Serena Williams vs Simona Halep Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 15/02/2021, 08:04  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 15/02/2021 at 09:05 in Tennis Predictions

If Serena Williams is going to win that record equalling Grand Slam title, she's going to have to do it the hard way. Her quarter final is against second seeded Simone Halep and the first and third seeds Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka are likely opponents. Williams hasn't won a Grand Slam title since winning here in 2017. She's reached four Grand Slam finals since then but lost them all. One was to Halep in the 2019 Wimbledon final. Williams reached the last four of the Yarra Valley warm-up tournament but then withdrew injured. Her Australian Open began well with only five games lost in her first two rounds before beating Anastasia Potapova 7-6, 6-2. Her only set dropped so far was when beating in-form Aryna Sabalenka in the last sixteen. That was a good win as her opponent had already won a tournament this year. Williams now takes on Halep who she has only lost to twice in 11 previous meetings. Williams beat Halep in the 2019 Australian Open, a match that went to three sets. Four of their last six meetings have gone to three sets.

Despite being a former world number one, Simone Halep has only won two Grand Slam tournaments. She's never won in Australia, but has come close. 2018 saw her lose in the final and Halep reached the semi-finals here last year. Halep didn't have the best of warm-ups winning just three games against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the Gippsland Trophy. Her form has returned for this tournament though but two of her matches have gone to three sets. She had to come from behind to beat both Ajla Tomljanovic and French Open winner Iga Swiatek. Halep showed good form against Swiatek only losing five games in the final two sets. A bet on over 21.5 games looks a good bet here, as is the match going to three sets.

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