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Ashleigh Barty vs Sofia Kenin Australian Open Semifinals Odds & Pick

Hayley Graham

by Hayley Graham in Tennis

Updated Mar 18, 2021 · 1:59 PM PDT

Ashleigh Barty making a forehand return during a match at the Australian Open.
Australia's Ashleigh Barty makes a forehand return to Montenegrin's Danke Kovinic during their first round match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, Tuesday, Feb. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
  • Ashleigh Barty and Sofia Kenin will face off in the semifinals of the Australian Open on Wednesday
  • This is Barty’s first Australian Open semifinals
  • Sofia Kenin ends Ons Jabeur’s historic Australian Open run

No. 1 seed Ashleigh Barty will play No. 14 seed Sofia Kenin in the semifinals of the Australian Open. The two young tennis superstars have played each other five times, with four of those matches taking place in 2019. Barty holds the head-to-head record at 4-1. And with her win in the quarterfinals, Barty has become the first Australian woman to reach the semis of this tournament in 36 years.

As the favorite going into this match, she could continue to become the first Australian woman to reach the finals since Wendy Turnbull in 1980.

Barty vs Kenin Australian Open Semifinal Odds

Player Spread Moneyline Total
Ashleigh Barty -4.0 (EVEN) -250 O 21.0 (-125)
Sofia Kenin +4.0 (-130) +200 U 21.0 (-105)

Odds taken Jan. 28.

Ashleigh Barty

World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty faced Petra Kvitova in the quarterfinals of the Aussie Open, where she was able to win the match, 7-6(8-6), 6-2, in what was a rematch of the 2019 quarterfinals. Right off the bat, Kvitova came to play, putting Barty under pressure immediately.

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Barty was able to put her defensive skills on display, as Kvitova really led the first set. At 2-3, Barty won the longest rally of the match, which was 22 shots that ended with Kvitova hitting a backhand into the net. After a 69 minute first set, Barty found a 4-0 lead in the second to eventually end up winning the match.

Petra Kvitova showed signs of a comeback after she was able to break Barty. But after one hour and 44 minutes, Barty was able to secure the win. With this win, Barty has hit 250 tour-level victories and 100 on hard courts.

Sofia Kenin

Sofia Kenin continues her breakthrough run at the 2020 Australian Open with a win against Ons Jabeur in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4. The American has reached her first Grand Slam semifinal of her career.

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In her quarterfinal match, Kenin was able to jump out to an early 3-1 lead, but Jabeur caught up and tied it at 3-3. Kenin was able to go up to 5-3, and needed six set points to close the first set.

The second set started off with the two players exchanged games. Kenin was able to get the break at 4-3 and close out the match on a Jabeur forehand error. The match lasted an hour and 32 minutes.

Barty vs Kenin Head to Head

Barty
VS
Kenin
1 Current World Ranking 15
4-1 Head to Head record 1-4
2 Sets Dropped at 2020 Aussie Open 0
29 Aces recorded at 2020 Aussie Open 5

Ashleigh Barty has won four of the five matches between the young stars, which includes their fourth round bout last year at the French Open. But Barty knows that Kenin has developed tremendously over the past year, making every match different.

Best Bet

This is going to be a good match between these two players. Both players are playing phenomenal tennis. Sofia Kenin is having a breakthrough run at the tournament, and Ashleigh Barty is putting on a show for her country.

“It’s about me getting my running shoes on, bringing variety and trying to bring the match on my terms as much as possible.” – Barty on her semifinals match against Kenin

Barty has a bit of an upper hand going into the match, and will most likely be the one who moves onto the finals. But don’t expect it to be an easy match for either player to play.

Best Bet: Ashleigh Barty -250

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