Brits star in second round of Australian Open betting
Published:British tennis is in a right state at the moment so we should make the most of Elena Baltacha and Anne Keothavong’s advance to the second round of the Australian Open.
Baltacha’s reward for advancing is a tie with the 9/2 second favourite to win the Australian Open, Justin Henin.
Henin has only played one tournament – the Hopman Cup which doesn’t count as a ranking tournament – since crashing out of Wimbledon in the fourth round last year, and Baltacha needs to take advantage of Henin’s lack of match fitness.
Henin had to come from a set down in her opening match and at 1/25 to beat Baltacha, may be overpriced for punters wishing to have a bet on the match, but the world number 13 is 15/2 to lose the first set and still win the match.
At 8/1 to win, Baltacha offers punters more in the match betting market and should Baltacha play to her best and catch Henin short of fitness, the 14/1 for Baltacha to win 2-1 looks the best bet.
Anne Keothavong is also in action tonight and faces a similarly tough tie with Andrea Petkovic who is 1/8 in the Australian Open betting to beat the Briton.
The two met as recently as October when Petrovic ran out a comfortable 6-0 6-3 winner and the German is 2/5 to complete another straight sets victory, although hopefully Keothavong can continue the strong British form.
Maria Sharapova also resumes her Australian Open challenge tonight and she is 4/1 to beat Virginie Razzano in the Australian Open betting.
Razzano lost to Keothavong two tournaments ago and should prove no problem for the American who is 4/6 to win 2-0.
Venus Williams (1/16 to beat Sandra Zahlavova), Caroline Wozniacki (1/20 to beat Vania King) and Na Li (1/16 to beat Evgeniya Rodina) are also in second round action.
A £25 double on Keothavong and Baltacha winning would return £1,237.50. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.
