Maria Sharapova v Na Li 2013 Australian Open Semi Final Tennis Betting Odds

Red hot Sharapova to power past Na Li to the final?

Maria Sharapova
Maria Sharapova © GEPA pictures

Maria Sharapova v Na Li Australian Open semi final tennis betting should be a massive duel. Russian Sharapova has been in tremendous form at the 2013 Australian Open, reaching the semi final with the fewest amount of dropped games ever in the history of the tournament. Sharapova has dropped just nine games throughout the entire tournament as looks to be firing very, very well. She faced up to fellow countrywoman Ekaterina Makarova in the quarter finals, and with an easy win over her compatriot, Sharapova has now stretched out her record to 16-3 in the quarter finals of Grand Slams (all three loses happening at the French Open quarter finals) and as dominated everything in her matches right out of the blocks.

Sharapova has her first serve working very well at the moment and with her immense defence looking as if it has been taken to a whole new level here, she is gunning hard for the title. She proved that in completely overpowering Venus Williams in her run to the semi finals. It will now be perhaps her biggest test so far against China’s Na Li, who has once again hit the semi finals of the competition.

Na Li has now been at this stage in three of the last four Australian Opens and prior to the action at Melbourne Park had claimed one title already this season, and her only defeat coming against Agnieszka Radwanska in an event in Sydney prior to the Australian Open. But it was revenge on the cards for Na, who finally snapped the Pole’s unbeaten start to the season. Na Li’s form was always likely to carry her far in this year’s Australian Open too, but was expected to fall at the hands of Radwanska. However, Na Li’s low hitting and power was enough to get her past Radwanska in straight sets. There were signs in the match though that Na was fading physically and she had to visibly collect herself. That is the thing with Na, when she’s on, she is immensely tough, but the consistency is not always there.

It’s not up to the standard of Sharapova anyway and that gives the Russian the edge in Maria Sharapova v Li Na betting. All three of the last meetings in 2012 between the two ended in victories for the Russian. The two on hard courts fairly easy ones it has to be said, things a little tougher when they met on clay. The four meetings between that had all been won by Na Li, then the five before that all by Sharapova. So very long streaks of success and only one of the last seven meetings have gone to three sets. So it could well be worth taking Sharapova 2-0 in set betting for odds of 4/6 at online bookmaker Sportingbet.

Maria Sharapova v Na Li Australian Open Tennis Betting odds at online bookmaker Sportingbet
Sharapova 1/6, Na Li 3/1

There is great live in play betting coverage available at online bookmaker Sportingbet throughout the remaining days of January. Place six qualifying live in-running bets with the bookie on a single day in January of 2013 and receive up to a free £20 bet to use on the very next day. New customers registering an account can get a risk free £50 bet to enjoy as a welcome bonus from the bookie.