Maria Sakkari vs Petra Kvitova Betting Kvitova 2-1 – 26th January 2020

Maria Sakkari vs Petra Kvitova
26th January 0000hrs
Tennis – Australian Open – 4th Rd
Pick Kvitova 2-1
Bookmaker Marathonbet
Odds: 11/4 odds taken 20:28 GMT, Friday, 24th January

Expect some heavy hitting to do down in this fourth round match early on Sunday morning. Greece’s Maria Sakkari has already defied some underdog odds to reach this stage of the Australian Open.

Will she be able to extend her journey as she lines up against Petra Kvitova who has been coasting through her challenges so far at the tournament?

Bet at Marathonbet

 

Kvitova making light work of Australian Open load

Petra Kvitova is well poised as one of the frontrunners for the Australian Open 2020 title. It is hard to go against that really because she had laid some amazing form down so far. Granted in facing Sakkari it is going to be the biggest challenger in front of her yet in this tournament. Kvitova has not dropped a set in the tournament so far, but that’s only the half of it.

She dropped only one game in her first-round match and after a bit of a tighter squeeze against Paula Badosa in the second round, Kvitova powered her way past world number 25 Ekaterina Alexandrova in the third round, dropping only three games. So the Czech star has not been spending a lot of time out on the court. Over a big two-week tournament, that’s important.

Kvitova was last year’s losing finalist at the Australian Open, the one and only time that she has been in the showcase match at Melbourne Park. The two-time Wimbledon winner did reach the semi-finals of the Brisbane International this month (losing to Madison Keys in three sets) before heading to the Slam. She’s the odds-on favourite for this fourth-round match but trails the head to head against Sakkari.

Rising Greek may start strongly

Maria Sakkari is one of the new crop of youngsters looking to reach Grand Slam-winning status. The 24-year-old Greek player overcame some underdog status in the third round of this Australian Open campaign. She was up against the in-form Maidson Keys who had finished as runner up at the Brisbane International earlier in January. However, Sakkari defied the odds in putting a straight sets 6-4 6-4 victory on the board over the American.

Sakkari has not dropped a set either in this campaign. Having just knocked out the word number 10 she is going to be pumped up now. Considering that her pre-Slam form from matches this year was W1 L2 this was some step up from her. Taking out Keys was the biggest career win of her career in terms of a ranking opponent and importance. Maybe what is helping her is some fantastic support at Melbourne Park from a passionate Greek following.

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Sakkari is 2-1 up in the head to head with Kvitova. All three of their meetings were last year starting with an easy success for Kvitova in Miami. Sakkari when then ahead in their clash in Rome on the clay before Kvitova had to retire from the match. The Greek player produced a victory over three sets then on the hardcourt in Cincinnati. In the last two meetings it has been Sakkari who has struck first in landing the first set.

Maria Sakkari vs Petra Kvitova Betting Advice

This one may well go the distance again between two very fit, very powerful players. The margins between them may very slim at the end of the day in Melbourne. This is now Sakkari’s best-ever effort in a Grand Slam and the 24-year-old looks as if she could be set for a big breakthrough year.

 

 

But still is the craft, guile and experience of Kvitova that has to be favoured. She has carried form early this year but has found the going tough against the Greek player in their last two meetings. Because of that, the 2-1 set betting option in favour of Kvitova fits the bill.

The best betting odds for Maria Sakkari vs Petra Kvitova

Maria Sakkari to win: 2/1 at Bet365
Petra Kvitova: 2/5 at Bet365