WTA Sydney Final: Angie Kerber v Ash Barty

Angelique Kerber 4/7 to defeat Ash Barty

Barty is many tennis fans tip to go far at this year's Australian Open after a breakthrough season in 2017 and with some big scalps. However Kerber in 2018 is a different player to 2017 Kerber and she looks like she wants to win, move back up the rankings and challenge for big titles again. Barty will have the Sydney crowd by this may hinder as expectation is high. I think Angie has been solid all week and can take the Sydney title and start her ascent on the WTA rankings again 

Women's Australian Open 3rd round Match Predictions

G Bouchard 4/9 to defeat C Vandweghe

A Kerber 2/9 to defeat K Pliskova

V Williams v Y Duan over 21.5 games 10/11

Barthel v Barty over 21.5 games 10/11

Svitolina v Pavlyuchenkova over 21.5 games 10/11 & over 2.5 sets 13/8

Men's Australian Open 3rd Round Match Predictions

A Seppi 8/13 to defeat S Darcis 

R Federer 4/7 to defeat T Berdych

J Tsonga v  J Sock 1/2 over 3.5 sets

B Tomic v D Evans 4/9 over 3.5 sets

Women's 2nd Round Australian Open: Thursday's Matches

B Strycova 1/2 to defeat A Petkovic

A Cornet 2/5 to defeat M Sakkari

H Watson 4/7 to defeat J Brady

E Vesnina 2/7 to defeat M Minella

C Garcia 4/11 to defeat O Dodin

Men's 2nd round Australian Open: Thursday Matches

D Goffin 2/7 to defeat R Stepanek

D Thiem 1/5 to defeat J Thompson

P Kohlschreiber 2/5 to defeat D Young

D Ferer 1/4 to defeat E Escobedo

Australian Open Mens Thursday Matches: Over 3.5 sets?

Paire v Fognini over 3.5 sets 4/9

Monfils v Dolgopolov over 3.5 sets 4/6

Australian Open Tennis: Ana Konjuh v Kristina Mladenovic

A Konjuh 4/5 to defeat K Mladenovic  - A very close battle could commence here. Kiki on her day has the serve and ability to mix it with the best, however very rarely achieves in the big matches. Inconsistency could be an issue again today.... However Konjuh can have the same problems and still needs to control her raw power as there is no doubt she has the ability. It may all come down to who hits the most winners but also who makes the least mistakes !!! I think the Croatian will be on an upward curve in 2017

Australian Open tennis: Y Putintseva v L Arruabarrena

Y Putintseva 4/7 to defeat Arruabarrena - tough match to call here. Lara had a good win over Gavrilova in Hopman Cup a few weeks ago while Putintseva has been struggling a little. I think Yulia is the better player though and will take the game to the Spaniard and try and end rallies quickly with winners.

 

Australian Open Tennis: Elena Vesnina v Ana Bogdan

Vesnina 4/9 to defeat A Bogdan

The Romanian qualified but I think Vesnina is a different level ahead of Bogdan in this match. The Russian though needs to find some early season form here in Melbourne and hasn't shown it in singles yet in 2017. She has the game to mix things up against Bogdan and should run out a comfy winner and a nice price.

Australian Open tennis: Naomi Osaka v L Kumkhum

N Osaka 2/9 to defeat L Kumkhum

Naomi played against Azarenka in last years tournament and played some stunnig stuff. Now WTA top 50 and gaining lots of experience the Japanese player should simply be too powerful for her Thai opponent. Luksika has played well here before (just ask Kvitova) and will be motivated by her WC into the draw, however Osaka is a different level