Australian Open Tips: Radwanska and Federer set for long battles

Australian Open Betting / Sean Calvert / 23 January 2012 / 2

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Federer faces a real test against Del Potro

"Radwanska could prove a tough nut to crack in the energy sapping conditions."

Ahead of a terrific day of tennis in Melbourne, Sean Calvert is bidding to bounce back from recent disappointments with a couple of bets from two cracking quarter-final ties...

If events at the Australian Open in the last few days are anything to go by, I must have run over a black cat.

I watched in stunned disbelief as Novak Djokovic gave up half way through the third set with a two sets and 3-0 lead over Lleyton Hewitt and allowed the Aussie to come back and down the second leg of my multiple, which had been going nicely thanks to David Ferrer's easy win.

That came after Jo Wilfried Tsonga lost to sabotage my outright bet and Zheng Jie had an unforced error nightmare to add to my prevailing sourness that began with Li Na's capitulation from four match points up against Kim Clijsters.

I could also go into my [160.00] Antonio Valencia and 3-1 Manchester United scorecast bet that lost on Sunday due to Danny Welbeck's various failings, but let's stick to the tennis.

Day nine at Melbourne Park boasts a stellar line-up as we reach the quarter-final stage of the tournament and things are hotting up in more ways than one.

And the heat could be a factor in the first of my bets today, as Victoria Azarenka takes on Agnieszka Radwanska in the opening match on a baking Rod Laver Arena.

Azarenka won't enjoy the temperature too much and I don't think she'll enjoy what could be a tight and potentially lengthy encounter against the tenacious Pole either.

All the talk has been about Azarenka in this tournament so far and she has been in superb form over the last few months with 17 wins from her last 19 matches, but Radwanska has 19 wins from her last 23, so both players go into this clash at the peak of their powers.

The Belarusian star is yet to go beyond the quarter-final stage in Melbourne and there's a chance she won't today, as Radwanska could prove a tough nut to crack in the energy sapping conditions.

The last three encounters between these two have been close, with Azarenka edging two of them, however the winning margin has been small in terms of total games and I think that the [1.8] about Radwanska with a 4.5 game start on the handicap looks well worth taking.

Azarenka hasn't beaten today's opponent by that margin on a hard-court for two years and I can't see her doing so this time either.

Under normal circumstances I'd be all over the [2.14] about Kim Clijsters against Caroline Wozniacki, but Kim's fitness is guesswork after injuring her ankle so I'll leave that one alone.

On the men's side today, Rafa Nadal should have few problems taking care of Tomas Berdych, who showed more evidence - if it were needed - of his mental shortcomings by getting a strop on and refusing to shake hands with Nico Almagro.

The message sent to the locker room is that the Berdman can be upset by something as insignificant as being hit on the arm by the ball - not good when your next opponent is Rafa.

But the bet on the men's side today is for Juan Martin Del Potro to cause Roger Federer some problems and extend their quarter-final clash beyond the 38.5 total games mark.

Delpo has been quietly and very efficiently working his way through the tournament away from the spotlight and he's played his way into form at just the right time for a clash with the Swiss maestro.

Federer was excellent against Bernard Tomic, but the young Aussie was overawed for the most part and that won't be the case will Delpo, who has won two of the pair's last three matches.

Those wins go back to 2009 though and they haven't met since the Argentine has fully recovered his form and fitness following his serious wrist injury.

The last time they played was last summer in Cincy with Fed winning in two, but Delpo was still feeling his way back at that time and while I feel there's a little way to go yet, the big man is up to taking at least a set on current form.

The overs is priced up at around [1.85] and that looks worth investing in on the basis that this could be one of the matches of the tournament.

Follow Sean on Twitter @seancalvert1

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Anonymous | 23 January 2012

There's no multiples available on the Australian tennis. If im wrong sorry but can you show me where please.
june | 24 January 2012

I've made a few bucks betting against your tips