Betting tips / Ben Caudell / 21 January 2012 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market

Still on the hunt for some value, Ben Caudell has found it with a couple of in-form outsiders in today's Australian Open.

Five reasons to back Jie Zheng to defeat Marion Bartoli @ [2.8]
• The head-to-head series between Bartoli and Zheng is tied at 1-1, however, the Chinese no.3 defeated today's opponent at this same stage of the 2010 Australian Open 5-7, 6-3, 6-0.
• Zheng is on a decent run of form coming into this match and looks overpriced at [2.8] in the match-odds market, the 28-year-old won seven in a row on hard-courts, seven in a row overall, and seven of her last eight at the Australian Open.
• Zheng, who did not compete in 2011 at Melbourne Park, reached the semi-final stage of the 2010 Open beating Bartoli in the third round. Zheng retired from her match against Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round in 2009.
• Not only does Zheng have good form at this Grand Slam event, she also comes into this match-up having already won a tournament in Auckland where she beat both Kuznetsova and Pennetta in three sets.
• The underdog is still unbeaten this year, defeating the 25th ranked Roberta Vinci in straight sets on day four of the Australian Open. Having returned from injury in August last year Zheng went on to beat four top-20 ranked players - Kim Clijsters, Julia Goerges, Svetlana Kuznetsova and Flavia Pennetta - who says she won't be able to make it five?

Four Reasons to back Janko Tipsarevic to defeat Richard Gasquet @ [2.08]
• Who imagined that Tipsarevic would become a top-ten player this time last year? Not me for one. Having climbed to an all-time high of nine in the world rankings (nine places above Gasquet) from a ranking of 49, 12 months ago, Tipsarevic has gained unprecedented respect from his colleagues on tour and has taken a massive leaf out of compatriot Novak Djokovic's book that has helped him rise to this elevated position.
• The Serbian number two has won six of his last seven matches on hard courts, six of his last seven at Grand Slam level. He also holds finals appearances on hard courts at Chennai, and Delray Beach, the semi-finals of Montreal and quarter-final showings at Washington and the US Open all in the space of 12 months. The most consecutive matches won in a row for Gasquet on hard courts within the last 12 months is three, with his best showing at the Dubai Open where he reached the semis.
• Tipsarevic holds a superior ranking, match rating, and surface rating; he also compiles a better percentage chance of winning at 60%, as well as a greater service points won percentage 86.2% and service hold percentage of 86%.
• Although Gasquet leads the head-to-head series 2-0, these matches were played more than seven years ago, Tipsarevic is currently peaking and will be a tough opponent for any player left in the men's draw.
• Gasquet has a poor record against top ten players, having lost eight in a row.