US Open: Women's Quarter Finals Tip

If we look at the head-to-head stats ahead of the women’s quarter-finals then it would appear that the favourites should win at a canter. Victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova should beat Sam Stosur and Marion Bartoli respectively without dropping a set; they are slightly better than 6/4 (Ladbrokes) to do just that.

History makes a compelling case for this to happen. Azarenka has a 5-0 head-to-head lead over Stosur and the outcomes have never been in doubt. The world number one has won 10/10 sets against the Australian and here are the scores, starting with the most recent: 6-1 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-2 6-3 6-1 6-0 6-4 7-6.

The psychological hold that the Belarusian must have over the world number 7 must be huge. Stosur has failed to take more than three games from any set in the last eight.

It’s a similar story when Sharapova faces Bartoli. The Russian has won 6/6 sets with these scores, starting with the most recent: 6-1 6-4 7-5 6-0 6-1 6-2.

When you consider the cold hard facts, and that Sharapova, like Azarenka, is close to the peak of her powers, anything but further straight sets success would be a massive shock.