Azarenka sets up Zvonareva semi after upsetting Clijsters
Published:Vera Zvonareva has been installed as the new favourite in the Sony Ericsson Open betting after Kim Clijsters suffered a shock defeat to Victoria Azarenka last night.
Zvonareva is now 13/8 to win in Miami but will have to face Clijster’s conqueror Azarenka later tonight while Maria Sharapova and Andrea Petkovic face-off in the other semi-final.
Andrea Petkovic vs Maria Sharapova
When this tie was announced Sharapova was the 8/11 favourite to beat Petkovic and the third favourite to win the tournament.
Punters have changed their mind and Petkovic is now the 4/6 favourite to beat Sharapova in an amazing turnaround in the Sony Ericsson Open betting.
It’s a repeat of the Australian Open fourth round where Petkovic won 2-0 but considering Sharapova beat the German 2-0 just five months earlier in their only other meeting, that form is not the strongest.
Sharapova was involved in a battle in her quarter-final and it remains to be seen just what that has taken out of her, and with this match expected to go the distance, we’re siding with Petkovic to edge it 2-1 at 11/4.
Vera Zvonareva vs Victoria Azarenka
Zvonareva can reach her second final of the year if she beats Azarenka later tonight, and at 8/13 the world number three offers plenty of value considering the head-to-head record reads 6-2 in her favour.
Azarenka shocked tournament favourite Clijsters last night and because of that finds herself second favourite in the Sony Ericsson Open betting at 5/2, but the Belorussian has lost her last two encounters with Zvonareva.
Only one of the eight ties has gone the distance – Azarenka won it at the 2010 Australian Open – suggesting Zvonareva is the best bet at 6/4 to win 2-0.
Azarenka’s stubbornness should not be ignored though and should she lose the first set and win the second, she should be favoured to go on and reach the final.
A £20 stake on Petkovic winning the Sony Ericsson Open would return £90. New customers can sign up here to get £60 in free bets.
