Australian Open Day 5 WTA Betting Odds & Picks: How to Bet Kenin vs. Zhang

Laura Siegemund getting broken from 40-0 up at 3-3 in the first set cost us a shot at a winning day yesterday.

Not a ton on Thursday's betting card caught my eye, but a pair did make the cut.

I will detail those two WTA bets I made for Thursday at the 2020 Australian Open, hitting on the following matchups:

• Caroline Wozniacki vs. Ons Jabeur (8:30 p.m. ET)
• Sofia Kenin vs. Shuai Zhang  (5 a.m. ET)

Tournament Record: 8-4 +3.65 units

All odds as of Wednesday morning.

Caroline Wozniacki -250 vs. Ons Jabeur 

Back to the Jabeur train today.

Caroline Wozniacki played wonderfully yesterday to overcome the volatile and big-hitting Dayan Yastremska. The Dane will retire after this tournament, making her story great for the fortnight.

However, that narrative and her name recognition might be feeding a slightly overvalued line here.

Jabeur at +200 is simply too big of a price based on her talent and current form. The Tunisian possesses the power to beat Wozniacki — even if she starts slow as she did in her last match against Caroline Garcia before coming on strong in the final two sets.

Jabeur will have to raise her overall level from that match to upset the crowd favorite but I think she has the game to do it. And the price offers some good value for that shot.

Most predicted Wozniacki’s retirement would come at the hands of the up-and-coming Ukranian in the last round. But now that she dismissed Yastremska, most are now saying it will come in the Round of 16 against Naomi Osaka. Most are sleeping on Jabeur, who is too talented to dismiss.

I would play Jabeur down to +180.

Pick: Ons Jabeur +210

[Bet now at FanDuel. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]

Sofia Kenin -180 vs. Shuai Zhang

Kenin has started off hot in Melbourne, dropping only 10 games through two matches.

That said, this will be a step up in class against Shuai, who has started 2020 off very strong as well. She made the final in Hobart last week and took out Sloane Stephens to open this tournament. Shuai did win their only previous meeting back in 2018 at Indian Wells, but that came  before Kenin’s game rounded into what it is today.

I like Kenin -4 games today because of her excellent form and propensity to bury her opponents. She has a bit of a Rafa quality in never quitting on points or games.

Kenin’s serve isn’t the strongest part of her game, but Shuai doesn’t possess the power to take advantage and hit through the court.

Shuai also doesn't excel at coming back or fighting through adversity in matches. In her 26 losses since the beginning of 2019, 20 came in straight sets (not including retirements). And both of her losses this year came in straight sets.

Couple Shuai’s tendency to shut down a bit with Kenin’s bulldog nature and the spread at -4 (or Kenin -1.5 sets at plus money) is what I like in this matchup.

Pick: Sofia Kenin -4 Games (+110)

[Bet now at DraftKings. NJ, PA, IN and WV only.]