AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2019 – WOMEN’S PREVIEW

Serena Williams is the favourite to win her first Grand Slam title since the birth of her daughter and her 8thAustralian Open, but there’s a number of young guns ready to challenge her.

Best Bet	Aryna Sabalenka @ $12
Circuit Bet	Serena Williams @ $5.50
Circuit Bet	Angelique Kerber @ $8
Value Bet	Naomi Osaka @ $12
Value Bet	Elise Mertens @ $51
Value Bet	Aliaksandra Sasnovich @ $101

Wolf’s Best

Aryna Sabalenka @ $12

She began 2018 ranked 78 in the world – she finished ranked 11. The 20-year-old Belarussian has a huge game, just about unmatched in the women’s competition. She was massive at the US Open reaching the fourth round playing some powerful tennis, before running into eventual winner Naomi Osaka. Has had the perfect lead up with a win at Shenzhen before a first round exit in Sydney, which will give her time to recharge the batteries for a 2-week tilt in Melbourne. Is in the easiest quarter of the women’s draw which will help her tilt.

Circuit Bet

Serena Williams @ $5.50

It’s very hard to go past Serena with her Australian Open record, but the fact remains she’s still yet to win a Grand Slam title since the birth of her child. She reached the Final of both Wimbledon and the US Open, losing to Kerber at Wimbledon and Osaka at Flushing Meadows in controversial fashion. In her last three appearances in Australia her record is 20-1 – the loss coming in the 2016 Final to Kerber. A fourth-round matchup with world number 1 Simona Halep is on the cards.

Angelique Kerber @ $8

Is always in contention but can be very shaky in the early rounds. Is a Champion here from 2016 and Semi Finalist in 2018 losing in a marathon against Simona Halep. She won every singles game in the lead up at the Hopman Cup against quality opposition of Ash Barty and Garbine Muguruza, and will once again put herself in contention. In the weaker half of the draw, it appears she’ll get an easy run through to the Semi Final.

Naomi Osaka @ $12

She’s the real deal. Won the US Open as a 20-year-old last year despite the commotion on the other side of the net, and now is ranked number 4 in the world. Did enough at the Brisbane International with a Semi-Final appearance, and made the Round of 16 in 2018 when ranked 72 in the world suggesting she’s a fan of the conditions here. A rematch with Serena beckons in the Semi Final.

Value Bet

Elise Mertens @ $51

Surprised everyone in 2018 when she reached the Semi Finals of the Australian Open unseeded, but the 23-year-old proved across the entirety of 2018 that she’s going to be a player. She made the Round of 16 at both Roland Garros and Flushing Meadows, and now ranked 12 in the world, the $51 on offer is a great cash-out option.

Aliaksandra Sasnovich @ $101

The Belarussian’s lead up form has been great with a Quarter Final appearance in Brisbane, followed by reaching the final four in Sydney. Is now ranked 33rd in the world, just outside the seedings, and made the Round of 16 at Wimbledon in 2018. She has some major weapons in particular her backhand, and has giant-killer potential with wins over Kvitova, Kasatkina, Mertens, Bertens and Svitolina over the last 6 months.

Draw

Quarter Final

S Williams def Pliskova
Osaka def Mertens
Sabalenka def Wozniacki
Kerber def Sasnovich

Semi Finals

S Williams def Osaka
Sabalenka def Kerber

Final

Sabalenka def S Williams