TENNIS BETTING: AUSTRALIAN OPEN UPDATE: LADIES
After cruising into the last eight, defending champion Serena Williams is 11/8 (888Sport) to retain her title with Justine Henin 14/5 at Boylesports
Number one seed Williams needed just over an hour to beat Sam Stosur 6-4 – 6-2 to set up a quarter final meeting with totesport‘s 10/1 shot Victoria Azarenka, who edged past Vera Zvonareva 4-6 6-4 6-0.
Serena is 1/3 at Paddy Power make it through to the last four with her opponent, seeded 7 available at 5/2 at Ladbrokes. The match takes place around midnight on Wednesday morning.
Victory for the champion could set up a semi final with her sister Venus who came through her last 16 match against Francesca Schiavone 3-6 6-2 6-1. The sixth seed is 11/4 at Stan James to win the tournament and 4/11 at bet365 to see off the challenge of Na Li (9/4 William Hill). The underdog from China is 33/1 at Betfred to go all the way. Their match also takes place around midnight on Wednesday morning.
Unseeded second favourite Justine Henin is 2/5 at Paddy Power to beat Nadia Petrova (9/4 Sportingbet) at midnight on Monday. The 19th seed can be backed at 10/1 at Skybet to win the tournament.
Also in the early hours of Tuesday morning, Jie Zheng and Maria Kirilenko compete for a place in the last four. Zheng is a best price 3/4 (Sportingbet) with Kirilenko 13/10 ay Boylesports.