Australian Open Tip Sheet: Did you listen to our pre-tournament advice on Rybakina or Sabalenka?

REMEMBER WHEN: Zach touted Sabalenka to win it all at +950

If you listened to our pre-tournament advice and backed either Elena Rybakina (as a flier at +2000) or Aryna Sabalenka (at +950; watch above) to win it all, then now isn’t a bad time to start hedging. You can make moneyline bets on Victoria Azarenka or Magda Linette to win back your initial investment, and then some, making for a risk-free remainder of the (Financially) Happy Slam.

If you didn't—or just want to make some more bank—here's how we’re approaching the upcoming women’s semifinals:

Victoria Azarenka vs. Elena Rybakina

Azarenka is listed at -145 to win a set, yet you can get plus-money odds to bet on this match going to a decider. That value is hard to pass up, as Rybakina is listed at an absurd -575 to win one set. With that said, we’re simply playing the numbers and backing this semifinal to go three sets.

Azarenka, even at 33, is playing some of the best tennis of her career right now. She is capable of getting hot with her serve, her forehand has looked dangerous, and we know she has one of the best backhands on tour. That should give the Belarusian a good shot at outplaying Rybakina from the baseline, which can help counter the edge the 2022 Wimbledon champion has on serve. At the same time, it's reasonable expect a response from Rybakina. Let’s sit back and just hope this match turns into a doozy. BET: Over 2.5 Sets (+140)

Magda Linette vs. Aryna Sabalenka

It’s hard to find a way to bet Sabalenka without paying a giant price, so we’re going to get a little cute and play the Under on her individual game total. By going with Under 12.5, that means that we need Sabalenka to win in straights—which is priced at -170—but without her requiring seven games in either set. We’re confident Sabalenka will find a way to do that, as Linette has no business being in the semifinals of a major.

The Pole is a great story, but she’s going to have a lot of trouble finding ways to make Sabalenka uncomfortable. The world No. 5 is simply too powerful, and that should be very evident in baseline rallies. Also, while Sabalenka’s double-fault count is starting to creep up a little, she has been finding ways to work herself out of jams. That makes it hard to believe that Linette will give her trouble as a returner. On the flip side, Sabalenka should be able to break Linette a few times, looking to punish anything weak that comes her way. BET: Sabalenka Under 12.5 Games Won (-135)