Former champion Maria Sharapova survived a major scare on Friday, edging past talented youngster Lauren Davis to advance to the fourth round of the 2016 Australian Open. There she will meet the ever-dangerous Belinda Bencic who booked a place in the round-of-16 with a thrilling comeback victory over Kateryna Bondarenko.
Read on below for a complete preview of this blockbuster matchup. While you’re at it, you can check out our complete NFL Conference Championship predictions.
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Maria Sharapova vs. Belinda Bencic Betting Preview
Maria Sharapova’s quest for a second Australian Open title is still very much alive after recording a thrilling 6-1, 6-7(5), 6-0 win over Lauren Davis in the third round on Friday. It was a gritty performance by Sharapova who needed two hours and 14 minutes to produce the three-set victory. With the win, Sharapova booked a place in the fourth round of the Australian Open for the 10th time in her career.
[sc:AUS15-250 ]Playing in front of a partisan crowd on Rod Laver Arena, Sharapova displayed the aggressiveness that made her one of the most feared players in the women’s game. She outhit Davis in the winners department, 44-13. In this tournament thus far, Sharapova is averaging a whopping 31.3 winners per match.
Waiting in the next round for Sharapova is the talented Belinda Bencic. This will be the first meeting between Sharapova and Bencic in the WTA Tour. For Sharapova to defeat Bencic, she needs to continue her excellent play on the receiving end. She won 52 percent (46-of-88) of her receiving points against Davis with Sharapova converting seven of her 15 break point opportunities.
Sharapova is 8-2 in her last 10 matches.
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Betting on Belinda Bencic
Belinda Bencic booked a spot in the fourth round of the Australian Open with a superb 4-6, 6-2, 6-4 come-from-behind victory over Kateryna Bondarenko on Friday. It was a historic victory for Bencic who became the first Swiss woman to advance to the final 16 here in Melbourne since Martina Hingis and Patty Schnyder accomplished that feat back in 2007.
This is also the first time in Bencic’s career that she has reached this stage of the Australian Open. She will face her toughest test, though, in the round of 16, as she will next face the great Maria Sharapova. The Russian star just earned her 600th career victory with her fantastic win over Lauren Davis in the third round.
For Bencic to record a major shock this coming weekend, the 18-year-old needs to dominate Sharapova with her service game. Bencic’s serve was solid against Bondarenko as she converted 68 percent of her first serves. Bencic took full advantage of that fact, winning 39 of her 53 first serve points for a remarkable 74 percent clip.
Apart from putting her first serves in play, Bencic also needs to limit her miscues if she is to upset the mighty Sharapova. She committed a whopping 29 unforced errors in the three-set win against Bondarenko. That simply won’t do against a world-class player like Sharapova who is gunning for her sixth Grand Slam title here in Melbourne.
Bencic is 7-3 in her last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Sharapova beats Bencic in straight sets, 6-4, 6-4.
