Australian open winner

Australian Open winner: It's got to be Serena in straight sets

The women's final of the Australian Open is set to be a one-sided affair, writes Nick Tedeschi

Australian Open winner betting for the women has Serena Williams at around the 1.45 mark with Dinara Safina at around 3.15.

This is significantly over the odds for Serena Williams. Williams should be around the 1.30 mark.

A three-time Australian Open winner, Williams gets all the ticks for the final.

Experience wise, the gap between Williams and Safina is immense. Williams is a nine-time Grand Slam winner and twelve-time Grand Slam finalist, a former world number one who has been at the top of the women's tennis tree for over a decade. Safina, conversely, has played in only two Grand Slam finals and has yet to hoist a major trophy. Experience counts for a lot in a Grand Slam final and Serena Williams clearly has a major edge.

The head-to-head record between the two players also tells quite the tale and again pushes bettors to Serena Williams. Williams has a 5-1 record against Safina with Safina's only victory coming on clay. On hard courts, Williams has dropped only 1 set and 24 games in 4 matches. In their three Grand Slam matches, Safina has not won more than 3 games in a set.

Williams will also benefit from the night final, the first time a women's final has been played under the lights at Rod Laver Arena. Williams has struggled with the heat this tournament and was lucky that the roof was closed midway through her quarter-final encounter with Svetlana Kuznetsova when she appeared to be on the ropes under the intense heat. A night final certainly favours Serena and her power game.

Williams looks the Australian Open winner and she can be bet heavily in the match odds market down to 1.30.

Value also exists in betting Serena Williams in straight sets at better than 1.80 in the Set Betting market. Williams has dropped only two sets and both were under the hot Melbourne sun. She has been dominant in her night fixtures.

Bettors can also take a punt on betting Williams to win the first set 6-1 or 6-2 at better than 7.0 each in the 1st Set Correct Score market. Williams has the game and the conditions to absolutely destroy Safina and she will be looking to assert that dominance early.

It is tough to picture Serena Williams not walking out of Melbourne the Australian Open winner. The final could get messy and is one that will most likely only be enjoyed by those who have got their money down on Serena.