Thursday, January 17, 2008

AUSTRALIAN OPEN TENNIS .....WOMEN'S THIRD ROUND


ELENA DEMENTIEVA - SHAHAR PEER

These two have met on three occasions, all were very close and came on different surfaces, the Russian leads the series 2-1 .

However, I feel that the conditions here favour the Israeli, who at 20 years of age, should be coming into her prime. She made significant progress last season, especially here, where she beat Golovin and Kuznetsova, en route to a quarter final with Serena Williams, where she took the eventually champion to 8-6 in a third set decider. Peer was the only top ranked player to push the American in Melbourne last year and will have taken a lot of confidence from that. She is obviously confident on the surface, having also taken the Girl's event here in 2004.

You are never really sure what you are going to get with Dementieva, other than some appalling serving, but she is a fierce competitor and always gives her best. She has a 19-9 record here in the last 7 years, which looks ok, but she has never gone beyond the 4th round , or beaten a player ranked higher than 27 on these courts, Peer is currently 17.

I suspect that the bookies have the wrong favourite and am certain that Peer will trade lower at some stage "in running". having said that, I expect her to win.

5.5 points Peer to beat Dementieva 2.20 Bet 365/ 2.18 Pinnacle .... similar, or bigger odds should be available on the exchanges.




Good Luck.

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