Australian Open Tip Sheet: Betting on Alex de Minaur vs. Novak Djokovic, plus three other picks we love

HIGHLIGHTS: Djokovic's tough but efficient win over Dimitrov

Time flies when you’re watching good tennis, and we're already into Day 8 of the Australian Open. This slate features some exciting match-ups, and we’re looking forward to finding ways to attack it.

Belinda Bencic vs. Aryna Sabalenka

Sabalenka was one of our best bets to win the Australian Open, and she hasn’t done anything to lose our trust. After winning a tune-up title in Adelaide, the world No. 5 hasn’t dropped a set in Melbourne. Bencic has also looked excellent to start the 2023 season, but it’s hard to pinpoint where exactly she has an edge over Sabalenka. The only way we see the Belarusian losing this match is if her double-fault woes return. She has just seven doubles through three matches; instead, her power is overwhelming opponents. Bencic will similarly have trouble dealing with it. LEAN: Sabalenka To Win (-150)

Alex de Minaur vs. Novak Djokovic

De Minaur has done well to reach the fourth round, but this is a serious step up in class. The Serbian is dealing with a nagging injury, but he has still flashed some otherworldly form in this tournament. We do, however, think that the 23-year-old can steal a set in this match. The home crowd is going to relentlessly cheer de Minaur on, which could get under Djokovic’s skin. We liken this to a “gentleman’s sweep” in the NBA, where the losing team in a series wins one game at home to avoid embarrassment. LEAN: De Minaur To Win A Set (-155)

Holger Rune vs. Andrey Rublev

This is a battle between two of the hottest players in the tournament. Rublev has dropped just one set through three matches, wins over Dominic Thiem, Emil Ruusuvuori and Dan Evans. That’s a tough early draw, and he has just been striking the ball beautifully all week. Rune hasn’t dropped a single set in Melbourne, and he is one of the few players that can neutralize Rublev’s power from the baseline. Not only can Rune hammer the ball himself, but he also moves well. That’ll force Rublev to play a lot of extra balls. Rublev’s mental game is arguably his biggest weakness, and we can see it getting in his way here. And most importantly: Rune won 6-4, 7-5 when the two met in Paris last year. LEAN: Rune To Win (-135)

Karolina Pliskova vs. Shuai Zhang

Pliskova has been playing lights-out tennis in Melbourne, going three matches without dropping a single set. The Czech star has always had a dangerous serve, but now she's doing a good job of putting returns in play. If she continues to do that, people will need to start taking her seriously as a threat to win this tournament. Pliskova also happens to have a great match-up this round, as she is 5-0 against Zhang in her career. Look for her to stay unbeaten against the 34-year-old, while also covering the small game spread in the process. BEST BET: Pliskova -2.5 Games (-135)