Australian Open Women's Betting: Azarenka v Stephens is a first round clash to savour

Expect a tight opener for Azarenka

The risk of upsets in Melbourne is already prevalent in the first round and Abelson Info take a closer look at some of them...

As expected at this stage of the tournament, many of the top seeds should be comfortable in making it through to the second round unscathed.

World number one Serena Williams, Petra Kvitova and Maria Sharapova will have few problems in navigating their way past the opening round, but the same can't be said across the entire draw.

The immediate stand-out clash is in the top half where Sloane Stephens will go to battle with the unseeded Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarusian is a two-time Australian Open champion after lifting the trophy both in 2012 and 2013, but life hasn't been quite as enjoyable over the last 12 months.

Injuries made last year one to forget and she is subsequently unseeded for this tournament which makes her path to the latter rounds particularly difficult.

The pair played out a famous semi-final back in 2013 while they also met in the fourth round in 2014 too. Azarenka came out on top on both occasions, but given her recent problems, this one might not be as straightforward.

Evidently she loves playing in this tournament, but she will have to expect a gruelling first match to get under way and Stephens has the talent to make this a real war which could go the distance.

Elsewhere, two top seeds that are expected to win may come under pressure if health and fitness come into play.

Caroline Wozniacki had a fantastic year last year, but after making a bright start to 2015 she was forced to retire from her first match in Sydney with a left wrist injury.

The 24-year-old insisted earlier this week that it was merely precautionary and she is now back at 100% but her opponent, Taylor Townsend, took a set off her in Auckland last week and could be a threat.

Back Wozniacki to come through to set up a second round clash with either Azarenka or Stephens, but it could be a problematic start for the Dane.

Meanwhile, Simona Halep had her own problems in Sydney after she was forced to withdraw due to illness. Again, she has also told the media she is now fine and insists that she is feeling no pressure ahead of the Grand Slam, but the 23-year-old will be under scrutiny to follow up an exceptional 2014.

Karin Knapp stands in her way of the second round and the Italian won her first WTA title in Tashkent back in September. Similarly to Wozniacki, there is little fear of an early upset but Halep could have her hands full in this one.

Other notable encounters include the all-Italian affair between Flavia Pennetta and Camila Giorgi, while Kristina Mladenovic and Caroline Garcia will be a threat to Sabine Lisicki and Svetlana Kuznetsova respectively.

Recommended Bets
Back Azarenka to beat Stephens 2-1 @ 2.1211/10
Back Townsend to win a set vs Wozniacki at Best Available Price
Back Garcia to beat Kuznetsova @ 2.3611/8

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