Australian Open - Women

Opportunity knocks for someone in the bottom half of the women's draw as overwhelming favourite Serena Williams (19/20) and defending champion and world number one Victoria Azarenka (5/1) were drawn in the top half. Maria Sharapova (11/1), Angelique Kerber (33/1), Agnieszka Radwanska (20/1) and Li Na (22/1) are the players most likely to take advantage and its with the latter that we'll be placing our faith with in the draw. 

Li Na is a former finalist at the Australian Open and has already secured her first title of the season in Shenzhen. She followed that up with a defeat to eventual Sydney champion Radwanska, and the two may well meet again in the last eight. Li Na is no stranger to Grand Slam success, having become the first Chinese player to lift a major at the 2011 French Open. Her performances in Melbourne have been consistent over the past three years - never failing to reach at least the last eight. 

It's hard to look past Serena as ultimately lifting the title, but her price has dipped below what The Overrule would have liked, and so we will give her price a pass. Instead the 22/1 on Li Na represents a healthy price with a very realistic chance of providing us with an 11/1 return should she reach the final. We'll back Li Na with one point each-way (two points outlay in total) and possibly look to lay some of that off should she reach the last four. 

For those of you unfamiliar with each-way selections, what we are backing is one point on Li Na to win the tournament at 22/1 and one point on Li Na to reach the final at 11/1.

1* Li Na win Australian Open (each-way) @ 22/1 (Sportingbet) (each-way terms 1/2 odds 1-2 places)