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Australian Open - Day seven preview: Jessica Pegula and Iga Swiatek headline in Melbourne

Sunday marks day seven of the Australian Open and the start of the fourth round, with a look at the order of play suggesting the women's draw will be the focus.

World number one Iga Swiatek is among those in action but the men's competition also has a real attraction, with Stefanos Tsitsipas set to face Jannik Sinner.

Pegula can pass Krejcikova test

WhatJessica Pegula v Barbora Krejcikova
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When06:00, Sunday 22nd January
How to watchEurosport, discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsJessica Pegula 1/2, Barbora Krejcikova 13/8

Jessica Pegula is earning a reputation as a Melbourne specialist, as a win on Sunday would see her reach the quarter-finals for the third year in a row.

In her way stands 2021 French Open winner Barbora Krejcikova, a player more known for her double exploits having won three pairs majors in 2022.

She too reached the last eight in the singles here last year and has dropped just 14 games in wins against Sara Bejlek, Clara Burel and Anhelina Kalinina.

However, Pegula is a step up in class and, having beaten Swiatek at the United Cup, is in real form.

The American has dropped just nine games in her run to the fourth round and may feel hard done by being placed in the same half of the draw as Swiatek.

Krejcikova's status within the game suggests a real test but it is one the 28-year-old should be able to pass and she is 5/4 to win 2-0 in the Set Betting.

All go for Gauff

WhatJelena Ostapenko v Coco Gauff
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When02:00, Sunday 22nd January
How to watchEurosport, discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsJelena Ostapenko 7/2, Coco Gauff 1/5

What a start Coco Gauff has had to the new season. The American has won all eight of her matches so far and has looked solid in straight sets wins against Katerina Siniakova, Emma Raducanu and Bernarda Pera.

Her next opponent is Latvia's Jelena Ostapenko, a player capable of great things on her day but not nearly regularly enough.

Ostapenko's aggression can be both a blessing and a curse and it is interesting to note she won 10 of her 11 points when coming to the net in her third-round success against Kateryna Baindl.

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She may employ similarly positive tactics to upset Gauff's rhythm and the 2017 French Open winner might feel she has enough to take a set from her opponent.

This is exactly the type of match the American teenager needs to show guts in to achieve her Grand Slam dream and she is available at 8/13 to win 2-0 in sets.

Battle of the reigning Grand Slam champions

WhatIga Swiatek v Elena Rybakina
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When01:30, Sunday 22nd January
How to watchEurosport, discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsIga Swiatek 2/9, Elena Rybakina 10/3

Two of the current reigning women's Grand Slam champions meet in arguably the headline match on Sunday as world number one Swiatek faces Elena Rybakina.

Rybakina was crowned Wimbledon champion last July and is enjoying her best run in Melbourne, dropping just a single set in wins over Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Kaja Juvan and Danielle Collins. However, the frustrating inconsistency that has plagued her career saw her seeded 22nd and on collision course with Swiatek.

The Pole won both the French and US Opens in 2022 and has been immaculate in victories over Jule Niemeier, Camila Osorio and Cristina Busca. That said, being her first seeded opponent, Rybakina represents a step up in quality.

Indeed, the Moscow-born Kazakh won their sole previous meeting, triumphing 7-6 6-2 in the quarter-finals of the J&T Banka Ostrava in 2021.

After showing little form in the two Adelaide tournaments, Rybakina has looked sharp enough to take a set from Swiatek but the Pole should have too much and is 5/2 to win 2-1 in the Set Betting.

Battle of the future slam champions

WhatStefanos Tsitsipas v Jannik Sinner
WhereMelbourne Park, Melbourne
When08:00, Sunday 22nd January
How to watchEurosport, discovery+ and bet365's Sports Live Streaming
OddsStefanos Tsitsipas 4/9, Jannik Sinner 7/4

The pressure is on Tsitsipas to get over the line in the Grand Slams and, as the top-ranked player left in the men's draw, he may feel this is his time, with him 5/1 To Win Outright.

The third-seeded Greek is yet to drop a set in Melbourne but faces a real test on Sunday against another potential future Slam champion in Sinner.

Seeded 15th, the 21-year-old came from two sets down to beat Marton Fucsovics in the third round and will be looking to overcome his negative head-to-head against Tsitsipas, as he is 4-1 down in their career meetings.

He has previously reached the quarter-finals in all four Slams but his run could end on Sunday against the 2021 French Open finalist.

Tsitsipas won in straight sets when these two met last year but this could be a tighter affair and Sinner may be good enough to grab a set.

A 3-1 win for the Greek is 11/4 in the Set Betting, while it might be worth punting for the 5/6 on Over 38.5 games in the Total Games 2-Way.

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