UK: 18+ USA: 21+ | Begambleaware.org | T&Cs apply | Play Responsibly
After breezing past the first round, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Taylor Townsend face off for a career best result at the Australian Open. Take a look at our predictions for the round 2 matchup and the best bets available.
[nsn_tip count=2 tip1=”Alexandrova -3.5 Games” reason1=”” odds1=”17/20 (1.85)” logo1=”https://punditfeed.com/app/uploads/nsntips/Ladbrokes.png” bookmaker1=”Ladbrokes” url1=”https://punditfeed.com/go-ladbrokes” tip2=”Alexandrova -1.5 Sets” reason2=”” odds2=”11/10 (2.1)” logo2=”https://punditfeed.com/app/uploads/nsntips/Ladbrokes.png” bookmaker2=”Ladbrokes” url2=”https://punditfeed.com/go-ladbrokes” target=”undefined” color_cta=”#000000″ text_cta=”white”]
These odds from Ladbrokes were correct at the time of writing.
Taylor Townsend vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Match Predictions
Alexandrova and Townsend had a stellar first round, dropping a combined five games between the two. Carrying plenty of momentum from their respective wins, they now have a chance to move into the third round, inching closer to the second week of the tournament.
Alexandrova -3.5 Games
This is a fairly standard bet that also offers good value. Alexandrova can cover her handicap as long as she wins two sets and avoids a tie break. And even if the match turns into a three-setter, she will still have a good chance of covering the -3.5 line.
In her dominant round 1 win, the Russian ended with a nine-game advantage – largely because of her impressive 81% win rate on the second serve. Alexandrova only gave up one break in eight service games.
Alexandrova -1.5 Sets
This is a riskier bet, but I like Alexandrova’s chances of closing out the match in straight sets. Despite her dominant round 1 win, Townsend has generally struggled against opponents ranked inside the top 50.
It’s difficult to imagine her chances improving going up against a seeded player. Additionally, the American’s previous three Australian Open appearances ended in straight-set losses.
Taylor Townsend vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Preview
Now that we have laid out the match predictions, it’s time to take a look at the relevant information about these two players heading into the match.
Taylor Townsend
Townsend returned to the WTA Tour in 2022 following a two-year maternity leave. The 26-year old American spent most of her time playing at the ITF level, winning two titles in two finals appearances. She managed one win at the WTA Tour level, in San Jose.
Following an early exit in the qualifiers for the Adelaide International, she made it to the Australian Open main draw as a wild card. With a dominant 2-0 (6-1, 6-1) win over Diane Parry in the first round , Townsend advanced past the first round for the second time, matching her career best result in Melbourne.
Ekaterina Alexandrova
Alexandrova had her best year as a pro in 2022. The 28-year old broke into the top 20 for the first time and ended a two-year drought by winning two titles. Following two disappointing results in the two Adelaide International tournaments, she bounced back in Melbourne with a dominant win over Ysaline Bonaventure (6-2, 6-1).
A win will allow Alexandrova to match her career best at the Australian Open. The Russian previously reached the third round in 2020 and 2021.
Townsend vs Alexandrova Head to Head
This match will mark their first ever head to head meeting at the WTA Tour level.
Taylor Townsend vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Match Details
- Where is the match going to be played? The match will be played on John Cain Arena, the second-largest arena in the Melbourne Park complex.
- How can I watch the AO 2023 in the UK? UK viewers can follow the 2023 Australian Open action live on Eurosport, both on TV and streaming, and on Discovery + streaming.
- What is start time for this match? The match is set to start at 12:00 am GMT.
Subscribe to Punditfeed on Google News for all the latest updates from the world of sports!
