Australian Open preview and odds: Agnieszka Radwanska vs Carla Suarez Navarro

Published on: 25/01/2016

Australian Open preview and odds: Agnieszka Radwanska vs Carla Suarez Navarro

January 26 2016 11:00am - Rod Laver Arena

Australian Open - Quarter-finals

World No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska kept her Grand Slam dream alive with hard-fought three-set victory over Anna-Lena Friedsam at the weekend. The Polish player must now battle it out with 10th-ranked Carla Suárez Navarro for a place in the semi-finals. The Spaniard had to come from set down against Australian Daria Gavrilova to set up this clash.

Radwanska in form of her life

Agnieszka Radwanska continued her great run of form by bagging a place in the quarter-finals of the Aussie Open for the fifth time in six seasons. However, she needed two and-a-half hours to see off fourth round opponent Anna-Lena Friedsam by a 6-7(6) 6-1 7-5 score-line.

The 26-year-old had a 52% return serve success rate and also dominated on her own first serve with a 71% conversion rate. If she can replicate those stats against her Carla Suárez Navarro, she will have a great chance of making the semi-finals. She currently has a 2-1 record against her Spanish opponent.

Key stats from Radwanska`s fourth round match:

- First serve success: 61%

- Points won on first serve: 71%

- Points won on second serve: 46%

- Net points won: 74%

- Unforced errors: 22

- Returns won: 52%

- Break points won: 7 out of 16

Crucial comeback for Suarez Navarro

Carla Suarez Navarro booked her place in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open with an impressive comeback against Aussie Daria Gavrilova on Sunday. After failing to win a game in the first set, the Spaniard eventually prevailed by a 0-6 6-3 6-2 score-line to seal the victory in just over two hours.

The 27-year-old was quick to rectify her mistakes from the first set, and finished the match with an impressive 48% return success rate. However, she may need to move up another gear against her in-form Polish opponent. When the two met in last years Miami Masters, the Spanish player triumphed with a 5-7 6-0 6-4 score-line.

Key stats from Suarez Navarro`s fourth round match:

- First serve success: 63%

- Points won on first serve: 65%

- Points won on second serve: 40%

- Net points won: 67%

- Unforced errors: 30

- Returns won: 48%

- Break points won: 5 out of 16

Betting odds and tips

This will be a close game that could be won or lost at the net. Both players like to take an aggressive approach but it is Radwanska that has excelled on the tour in recent months.

Agnieszka Radwanska can be backed to win 2-1 at 11/4 with Bet365.

By Neil Morris

Published on: 25/01/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (25/01/2016 15:50:17) but are subject to change.