Experienced Russian Is Shaping As Good Value

The Age

Friday January 9, 2009

Andrew Eddy

THE Medibank International beginning in Sydney on Sunday is a must-see for those wishing to punt-up on the Australian Open in Melbourne later this month. But while we gather information on the form of the players, both male and female, we may as well have a small wager on the Sydney tournament to sharpen our interest.

The experienced Russian Elena Dementieva, who has played in the past 10 Australian Opens, will play in the warm-up tournament in Sydney after competing in Auckland this week and is tipped to be tough to beat.

After some 10 years on the circuit, the Beijing gold medallist is a hardened veteran and is due for a change of luck in this country.

With Serena Williams the hot favourite in Sydney, Dementieva appeals as the next best player and so the $7 is hard to ignore.

Her best efforts at the Australian Open have been fourth-round losses in 2002, 2005, 2007 and again last year, but at $17 to win the opening grand slam, she is worth a modest wager.

In the men's draw, expect a big start to the new year from emerging Czech player Tomas Berdych, who has reached the fourth round at the Australian Open over the past two years and appeals as a player who can get through to the semis. In the meantime, back him at the double-figure quote to surprise in Sydney.

THE MARKETS

MEDIBANK INTERNATIONAL

MEN

$3.80 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

$5.50 David Nalbandian

$6 Gilles Simon

$7.50 Richard Gasquet

$9 Lleyton Hewitt

WOMEN

$8 Serena Williams

$7 Elena Dementieva, Dinara Safina

$10 Vera Zvonareva

$11 Svetlana Kuznetsova

$12 Agnieszka Radwanska

© 2009 The Age

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