Australian Open tennis: day nine match betting previews, free tips & TV details

Free tennis tips, best bets and analysis for day nine of the Australian Open.

When to watch

Eurosport 1 & 2, 8am & midnight Monday

Best bets

Novak Djokovic to win 3-0 v Milos Raonic
1pt 6-5 Betfair

Roger Federer to beat Tennys Sandgren & both players to win a set
1pt 7-4 bet365

Ashleigh Barty to beat Petra Kvitova
2pts 8-11 Betfair

Sofia Kenin -3.5 games on handicap v Ons Jabeur
1pt 10-11 BoyleSports

Novak Djokovic v Milos Raonic

Novak Djokovic remains well on course for his eighth Australian Open crown and can ease into the last four in Melbourne with victory over big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic.

Djokovic readily brushed aside Argentinian Diego Schwartzman in the last round – his third consecutive straight-set success – and although Raonic’s weapons should cause more problems it’s a test the super Serb can pass with flying colours.

Raonic has been performing at a higher level in Melbourne than has been the case for some time, as highlighted by his convincing wins over Stefanos Tsitsipas and Marin Cilic. However, Djokovic knows better than most how to nullify the Canadian’s powerful serve.

Djokovic, arguably the best returner on tour, has won all nine of their previous meetings and has dropped only two sets in the process.

The world number two is 1-7 to see off Raonic so the best way of supporting him may be the 6-5 with Betfair that he completes the job in straight sets.

Roger Federer v Tennys Sandgren

Roger Federer’s latest Australian adventure hasn’t been plain sailing and the 38-year-old legend may have to endure another bumpy ride to secure his place in the semi-finals.

Federer is yet to play an opponent ranked inside the world’s top 40 but his fans have still had a few scary moments.

Federer was taken the distance by Australian John Millman in the third round and was forced to come from a set down to get the better of Marton Fucsovics in his fourth-round assignment.

And although the Swiss supremo should have too much for world number 100 Tennys Sandgren, it would be no great surprise if the American was to get a set on the board.

Sandgren has impressed in wins over Sam Querrey and Italian pair Matteo Berrettini and Fabio Fognini and may be performing well enough to avoid a rout.

Ashleigh Barty v Petra Kvitova

Petra Kvitova dumped out Ashleigh Barty at this stage of last year’s Australian Open but the Queensland native can be backed to exact her revenge in front of a passionate home crowd.

Kvitova battered Barty 6-1 6-4 in the quarter-finals last year before eventually finishing runner-up to Naomi Osaka, but she survived a scare against Greek girl Maria Sakkari in the last round and will need to improve on that performance if she is to progress.

The Czech player dictated the rallies in her come-from-behind win over Sakkari but may not be able to emulate that approach against Barty, who has excellent variety to her game and the physical endurance to come out on top.

Sofia Kenin v Ons Jabeur

Ons Jabeur’s run to the quarter-finals of the Australian Open is a career-best effort but a showdown with Sofia Kenin may be a step too far for the Tunisian.

Jabeur, who had never gone beyond the third round in a Major prior to her heroics in Melbourne, has claimed the scalps of Johanna Konta, Caroline Garcia, Caroline Wozniacki and Qiang Wang and will be oozing with confidence.

However, she required a deciding set in two of those wins and none of her victims are in a similar vein of form as the fast-improving Kenin.

This is also new terrority for Kenin, but the American landed three titles in 2019 and a deep run in a Grand Slam has looked on the cards ever since she broke her duck.

Kenin overcame supremely talented compatriot Coco Gauff in the previous round and this latest test shouldn’t prove any tougher for her.

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