Australian Open Women’s Round of 16 Match Odds and Best Bets
The first week of the 2021 Australian Open tennis tournament is nearly in the books. Sunday’s action (Saturday evening in the United States) marks the start of the Round of 16 for the women’s singles draw. The tournament has already produced several thrilling matches and shocking upsets, including the elimination of defending champion Sofia Kenin in the second round. There will undoubtedly be plenty more riveting action from Down Under in the week ahead. Here are three matches to watch and accompanying bets to consider for the Women’s Round of 16.
All odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook
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Aryna Sabalenka (-129) vs. Serena Williams (+105)
This match has the potential to be the most intriguing of the entire Round of 16. Seventh-seeded Aryna Sabalenka has cruised through each of her first three matches in this Australian Open. Outside of needing to win a tiebreaker in her first set against Daria Kasatkina in the second round, Sabalenka has encountered little resistance. Similarly, tenth-seeded Serena Williams has plowed through her competition to date. Williams appears to be closer to her pre-maternity dominance than ever. She has only been taken to one set tiebreaker, which she won in defeating Anastasia Potapova in the third round.
In terms of Australian Open seeding, this Sabalenka – Williams matchup is the closest of all the women’s fourth-round matches. This is reflected in the betting odds as well, with it being one of the closest match line prices on the board. Sabalenka is a -129 favorite, while Williams is +105 on the comeback. This has the feel of a three-set match, which is why I will opt to play Over 23.5 total games. Unless all three sets are somehow completely lopsided, the game count should exceed the number. Healthy odds of +129 only fortify the play.
Pick: Over 23.5 Total Games (+129 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Ashleigh Barty (-335) vs. Shelby Rogers (+250)
Top-seeded Ashleigh Barty encountered little resistance on her way to the fourth round. Aside from a rough second set that went all the way to a tiebreak in her second-round match against Daria Gavrilova, it has been smooth sailing for Barty. The Australian native will look to continue her quest to deliver a major championship against American Shelby Rogers in the Round of 16. The 28-year-old Rogers has been impressive in also winning her first three matches without dropping a set. This includes her (6-2 6-3) upset of 21st-seeded Anett Kontaveit in the third round.
While we all love a good underdog story, I cannot pick against the top overall seed and the pride of the host country. Fans may not be allowed on the grounds for the time being, but Barty will undoubtedly feel the energy of her Australian brethren. With this in mind, I like Barty to dispatch Rogers with relative ease on her way to the quarterfinals. The moneyline for this match predictably requires a lot of juice to be laid, so I’ll instead opt to lay 4.5 games with the favorite.
Pick: Ashleigh Barty -4.5 Games (-115 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Elina Svitolina (-240) vs. Jessica Pegula (+190)
Buffalo sports fans might recognize the last name of Jessica Pegula. The daughter of Terry and Kim Pegula, Jessica’s parents own both the Buffalo Bills and Sabres. It turns out she can play tennis too. Pegula has knocked off a trio of notable competitors in 12th-seeded Victoria Azarenka, Samantha Stosur, and Kristina Mladenovic on her way to this fourth-round matchup. Across from her will be the fifth-seeded Elina Svitolina. The uber-talented Ukranian is looking to capture her first Grand Slam in Melbourne. Her tournament path thus far has included victories over Coco Gauff and 26th-seeded Yulia Putintseva.
The big question in this match for me is whether or not Pegula can recreate the stellar play she has displayed through the first three rounds. None of her opponents to date offer quite the same challenge at present as Svitolina. With that said, I believe Pegula has a few games in her at the very least. Is it enough to truly take Svitolina into deep waters? Probably not. I like playing the Under on 20.5 total games in this one.
Pick: Under 20.5 Total Games (-110 at DraftKings Sportsbook)
Other Women’s Round of 16 Matches
- Garbine Muguruza (+185) vs. Naomi Osaka (-230)
- Su-Wei Hsieh (+190) vs. Marketa Vondrousova (-240)
- Iga Swiatek (+100) vs. Simona Halep (-122)
- Donna Vekic (+250) vs. Jennifer Brady (-315)
- Elise Mertens (-220) vs. Karolina Muchova (+170)
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Henry John is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Henry, check out his archive and follow him @HankTimeSports.