Belinda Bencic vs Amanda Anisimova Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 18/01/2022, 08:38  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 18/01/2022 at 12:40 in Tennis Predictions

Belinda Bencic is the 21st seed for the Australian Open women's singles. The Swiss player has a tricky second round match against world number 60 Amanda Anisimova. Bencic was ninth in the rankings at one stage last year but with points earned in previous years taken off, she slipped down to 23rd but is up to 17th in the live rankings. Only three times has Bencic made it past the fourth round of a Grand Slam, all of those being achieved in New York with her best being a semi-final in 2019. In this tournament, her best has been making the fourth round in 2016. Bencic won the Olympic title last year but her preparation for 2022 was hindered when getting Covid in December and not going on court for a fortnight. Her only tournament this year has been the Sydney International. Bencic had to come from behind to beat Oceane Dodin but then was beaten in three sets in the last eight by eventual winner Paula Badosa. The first round of this event saw her beat Kristina Mladenovic in straight sets. Her only previous match against her opponent was in 2019 with Bencic winning in three sets.

Amanda Anisimova has already won one tournament this year. The American won in Melbourne, beating Aliaksandra Sasnovich in a three set final, losing the middle set. The highest ranked player beaten was Daria Kasatkina, who was 26th at the time but could only take two games off Anisimova. Three of her five matches in Melbourne went to three sets and that was also the case in the first round of this tournament. Anisimova beat qualifer Arianne Hartono after losing the first set 6-2. Speaking after the match, Anisimova spoke of some personal issues affecting her performance. The American is up to 49th in the live rankings but that's still well below the 31st place held this time last year. Her best performance in this tournament is reaching the fourth round in 2019 and that was followed by a semi-final in France. Since then though, seven Grand Slam events have seen her fail to get past the third round. This looks like being a close match, go for it to be a three-setter.