Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic Odds & Predictions – Australian Open Quarterfinals Women’s Singles
By Stephanie Myles in Tennis
- Aryna Sabalenka is a heavy favorite to defeat Donna Vekic in their Australian Open quarterfinal Tuesday
- But … hold the phone. Vekic holds a 5-1 career head-to-head against the Belarussian
- Read on as we get into why that might be, and look at Vekic’s upset potential in the Sabalenka vs VEkic odds
Not just because three of the top four seeds are out of the Australian Open – although that doesn’t hurt – but Aryna Sabalenka is looking very good to win her first Grand Slam singles title, if she can advance in the Sabalenka vs Vekic picks.
With Swiatek in the picture, Sabalenka’s odds were longer in the Australian Open odds. Now that she’s out, the Belarussian is at +200 to win it all.
Sabalenka vs Vekic Odds
| Player | Spread | Moneyline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| [5] Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) | -4.5 (-130) | -425 | O 20.5 (-105) |
| Donna Vekic (CRO) | +4.5 (+105) | +320 | U 20.5 (-115) |
Odds as of Jan. 23 at DraftKings Sportsbook
The 24-year-old from Belarus went through a truly challenging 2022 when, right from the start of the season, she developed a serious case of the yips on her serve.
Get Your First Bet Back - Up To $1,000 On Caesars!
That’s a mental more than a physical problem. And it has ruined many careers in many sports.
But she’s back in 2023 having found the silver lining: she still had a somewhat decent year. And it taught her that even if she thought she was completely dependent on her big serve for results, it turns out she has several other tools in her tennis kit that also help her win matches when that’s not firing.
That’s a big step, and it presages a swing right back to the top in 2023.
"I will try to take revenge" – Donna Vekic jokes about getting even with Aryna Sabalenka for her win against good friend Belinda Bencic https://t.co/qvRDaajuLZ
— Sportskeeda Tennis (@SK__Tennis) January 23, 2023
“I want to believe that the way I’m working right now, the way I’m on the court right now, this is the new beginning, and this is the next step. So I really want to believe that it’s going to really help me,” Sabalenka said Sunday.
Sabalenka 8-0 so far in 2023
Sabalenka went undefeated in winning the title at the WTA 500 in Adelaide to start her season.
And she’s a perfect 4-0 in Melbourne and hasn’t dropped a set, with her 7-5, 6-2 win over No. 12 seed Belinda Bencic in the fourth round Sunday, after being down 2-4 in the first set, her most noteworthy victory.
Bencic was the winner of the second Adelaide warmup tournament.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic Head-to-Head
| 24 (May 5, 1998) | Age | 26 (June 28, 1996) |
| Minsk, Belarus | Birthplace | Osijek, Croatia |
| 5-11 | Height | 5-10 |
| 11 | Career ATP Singles Titles | 3 |
| No. 2 (Aug. 23, 2021) | Career-Best Ranking | No. 19 (Nov. 4, 2019) |
| No. 5 | Current Ranking | No. 64 |
| $12,302,010 | Career Prize Money | $5,665,590 |
| 28-22 | 2022 Won/Loss Record | 24-18 |
| 1 | Head-to-Head Wins | 5 |
Outstanding Sabalenka Stats
Through the first four rounds, Sabalenka’s statistics have been remarkably similar from match to match .
And overall she’s averaged three aces and three double faults a match, with just over 30 winners and just under 20 unforced errors.
For her game, those are winning numbers.
There’s just one rub.
Sabalenka vs Vekic Match History
| Year | Tournament | Surface | Score | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | San Diego (QF) | Outdoor Hard | 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-1 | Vekic |
| 2021 | Olympics (R32) | Outdoor Hard | 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (3) | Vekic |
| 2019 | San Jose (SF) | Outdoor Hard | 6-4, 6-3 | Sabalenka |
| 2017 | Cincinnati (QR2) | Outdoor Hard | 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 | Vekic |
| 2017 | St. Petersburg (QR1) | Indoor Hard | 6-4, 6-2 | Vekic |
| 2016 | St. Petersburg (SF) | Indoor Hard | 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 | Vekic |
As much of a favorite as Sabalenka is to make her first Australian Open semifinal and her fourth major semi overall, she will meet a player on Tuesday who truly has had her number.
Vekic has one quarterfinal in 36 Grand Slam efforts and is looking for her first semifinal. It’s only the fifth time she’s made the second week of a major.
But she’s 5-1 against Sabalenka – all of those matches on a hard court – and has won their last two meetings in three tough sets.
Aryna Sabalenka vs Donna Vekic Prediction
Vekic has been in the top 20; in the end, maybe she just hasn’t gotten her break yet, at age 26. With her hard, flat shots being rewarded by the Australian Open conditions this year, maybe this is it.
Vekic’s wins over Sabalenka haven’t necessarily come at the biggest events. Except for the Olympics; Vekic drew the Belarussian in the first round, and beat her in three sets.
It will be a true test of Sabalenka’s newfound zen.
And it’s unlikely to be straightforward in the Sabalenka vs Vekic picks – even if it’s hard to know which way the wind will blow if Sabalenka is pushed harder than she has been so far.
Best Bet: Over 21.5 Games (+120)
If you are betting on the match, check out this DraftKings promo code that offers a unique sign-up bonus.
FANATICS SPORTSBOOKBET & GET UP TO $1,000 IN BONUS BETS!
DRAFTKINGS SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $250 + 1 MONTH OF NFL+ PREMIUM
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $200 + 3 WEEKS OF NFL SUNDAY TICKET
BETMGM SPORTSBOOKGET UP TO $1,500 BACK IN BONUS BETS + 2ND CHANCE TD CASH BACK!
BET365 SPORTSBOOKBET $5 & GET $200 IN BONUS BETS!
ESPN BET SPORTSBOOKUSE CODE "DIME" & GET A $1,000 BET RESET!
CAESARS SPORTSBOOKGET UP TO $1,000 BACK - ON CAESARS!
Must be 21+. GAMBLING PROBLEM? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (CO, IL, KS, KY, MD, MI, NC, NJ, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV, WY); (800) 327-5050 or gamblinghelplinema.org (MA); (877) 8-HOPENY (NY); 1-800-NEXT-STEP (AZ); (888) 789-7777 (CT); 1-800-BETS-OFF (IA); 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN); mdgamblinghelp.org (MD); morethanagame.nc.gov (NC); 1800gambler.net (WV)
Sports Writer
Stephanie gets the straight dope from the tennis insiders. On court, she has represented her country internationally. A BA in journalism led to years on the MLB beat and a decade covering tennis globally. She's written for Postmedia, the Guardian, the New York Times and also publishes OpenCourt.ca.
