Betting tips / Andy Morris / 18 January 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now

Looking over the women's tournament on Thursday at the Australian Open, Andy Morris is most intrigued by the match between Aussie Jelena Dokic and Marion Bartoli.

Though the first session of play on Rod Laver Arena throws up what should be a procession of easy wins for star players, it is the second session which will capture the imagination.

Jamie Hampton has won less than $250,000 in her career so far, and has a singles ranking of 144, so the American's prospects of toppling fourth seed Maria Sharapova look slim.

The same can be said for Barbora Zahlavova Styrova of the Czech Republic, who is a regular visitor to Melbourne but has yet to progress past the third round, which she did last year.

She reached as high as 39 in the rankings back in July 2010, but even her best is unlikely to trouble Serena Williams, who is the 12th seed.

The one match on the main court where a women's seed may crash out will open the second session in the evening, with France's Marion Bartoli taking on Australian Jelena Dokic.

Dokic would dearly love to reach a first Grand Slam singles semi-final, having reached the quarters three times -- first at Wimbledon in 1999 and most recently here in Melbourne three years ago.