Alison Riske vs Madison Keys Prediction & Betting Tips - Adelaide 2, Australia, Qualifying

Prediction published on 14/01/2022, 10:23  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 14/01/2022 at 10:23 in Tennis Predictions

With the Australian Open just days away, we have two unseeded players in the second Adelaide International. Madison Keys takes on Alison Riske and hoping to win her first WTA tournament since 2019. Keys is world ranked 87, 30 places below her opponent. At one stage, Keys was ranked seventh five years ago and was 16th this time last year. After reaching the final of the Brisbane International (where she lost to Karolina Pliskova), Keys only reached one quarter final in the rest of 2021 and didn't play in the final two months of the year. This year began with a last 16 in Melbourne, losing in three sets to the in-form Daria Kasatkina. This week has seen improved form and the first round saw her defeat second seeded Elina Svitolina for the loss of just six games. Wins against Tereza Martincova and a three-set win over eighth seeded Liudmila Samsonova. Then in the semi-final, another seed was beaten as Keys defeated third seeded Cori Gauff after losing the first set. Now she takes on Riske, who Keys has beaten in five of their six previous meetings, though the last match was in 2016.

Alison Riske has had a rather fortunate run to this final and in the last two rounds has only played six games. Her quarter final against Madison Brengle ended when her opponent retired with the score at 3-3 in the first set. Riske was due to face the fourth seeded Tamara Zidansek in the semi-finals but received a walkover into the final due to her opponent having an abdominal injury. Earlier this week, Riske beat the unseeeded pair of Magda Linette and Anhelina Kalinina, both in straight sets. Riske began last year ranked 26th but slipped to 51st by the end of 2021. The year had a strong end though, winning a tournament in Austria, though three of her wins were against players ranked outside the top 100. She'll hope for a better year at the Grand Slams having played in three in 2021 (not the French Open) and losing in the first round of each of them. The lack of time on court this week won't please her as she prepares for a first round Australian Open match against Donna Vekic. Keys looks in good form and can get the win over her fellow American.