There is just as much hype surrounding the women as the men in the Australian Open. The women’s singles matches also got underway in Melbourne on Monday and are currently in the second round. It’s anyone’s game with the dominant Serena Williams out, who won it in 2003, 2004, 2007 and 2009.
World #1 Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed but isn’t currently leading the outright odds. Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin are above her by the bookmakers. The Belgian pair lead the odds since defending Australian Open champ Williams is out with an injury. Clijsters is seeded third and Henin is seeded 11th, but has a fortunate road ahead of her in her side of the draw. In the second round, Henin faces Brit Elena Baltacha and Clijsters is matched up with Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro. Wozniacki from Denmark faces American Vania King in the second round.
The British contingent was fortunate in the first round with Baltacha and Anne Keothavong advancing. But, they both are serious longshots to win the tennis tournament outright. For Baltacha, Henin stumbled and lost the first set of her first round win against Sania Mirza, but Keothavong is a better bet to advance past the second round against German Andrea Petkovic. Henin won the 2004 Australian Open and was a runner-up in 2006.
With her younger sister out, Venus Williams is worth a look. She was a runner-up in 2003 and faces Sandra Zahlavova from the Czech Republic in the second round. With Serena out, it also gives more value to Maria Sharapova. The Russian won the event in 2008 and was a runner-up in 2007. She faces Virginie Razzano from France in the second round.
Australian Open Outright Odds (provided by Eurobet)
Kim Clijsters: 7/4
Justine Henin: 5/1
Caroline Wozniacki: 8/1
Vera Zvonareva: 8/1
Samantha Stosur: 12/1
Victoria Azarenka: 12/1
Venus Williams: 14/1
Maria Sharapova: 16/1
Na Li: 20/1
Petra Kvitova: 25/1
Svetlana Kuznetsova; 33/1
Alisa Kleybanova: 40/1
Andrea Petkovic: 50/1
Flavia Pennetta: 50/1
Marion Bartoli: 50/1