Halep and Sabalenka Nearly Co-Favorites to Win 3rd Quarter at Aussie Open

• Halep favored to advance out of third-quarter despite recent disappointments
• Sabalenka aiming to duplicate her recent Grand Slam doubles success
• With recent victories over Halep, Sabalenka, Bencic poised to duplicate her impressive US Open run

Simona Halep will be aiming to put a stretch of disappointing finishes behind her when she takes the court at the 2020 Australian Open perched as a sturdy +350 favorite in the third quarter of the women’s draw in the tennis odds.

Odds to Win 2020 Australian Open Women’s 3rd Quarter

Odds taken on Jan. 17

Halep Struggling Since Wimbledon Victory

Halep claimed her second career Grand Slam title last summer at Wimbledon but has struggled since, reaching the quarterfinals just twice in seven subsequent tournament appearances, including Thursday’s loss to Aryna Sabalenka at the inaugural Adelaide Open.

Aryna Sabalenka stunned second seed, Simona Halep 6-4, 6-2 to march to the semifinals. pic.twitter.com/lsBp47td6K

— Stadium Astro (@stadiumastro) January 17, 2020

Perched at No. 4 on the WTA singles rankings, Halep was pegged as the No. 2 seed in Adelaide, but was far from dominant in her lone victory at the tournament, topping Ajla Tomljanović 6-4, 7-5 before falling to Sabalenka in straight sets in her quarterfinal loss.

Halep has failed to record a victory over an opponent ranked in the top 30 since her dominating victory over Serena Williams at Wimbledon.

The 28-year-old Romanian also disappointed at the recent WTA Finals in Shenzhen, China, with her lone victory in three group stage matches coming when Canadian Bianca Andreescu was forced to withdraw due to injury. And overall,  Halep has failed to record a victory over an opponent ranked in the top 30 since her dominating victory over Serena Williams at Wimbledon.

Sabalenka Aiming to Build on Strong 2019 Campaign

Sabalenka may have another opportunity to face Halep this month after drawing into the same quarter as the 2018 Australian Open finalist. The 21-year-old Belarusian closely trails Halep as a +400 bet to reach the final four this time around in Melbourne after failing to get past the third round in three previous appearances.

Aryna Sabalenka won her third title of the year after a straight-sets win over Kiki Bertens in the WTA Elite Trophy final in Zhuhai.

Report: https://t.co/rAtBgPCLmH#bbctennis pic.twitter.com/DF95H96CoU

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) October 27, 2019

Sabalenka has vaulted to No. 12 in the WTA rankings following an impressive 2019 season that featured three tournament victories including wins in two of her final three tournament appearances, at the Wuhan Open and the 2019 WTA Elite Trophy in Zhuhai, China.

While Sabalenka has enjoyed limited success in previous Grand Slam appearances, with her best showing coming at the 2018 US Open, where she bowed out in the fourth round, she enjoyed plenty of success playing doubles on the big stage last year, raising the hardware at Flushing Meadows, and reaching the semifinal of the French Open.

Bencic Posted Recent Wins Over Halep, Sabalenka

There are no shortage of ranked players aiming to challenge Halep and Sabalenka in the women’s third quarter at this year’s Australian Open. Pegged at No. 27 on the rankings, Danielle Collins sits at a surprising +700 on the odds to come out of the third quarter, just ahead of Belinda Bencic at +800.

The two best weeks of Belinda Bencic’s career so far…

Toronto 2015:
Beat Bouchard, Wozniacki, Lisicki, Ivanovic, Serena and Halep to win the title.

Dubai 2019:
Beat Hradecka, Voegele, Sabalenka, Halep, Svitolina and Kvitova to win the title. #RogersCup #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/xsb5d6sVh2

— The Tennis Podcast (@TennisPodcast) February 23, 2019

Collins made her first-ever semifinal appearance in a Grand Slam tournament last year in Melbourne, and sports +4000 odds of winning this year’s Australian Open. However, the 26-year-old American has struggled since last year’s success in Australia, going three rounds on just three occasions through the rest of the year.

Bencic is listed at a lofty No. 7 on the WTA rankings after enjoying a breakthrough in 2019 that featured a march to the semifinals at the US Open, where she ultimately fell to Andreescu. The 22-year-old Swiss star also recorded a pair of tournament victories, most notably in Dubai, where she knocked off both Halep and Sabalenka, and takes a respectable 7-6 all-time record in six all-time appearances in this year’s tournament as an attractive +2800 bet on the Australian Open futures.

Pick: Belinda Bencic (+800)