There will be fascinating third-round action in the women’s draw of the Australian Open this weekend. Aryna Sabalenka and Elise Mertens will be extremely familiar with each other’s game, as the two previously partnered to win doubles Grand Slam titles at the U.S. Open and Australian Open.
However, the emphasis will be on the individual title for both stars this year, and a place in the fourth round is up for grabs. You can find the latest Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens prediction and Australian Open odds here.
Last Game Records
This will be the seventh time that the doubles partners have met in the individual competition. Sabalenka holds a healthy 5-2 advantage in previous meetings, which includes a victory in the only previous Grand Slam meeting between the pair. That success came at the U.S. Open, as the Belarusian claimed a straight-sets win.
Sabalenka has also won each of the previous four clashes between the starts, with the only three-set victory being recorded on the hard surface at the WTA Elite in 2019. The last win for Mertens against Sabalenka was scored at the Canadian Masters in 2018.
Aryna Sabalenka vs. Elise Mertens Information
Australian Open 2023 – Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens
Location of the game: Melbourne Park, Australia.
Date: TBA
How To Watch: ESPN+
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens Betting Analysis
Sabalenka Among Favorites
A first Grand Slam title for Sabalenka has been on the agenda for a number of years now. However, she is yet to break that glass ceiling. The 24-year-old is known for her aggressive playing style, which leads to a number of winners, but also unforced errors.
The fifth seed is favored in the odds in this Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens prediction article, and it could be hard to bet against her. She has reached the fourth round at the Australian Open in each of the previous two years, but she still can only boast a 62% win rate.
However, she came into the Grand Slam in excellent form after reaching the final four at the U.S. Open for the second season running. Sabalenka has cruised through to this stage of the competition this year, as she is yet to drop a set. She comprehensively won 6-1, 6-4 against Tereza Martincova in the opening round, winning 87% of points on her first serve. Sabalenka then cruised past Shelby Rogers in the second round, hitting three aces.
Mertens Has Australian Open Pedigree
There has always been a suggestion that Elise Mertens could be a player worth following at the Grand Slams. She is often among the tennis picks as a dark horse contender, and she has often saved her best tennis for the event Down Under.
Mertens achieved her best showing in Melbourne back in 2018, as she made it through to the semi-finals. However, doubles have often proven to be her game, as she has reached at least the semi-finals in each of the previous two years.
The Belgian has managed to reach the fourth round consistently at the Australian Open in each of the previous three years, and she holds her highest win rate of any Grand Slam event in this tournament.
The 26th seed in the tennis standings was in excellent form in her opening round match, as she saw off the talented Garbine Muguruza in three sets. However, it was slightly more straightforward in the previous round against America’s Lauren Davis, as Mertens won in straight sets, hitting seven aces.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens Betting Preview
- Aryna Sabalenka: -450
- Elise Mertens +333
- Aryna Sabalenka (-4.5): -150
- Elise Mertens (+4.5): +110
- Over 20.5 Games: -120
- Under 20.5 Games: -120
Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens Betting Prediction
I expect this to be an exciting matchup between two players who both boast big serves. However, the Aryna Sabalenka vs Elise Mertens prediction pick remains for the fifth seed. There is yet to be a big exit in the women’s draw, and I don’t expect the first to come here.
Sabalenka has been in excellent form in Grand Slam events for the past two years, and her showing at the U.S. Open shows that she excels on the hard surface. The 24-year-old has a dominant record over Mertens, as we explained earlier in the Australian Open prediction, and we would be extremely surprised to see three sets needed in Melbourne to determine the winner.
- Pick 1: Aryna Sabalenka To Win
- Pick 2: Aryan Sabalenka To Win 2-0
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