Australian Open 2019 Preview – January 18th, 2019 at 1:30 am
There is going to be no shortage of support for home talent Ashleigh Barty in this third round matchup at the Australian Open. It may be a really close and entertaining duel though as she faces Greek player Sakkari. The winner of this one will have a tough fourth-round match against either Maria Sharapova or reigning Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki.
Ashleigh Barty v Maria Sakkari odds*
Ashleigh Barty 1/6
Maria Sakkari 4/1
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 16th, 2019 at 5.31 pm)
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It has been easy as you like from Barty at the Australian Open so far. The Australian has cruised through the first two rounds. In the second round, she took down China’s Yafan Wang 6-2 6-3. Granted they have not been the stiffest of challenges for Barty. It is no surprise though that she has been moving comfortable as she started the season very strongly.
She competed in the Sydney International as her warm-up tournament and Barty reached the final there. After winning the first set in that final against Petra Kvitova, Barty ended up losing on a tie break in the deciding set. But along the way she beat Simona Halep, Kiki Bertens, Jelena Ostapenko and Elise Mertens, three top ten seeds.
Maria Sakkari came through a really big test in the first round to the Australian Open. She had to dig deep to pull out a win in the deciding set against 22nd seed Jelena Ostapenko.
It was a thrilling three-set match really and Sakkari’s win can be considered an upset. Credit is due to the Greek player after having dropped the second set. Sakkari then took out Australia’s Astra Sharma in the second round, cruising through in straight sets.
There have been just the two meetings before between Barty and Sakkari. The first was in 2016 with Barty getting the win, but then at their big meeting last year at Indian Wells, it was Sakkari who prevailed and it was a comfortable two-set victory for her as well.
Prediction
Sakkari is a good up and coming young player and one to watch out for. But she is facing Barty who really seems to have the bit between her teeth at the moment. Barty will be helped along by the home crowd and we can see her getting across the line with a 2-0 set victory at 1/2 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 16th, 2019 at 5.31 pm)
