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betting » Previews » Australian Open 2012 - Favourite Doubtfuls

Australian Open 2012 - Favourite Doubtfuls

By Joe, BettingExpert.com | Edited

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Clijster vs. Kvitova

The rising star against the experienced veteran of the Australian Open, defending champion Kim Clijsters could meet her match as Petra Kvitova is making an impression on the tennis circuit. Both are looking to get into the final stages while Clijsters and others are trying to shake their niggling injuries off in time for the first Grand Slam in 2012.

 

Australian Open 2012

The Australian Grand Slam is always the first major tournament in the women’s tennis schedule year in year out in Melbourne. This year the tournament is held from the 16th of January to 28th of January with a grand prix of AUD$2,300,000 at stake. The Australian is known for its hard courts surface and their hot weather condition, so expect some fatigure and even injures along the way. All players will be weary of the hot temperatures and humidity level reaching into extreme unbearable conditions. Defending champion, Kim Clijsters will be returning Down Under to defend her title.

 

2012 Beginning

One should expect that many of the top female players will be signing up for the arrival for the first Grand Slam of the season. Although, sadly we will not see some players as they are either pulling out of the tournament or fighting hard to fight off their injuries. American Venus Williams and Andrea Petkovic are major casualties.

The doubtful ones might not surprise a few but if they were to be missing then the tournament would be hampered with big names. World number one, Caroline Wozniacki suffered a wrist injury against Polish Agnieszka Radwanska and remains doubtful. Another doubtful to the line up is defending champion, Kim Clijster, there is some positive news that her initially feared hip injury was not as bad as she thought. She suffered a muscle spasm in the defeat to Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova in the semi-final at the Brisbane International. The four time grand slam champion should be able to find herself on the court and a chance to win it the Australian Open for a third time.

Another former Australian Grand Slam champion, Serena Williams, is also trying to nurse an ankle injury after a fall against Serbia’s Bojana Jovanovski in the Brisbane International. She is doubtful but like Clijsters should be clear when the first round fixtures commences.

 

 

On the Brink

If the first favourites are going to miss the Australian Open then there are plenty to choose from in the seeded list. First on the block, seeded second is Czech Petra Kvitova, her best came last year where she found herself in the quarterfinals but the left handed Wimbledon winner will want to demonstrate that 2012 could be her year, she did take the world number one ranking spot going into the Australian Open.

Both Li Na and Maria Sharapova are amongst the top 10 seeded players at the Australian Open. The Chinese number one got to the final last year and going one better could be possible but certainly need some kind of good run of form to get back the prime tennis she showed in 2011. For Sharapova, she saw a late run at the end of the 2011 year grabbing every title she can get her hands on in preparation for the 2012, the Australian Open might not be her favourite but certainly one she wouldn’t mind winning.

Home favourite Samatha Stosur who secure the US Open Grand Slam might have a shout but she has come out saying that there is a lot of pressure on her when playing in front of her home crowd. This was voiced after a game in Brisbane International so money on the Aussie might not be so fruitful. In-form Estonian Kaia Kanepi could be a dark horse as she managed to win her second career title after convincing beat Daniela Hantuchova to collect the Brisbane International title. She is surely one to watch in the future.

 

Verdict:

The first major tournament always gets hit by injuries so imagine it to be very open this year if the favourites drop out. One lady in particular should get the heads up from us is Kim Clijsters, it seems to many that she trains for just this grand slam and also the US Open. So expect her to get into the final and not sure with Caroline Wozniacki, the Dane will yet again title less in the Grand Slams. That really leaves Petra Kvitova that can challenge, the young Czech is growing in confidence, winning Wimbledon and adding the Australian Open should be a milestone for her.

 

If not injured the Kim Clijsters is your winner ticket but fancy a new winner, then Petra Kvitova could be your punt at the Australian Open.



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betting » Previews » Australian Open 2012 - Favourite Doubtfuls