Betting tips / Andy Morris / 28 January 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Andy Morris can't imagine too many friendly photo opportunities for Maria Sharapova and Victoria Azarenka going into the women's finals of the Australia Open.

There are some punters who will always side with experience.

Given the choice of an untested horse, greyhound or coach versus one with at least some form-line, however ordinary, you'll find people prepared to part with good money.

History shows us, though, that at one time the likes of Roger Federer, Pete Sampras, Martina Navratilova - you name it - have gone into their first Grand Slam final with some doubt hanging over them

So don't waste too much time worrying about Victoria Azarenka's lack of experience on the big stage when she faces Maria Sharapova.

Sure, Sharapova has been in five Grand Slam finals and won three of them.

Regardless, you can't help but hand it to Azarenka for the formidable tennis she's played en-route to the Women's Singles Final.

Azarenka herself isn't overwhelmed, particularly as the pair have split their six meetings.
She said: "I worked hard to be in this situation, so why stress about it? I want it and that's what I'm looking for, so I'm just going to go out there and try to do my best."

The Belarus ace won her first two matches here for the loss of a combined two games, then when tested to the full by first Agnieszka Radwanska and then Kim Clijsters, she came through superbly.

And just in case anyone's still worried about the world no. 3's failure to make a singles final before, it should be noted that she's made the doubles final twice in Melbourne.

Plenty of reasons to go with Azarenka on Saturday.