TENNIS BETTING: AUSTRALIAN OPEN UPDATE: LADIESFormer champion Justine Henin has been slashed into 9/2 by Boylesports to win the Aussie Open after beating fifth seed Elena Dementieva
The 2004 champion and former world number one won an epic battle on day three on the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne in two incredibly tight stes 7-5 7-6 (8-6), clinching victory in just under three hours.
Henin takeS on 27th seed Alisa Kleybanova (500/1 Betfair) in the third round.
Fellow Belgian, KimClijsters, the reinging US Open champion, a possible quarter-final opponent for Henin, eased through her second round match 6-3 6-3 win against world number 99 Tamarine Tanasugarn and holds firm as Stan James‘ second favourite at 10/3.
Second seed Dinara Safina also had a comfortable afternoon, seeing off Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-3 6-4. Last year’s beaten finalist remains an outsider at 16/1 with Victor Chandler and faces Britain’s Elena Balatcha in the next round.
Serena Williams is Betfred’s 3/1 favourite and plays in the early hours of Wednesday morning (3.30am) against Petra Kvitova. The reigning champion is 1/16 at 888Sport to win the match and 2/7 at Betfred to win in straight sets.