Australian Open preview and odds: Serena Williams vs Agnieszka Radwanska

Published on: 26/01/2016

Australian Open preview and odds: Serena Williams vs Agnieszka Radwanska

January 28, 2016 19:30pm - Rod Laver Arena

Australian Open - Quarter-finals

After once again breezing past her old rival Maria Sharapova, Serena Williams is now just one step away from her seventh Australian Open final. However, first she must overcome the challenge of an in-form Agnieszka Radwanska - the second-highest-ranked player (5) left in the womens draw.

Serena Williams in cruise control

The path to this years semi-finals has been worryingly simple for Serena Williams. In fact, her greatest test came in Round 1 when she lost nine games to Camila Giorgi.

Even old rival Maria Sharapova could barely force a bead of sweat to appear on the Americans brow in their much-anticipated quarter-final showdown. After edging the first set 6-4, Serena moved up a gear and powered through the second set 6-1 to send her opponent packing.

Williams dominated every aspect of the game and it is hard to imagine anyone stopping her from claiming a seventh crown. She now faces a player that she has beaten in all of their eight previous meetings.

Key stats from William`s fourth round match:

- First serve success: 58%

- Points won on first serve: 73%

- Points won on second serve: 52%

- Net points won: 73%

- Unforced errors: 20

- Returns won: 50%

- Break points won: 4 out of 10

Radwanskas number add up

Can she really do it? Can Agneszka Radwanska beat Serena for the first time in her career and make it to the Australian Open final?

The WTA finals champion is in the best form of her career and could certainly provide Serena with her trickiest challenge yet. Throughout this tournament, the Polish player has posted some world class statistics and they just keep getting better.

She proved her current level on Tuesday by brushing aside tenth-ranked Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3 in little over an hour. It was a polished performance from the World No. 4 who will now play in her fifth Grand Slam semi-final. She has barely put a foot wrong since the start of the year and must fancy her chances of bagging a first win over the World No. 1.

Key stats from Radwanska`s fourth round match:

- First serve success: 69%

- Points won on first serve: 68%

- Points won on second serve: 35%

- Net points won: 54%

- Unforced errors: 13

- Returns won: 56%

- Break points won: 6 out of 12

Betting odds and tips

Radwanska has never beaten Williams but they have not played each other since 2013, and they have never met at Melbourne. The statistics indicate that this will be a close match and if the Polish player can keep up her form and deal with the Americans serve, there is a good chance that she could push her all the way.

It might be a big call but Radwanska to win by 2 sets to 1 can be backed at 10/1 with Bet365

By Neil Morris

Published on: 26/01/2016

Any odds displayed within this preview were correct at the time of publishing (26/01/2016 18:11:05) but are subject to change.