovic from claiming his 10th title?
The Australian Open has already seen upsets galore, but there is one man that holds firm even under the greatest adversity.
Novak Djokovic lines up his 22nd Grand Slam title, and it doesn’t look like anyone can stand in his way.
We preview the sensational Serb’s quarter-final against Andrey Rublev as well as one of the women’s frontrunners Aryna Sabalenka’s tie with Donna Vekic.
Novak Djokovic v Andrey Rublev
It could be a long day for Andrey Rublev if Novak Djokovic’s current form continues and looking at the way he demolished Alex De Minaur 3-0 in his fourth-round matchup, it is hard to see the Russian world number six having much to say about the nine-time Australian Open champion making it to another semi-final.
Djokovic has only dropped one set in this tournament so far, and even when he does, he wins the next one even more convincingly than the previous. Djokovic is the 1/7 favourite to emerge with the trophy in Australia, and as of yet, there hasn’t been any sign that his age is doing much to hamper his incredible strength, resilience and speed.
All being said, Rublev is a fantastic player and, on his day, will match Djokovic’s pace and power as well as his intelligence and ability to conjure a point or break out of nothing. It will be an interesting matchup and will likely offer Djokovic his toughest challenge of the tournament so far, though that was also said for his match with De Minaur.
Rublev is 9/2 to win here, though will probably struggle to make a dent in the Serb’s defence if he makes unforced errors and allows Djokovic to play his game. The pair have faced off three times in their careers with Djokovic taking two wins so there will certainly be a challenge for Djokovic but looking at the odds he will be able to overcome it.
For better value, it may be worth looking at statistical odds. For example, 2-2 after four games in each of the first three sets offers value at 18/5 and each player to serve 12 aces comes in at 4/1.
Truthfully it should be a routine win for Djokovic though Rublev will surely put up a fight and make it hard for the 22-time Grand Slam champion. It could go to a fifth set at 4/1, but at 15/8, a four-setter looks more likely.
Aryna Sabalenka v Donna Vekic
The highest remaining seed, Aryna Sabalenka, bids to make the first Australian Open semi-final of her career and standing in her way is the world number 64 and only second-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist Donna Vekic.
The two have had fantastic starts to their careers, both climbing the rankings and establishing themselves as top tennis players on the tour. Sabalenka, the world number five, has amassed 11 singles titles and looks increasingly likely to claim her first Grand Slam at 21/10.
It will be a tough game for the 1/4 favourite, however, as the slightly older Vekic has won five of the six clashes between the two, and it is sure that the previous meetings will be playing on the minds of the players.
If current form is anything to go by then, Sabalenka will take the edge in this one with her incredible tournament so far, seeing her drop zero sets. Vekic, on the other hand, has twice lost the second set of the match and, in her last match, lost it almost to love, with her opponent claiming it 6-1.
It is likely we will witness a close match and one that will almost certainly go the distance as both players will back their chances of advancing for different reasons. Vekic is 9/4 to win the first set, with the match 5/2 to finish 2-1 to Sabalenka.
If you like to bet on statistics, this one will be a good choice as the two players can be very volatile with their serves, one minute pulling out ace after ace and the next serving consecutive double faults.
Each player to register over five aces comes in at 11/2, offering great value, and Sabalenka, over eight double faults, with Vekic making over four double faults, is a solid 7/2.
