Australian Open 2017 started: who are favourites among women?"

Serena Williams

Of course, much will depend on the form in which the participants will approach Australian Open for the first Grand Slam of the year. But hardly anyone would argue with the fact that Serena Williams is the main favourite regardless of the degree of her readiness. She won the Australian Open six times, and in the last two attempts reached the final stages of the tournament. On the other hand, it is difficult to deny the fact that at the moment the legendary athlete is in the final stage of her career. Now the American is the 2nd, and even the recent crash in the 2nd round in Auckland when she lost to Madison Brengle is not such a problem, as instability of Angelique Kerber. Serena has a chance to break the record of Steffi Graf and take the 23rd title in her career.

Angelique Kerber

The greatest threat to the American is Angelique Kerber, the current top-ranked tennis player. She has two Grand Slams, and at the Olympics in Rio Kerber conceded only in the final. It is hard for Kerber now, as it is clear that psychologically she has not yet fully prepared to start a new season in the status of the first racket of the world. The results at the start cannot be called successful. She lost to Elina Svitolina and Daria Kasatkina. So if Kerber wants to continue to be the number one player in the world, she must beat them.

Simona Halep

Simon Halep is one of the favourites in the second quarter but for about the last three months she is rather unstable. It is evident that the Romanian tennis player does not have enough power. She tries to put unsolvable tasks to her opponents due to the stability and diversity of rotations in the game on the back line, but it turns out this is not always the case. We would not consider Halep as the main contender to win as Svitolina and Kiki Bretens also have good prices.

Karolina Pliskova

Karolina started the season very well, winning the tournament in Brisbane. After that, the Czech has decided to prepare for Australiana Open. She can be considered as one of the favourites of the third quarter, but her previous early exits in majors force us to look at some other good prices like Ana Konjuh has.

Jo Konta

Jo Konta is another player who deserves attention in the fourth quarter. Despite the fact that this athlete is from the UK, she is incredibly popular on the Green Continent, and therefore, will definitely have the support of the Australian public. In addition, last year at home she reached the semi-finals. Konta is suitable for the upcoming tournament after a season during which she showed a great form, entered the top-10 WTA rankings and has won against seven of the ten best tennis players in the world. So we consider her outright odds more than fair.

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