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Ajla Tomljanovic vs Varvara Lepchenko: 2015 Australian Open live scores

22nd January, 2015
Start: 2:00pm AEDT
Head to head: Lepchenko 2 Tomljanovic 0
Last Meeting: 2014 Miami Masters – Lepchenko 6-4 6-7 7-6
Betting: Lepchenko 1.36 Tomljanovic 3
TV: Check local guides. It will be online on 7sport.com.au
Roar Guru
22nd January, 2015
0

Adopted Aussie, Ajla Tomljanovic, will be looking to make the third round of the Australian Open for the first time with a win over Varvara Lepchenko this afternoon. Join The Roar for live scores of the match from around 2:00pm (AEDT).

The Australian – competing for her home nation for the first time at the Australian Open – made a dream start on Tuesday night when she defeated Shelby Rogers in three tough sets.

Today, she faces another American, in Varvara Lepchenko. Lepchenko might be a name you already know after the world number 30 defeated Sam Stosur in Brisbane earlier this year.

The American fought her way back from 5-1 down in the final set to take the win 7-5 against the Queenslander. She now faces another Australian after defeating Vitalia Diatchenko 6-3 6-3 in the opening round.

Lepchenko will enter this match as the favourite with the American 37 places higher than Tomljanovic in the rankings. She also has a 2-0 head to head advantage over the Australian.

Their first meeting, in 2011, was a comfortably 6-3 6-3 win for the American. Last year, they faced again, with the American winning in a closer contest.

At the Miami Masters, she was pushed all the way by the Australian, as she won 6-4 6-7 7-6. The total points for that match were 122 to 118 in favour of the American.

I expect a similar contest between the two today.

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Despite the American’s favouritism, this is a genuine 50/50 match. Both players have similar games, with both players powerful from the baseline. Against Rogers, Tomljanovic won because she made less unforced errors than her opponent.

She needs to do the same against Lepchenko.

Whoever makes less unforced errors will win the match, but the Australian crowd will also be a factor. They helped the Australian to win on Tuesday and I expect them to help her again today.

In what is expected to be a close match, the crowd could be the difference. so Tomljanovic is a big chance to win today.

If she can limit the unforced errors, hit plenty of winners, and gain motivation from the crowd, she can upset Lepchenko.

I predict the Australian to make the third round at the Australian Open for the first time in her career.

Prediction: Tomljanovic 2-1

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