2018 Australian Open Women Semifinals Betting Analysis

The first tennis major of the year is drawing to a close, as we are now down to the final four in both the men’s and women’s tournament. We will focus on the men in another piece, but for now, let’s concentrate on the Australian Open Women Semifinals. The feeling was that the ladies tournament at this year’s AO would be a little wider due to the fact that Serena Williams would not be able to play. We have seen some surprises along the way, but we still have a shot at seeing the #1 and #2 seed play in the final. The two semi-finals will be played in the early hours of Thursday morning, US time, so let’s take a closer look at the WTA betting value for both matches.

2018 Australian Open Women Semifinals Betting Analysis

ICYMI maiden semifinalist @Simona_Halep gives her thoughts on a blockbuster encounter with the on-fire German #Kerber.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/QWdyhPfh4q

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) 24 de enero de 2018

Simona Halep (#1) vs. Angelique Kerber (#21)

Simona Halep Card

• Age: 26 years
• Turned pro: 2006
• Height: 168 cm
• Weight: 60 kg
• Playing hand: Right-handed
• Prize money: $20,912,291 USD

Angelique Kerber Card

• Age: 30 years
• Turned pro: 2003
• Height: 173 cm
• Weight: 68 kg
• Playing hand: Left-handed
• Prize money: $21,607,604 USD

Halep came into the 2018 Australian Open as the number one seed, with many seeing her as the most likely to win with Serena Williams sitting the tournament out. Halep has seen her game get better with each passing round in this tournament and has only dropped one set thus. That dropped set came in the third round against Lauren Davis, where she had to come from a set down to eventually get the win via an epic final set that ended 15-13. Since that scare, Halep has been unstoppable, blowing past Osaka and #6 seeded Pliskova without really breaking a sweat. Halep has 16 career title wins, so she knows how to get the job done, which is why she would come in as the Australian Open Women Semifinals betting favorite. Angelique Kerber made a great start to the tournament, going through the first 3 rounds without dropping a set. The scare for Kerber came in her quarter-final match against Su-Wei Hsieh, where she had to come back from a set down to move on. Kerber got her groove back in the semi-final, getting past Madison Keys, #17 seeded according to the WTA Rankings while dropping just 3 games in a one-sided affair. The 30-year old German has 11 career titles to her name.

Elise Mertens vs. Caroline Wozniacki (#2)

Elise Mertens Card

• Age: 22 years
• Turned pro: 2013
• Height: 179 cm
• Weight: 67 kg
• Playing hand: Right-handed
• Prize money: $845,390 USD

Caroline Wozniacki Card

• Age: 27 years
• Turned pro: 2005
• Height: 178 cm
• Weight: 63 kg
• Playing hand: Right-handed
• Prize money: $26,856,094 USD

Mertens is a surprise entry into the final 4, as she is the only unseeded player to make it to this point in the Australian Open. She is also the only one of the semi-final players to have made it to this point without dropping a single set. She has taken down a pair of seeded players en route to the final four, with her latest conquest being a very one-sided win over #4 seeded Elina Svitolina in the quarter-final, where she only dropped 4 games. At 22, Mertens is basically in the early stages of her career, but she already has a pair of career wins, including one earlier this year. Of the 4 women to get to this stage of the tournament, Caroline Wozniacki has had the toughest path, as she has had a pair of games go the distance. Strangely enough, the two matches that went the full three sets came against unseeded opponents, with the latest being her semi-final win over Carla Suarez Navarro. That said, Wozniacki is also the most decorated player in the final 4, winning 27 career singles titles. She should be the Australian Open Women Semifinals betting favorite, but as we have already said, she has had some difficulties against unseeded opponents to this point.

Last 10 Winners

• 2017: Serena Williams
• 2016: Angelique Kerber
• 2015: Serena Williams
• 2014: Li Na
• 2013: Victoria Azarenka
• 2012: Victoria Azarenka
• 2011: Kim Clijsters
• 2010: Serena Williams
• 2009: Serena Williams
• 2008: Maria Sharapova