AUSTRALIAN OPEN – DAY 10 TIPS

Serena and Djokovic return to the Quarter Finals at the Australian Open on Day 10, but it’s the impressive play of the big Canadian Milos Raonic that has been on everyone’s lips.

Day 10 Tips

Bet Type	Selections
Best Bet	Raonic v Pouille under 38.5 total games @ $1.85
Circuit Bet	Serena Williams (-3.5) @ $1.75
Circuit Bet	Novak Djokovic 3-0 @ $1.84
Value Bet	Elina Svitolina @ $2.20

Raonic v Pouille under 38.5 total games @ $1.85

The big Canadian is playing some of the best tennis of his career after his demolition of 4th seed Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-1 7-6. His serve is on-point, and his patience from the backcourt has allowed him to pounce on the loose ball with his brutal forehand. He takes on Lucas Pouille who upset Borna Coric in the fourth round in stylish fashion. Unfortunately for Pouille is that in the three matches he’s faced Raonic previously he’s yet to win a set – the most recent in June last year going down 6-4 7-6. With Raonic’s new approach from the baseline, it’s enhanced his ability to break serve throughout the Australian Open, and with this being the case I think he will get the win in under 38.5 total games.

Serena Williams (-3.5) @ $1.75

Was flying against Halep in the fourth round winning 6-1 in the first and up a break in the second, but the Romanian played some great tennis to make a match of it. Her ability to stay in the point troubled Serena, but this changes against Karolina Pliskova. The Czech is very much reliant on her serve, and although her baseline game is solid she struggles against those that overpower her. Serena didn’t have any trouble beating Pliskova at the US Open last year, winning 6-4 6-3 and I’m expecting the same this time around.

Novak Djokovic 3-0 @ $1.84

The world number 1 hasn’t been up to his usual level this tournament, but this is where he clicks into gear for mine. The style of Medvedev really troubled Djokovic in the fourth round match, finally adjusting to win the third and fourth sets with ease. But in this Quarter Final match-up Djokovic has seen his opponent, Kei Nishikori plenty of times and knows exactly what’s in store. He holds a 15-2 over the Japanese, who is lucky to still be alive in the tournament with three 5-setters including two 5-set tiebreakers. He’s been far from convincing so far this tournament, although I commend his efforts of getting out of jail to reach a Quarter Final, but it stops here. Novak’s not messing around, and winning in 3.

Elina Svitolina @ $2.20

It really does pain me to do this as I hate backing Svitolina at the Quarter Final stage (look at 2018 Australian Open for reference), but I just think she’s travelling a bit better than Naomi Osaka at the moment. Despite dropping the second set against Madison Keys, it was an impressive performance to advance to the last eight, whilst Osaka limped past Hseih in the third round and Sevastova in the fourth. Osaka’s biggest issue has been her unforced errors, hitting 43 and 42 in her last two matches – opposed to Svitolina who only had 16 in her win against Keys. Of course Osaka did hit more winners, but Svitolina’s ability to stay in points will make this difficult for the Japanese. Playing twice last year which resulted in straight set wins for the Ukrainian, I think she can breakthrough for her first Grand Slam Semi Final.