The Australian Open has been experiencing a number of rainy days in Melbourne, so we are behind on the schedule. The ladies did manage to play some on Thursday (North American time) with six of the 10 matches being second rounders. Four third round matches were able to get in and the hope is that the other four third round contests can play out tomorrow, so keep that in mind for your Australian Open picks.
If matches are able to go off as scheduled, this is what you should see on Saturday, with the bottom half of the draw playing its third-round women’s singles matches to narrow the field to just 16 players.
Laura Siegemund vs. Annika Beck
Odds: Beck -143
One of the third-round matches which stands apart from the others is this one, in that it has two Germans going against each other. On one hand, you could say that Siegemund has the edge here, in that she took out Jelena Jankovic, the 19th seed, in the second round. Jankovic is a highly experienced player who has made a major-tournament final and has accomplished a lot over the years. Siegemund’s ability to win that match in a tough third set shows that she’s competing really well at this tournament and is primed to do bigger and better things. It’s very realistic to pick Siegemund here.
On the other hand, Beck also beat a seeded player in the second round, easily coasting by No. 11 seed Timea Bacsinszky, 6-2, 6-3. Bacsinszky is also a veteran player, so you could say that Beck is also in a position where she should believe in her ability to handle all kinds of situations. This is where it gets complicated, though. Both Jankovic and Bacsinszky have struggled at the start of the season and have not been in-form players. It doesn’t really mean much that Beck beat a No. 11 seed and that Siegemund beat a No. 19 seed.
What should matter more is that Beck won her match easily and should be physically sharper in this match. Siegemund played a long, drawn-out match, which is harder to respond to on a mental level. Take Beck with your Australian Open picks.
Pick: Beck in three sets
Madison Keys vs. Ana Ivanovic
Odds: Keys -141
This is a matchup in which you could go either way. Both women are seeded in the top 20, with Keys five spots higher, 15 to 20. Keys’ serve is a huge strength for her, both her first and second serve. Ivanovic has the better backhand. Keys gets more power on her forehand but is more erratic. Keys is young, but Ivanovic is mentally fragile. Both players could easily lose confidence and concentration in this match, buckling under the pressure. In many ways, Keys is harder to read because she’s still building her career. Ivanovic has a long track record of not winning matches she frankly should, and this one probably counts as an example. This might not be a situation where you bet for Keys so much as you bet against Ivanovic. It should go three sets.
Pick: Keys in three sets
Johanna Konta vs. Denisa Allertova
Odds: Konta -183
This match also seems more likely to go three than to end in two. These players are not used to competing in the third round of a major tournament. They are upwardly mobile players who are trying to establish themselves. It is anybody’s guess as to which one will come out on top. Allertova did really well to fight past Sabine Lisicki in the second round, winning that match in three tough sets. She will not give ground against Konta – her British opponent will have to take this match away from her. However, Konta can do just that. She is learning how to win at the biggest tournaments, and she’s beaten two of the biggest names in tennis, Garbine Muguruza at the U.S. Open, and Venus Williams earlier this week at the Australian Open. Konta will be playing a confident opponent, but she’s probably going to be even more confident when it counts. Take Konta.
Pick: Konta in three sets
