Betting tips / Andy Morris / 25 January 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Aussies love a winner, make no mistake, but Andy Morris finds something particularly heartening about the unexpected victory of a name that no-one expected to see in week two of the Australian Open.

Every year, Rod Laver Arena has something of a love affair with the underdog.

And this year the lucky recipient is unheralded Italian Sara Errani, who has the biggest chance of her career so far to make a name for herself on Wednesday.

On the face of it, a player ranked 48 in the world shouldn't have much of a prayer against Petra Kvitova, the second seed.

But Errani, who has never previously made it past the third round of any Grand Slam, has impressed many in Melbourne.

Her second-round victory over 29th seed Nadia Petrova, for the loss of just four games, was a major confidence boost for her, and after losing the opening set of her third round match against Romania's Sorana Cirstea, she then won the next set to love.

Kvitova reached the quarters here last year, though is best remembered for her Wimbledon win.

She was pushed hard in the second set of her last match, against Serbia's Ana Ivanovic, and dropped the second set against Carla Suarez Navarro in round two.

One person who's been blown away by her performances has been legend Martina Navratilova, who believes the Czech player has the power to be the women's number one for years to come.

It promises to be a real crowd-pleaser, whatever the outcome.