Kvitová Offers Great Value at Australian Open, But Williams Still Favorite After Beating Halep

• The Australian Open Women’s Singles Quarterfinals begin tonight
• Is now the time to bet Petra Kvitová to advance from the bottom half of the draw?
• Can you find value in one of the two remaining unseeded players?

The Australian Open Women’s Singles resumes play tonight with six ranked players still remaining. With four of those six remaining in the top half, Petra Kvitová has seen her odds shorten to an average of +375 to win the Women’s Singles as the highest ranked player remaining in the bottom half.

Follow each player’s 2019 Australian Open odds as we lead up to the final on January 26th. 

2019 Australian Open Women’s Singles Odds

The top half of the quarterfinals features a matchup between Serena Williams (16) and Karolina Pliskova (7) in the first quarter. The second quarter sees Naomi Osaka (4) and Elina Svitolina (6) square off.

That’s caused little shakeup within their odds as all four players were considered the four most likely to win the tournament from the top half after Round 2.

Serena Williams (16) advances to the quarters at the #AusOpen by beating No. 1 ranked Simona Halep 6-1, 4-6, 6-4. pic.twitter.com/gITuRCFqGl

— TSN Tennis (@TSNTennis) January 21, 2019

However three of the top five favorites to win the tournament are now eliminated from the bottom half. That’s meant Kvitová and Ashleigh Barty have seen their odds shorten ahead of their quarterfinals match.

Kvitová Favored to Reach Final

Last week I suggested that betting both Kvitová and Barty to win outright at +2000 and +1600 respectively could offer value. Thought being they could likely meet up in the quarterfinals and you’d be left with one women at long odds in the final four.

The bottom half of the draw has become the clearer path to the final with Kvitová (8) and Barty (15) the only ranked players remaining.

.@Petra_Kvitova books her place in the @AustralianOpen quarterfinals!

Defeats Amanda Anisimova 6-2, 6-1 to reach the final eight in Melbourne for the first time since 2012! pic.twitter.com/MHyNQUVl96

— wta (@WTA) January 20, 2019

Kvitová reaches the quarterfinals after wasting little time in dispatching of one of the game’s future stars in Amanda Anisimova. The 17-year-old American had been making the tennis world take notice as she had yet to lose a set through three rounds until meeting Kvitová.

Hometown favorite Barty was playing cricket three years ago, but now has reached the farthest stage of a major in her career.

The most famous victory of her young career.

Congratulations, @ashbar96 👏👏👏#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/MEvPFeKZc7

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2019

On Saturday night Barty fell behind to the 30th ranked Maria Sharapova in losing the first set 4-6. She then responded in a big way taking the second set 6-1. She then jumped out to a 4-0 lead in set three before surviving a Sharapova comeback to win 6-4.

Bottom Half Offering Big Value

The Women’s Singles had featured few upsets through three rounds. That all changed in Round 4 in the fourth quarter.

First, unseeded American Danielle Collins pulled the shock upset over world number two Angelique Kerber. The fashion of the victory was even more impressive as Collins took the match in straight sets 6-0, 6-2.

https://twitter.com/cahulaan/status/1087072051557322752

Next up it was Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova’s turn to pull the upset. The Russian defeated fifth seed Sloane Stephens 6-7, 6-3, 6-3 and will  meet Collins in the only all-unseeded match of the quarterfinals.

There’s little to compare from a head-to-head angle between these two as they’ve never met. However with odds as long as +2700 and +2800 respectively, Pavlyuchenkova and Collins are still offering huge odds to win their first AO.

If you’re really looking for value, placing a smaller stake on one of the unseeded players could be worth a shot. At the slightly longer odds why not keep riding the hot hand of Collins. If she can get past Pavlyuchenkova you could be one win away from having a ticket at +2800 in the finals.

"I think it's gonna keep happening."

Confidence level of Danielle Collins 💯#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Jbz5OxVjd6

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 20, 2019

Collins has no head-to-head history with Barty and one loss against Kvitová. That loss came earlier this month in Brisbane and was by the closest of margins with Kvitová winning 6-7(6) 7-6(6) 6-3.

Bet Kvitová to Win Her First AO

Kvitová has yet to drop a set this tournament. The closest came in a second set 6-4 win over Belinda Bencic in Round 3.

When Kvitová and Barty met in the Sydney final earlier this month on January 12 it was Kvitová who came out on top. There, Barty jumped out to an early lead in winning the first set 6-1. However Kvitová prevailed over the next two sets 7-5 7-6(3).

Barty has shown she can play with anyone and she’s only lost one set during the AO. She defeated several ranked players including World number one Simona Halep to reach the Sydney final. If you think she’ll get revenge on Kvitová, then +1000 looks a good bet.

But from a best bet perspective I’d stick with Kvitová +400 if you haven’t already bet her at longer odds.