This has been a fun two weeks at the Australian Open and we are now down to the final four players with two Finals to be played over this weekend.
First up is the Women's Final and I think this is going to be a brilliant watch with both players capable of producing some big time tennis.
Petra Kvitova - 1.5 games v Naomi Osaka: No one can dispute that the two best players in the Women's tournament at the Australian Open are meeting in the Final and they are going to underline that status with the winner not only picking up a Grand Slam title, but also becoming the new World Number 1 and taking over from Simona Halep.
At this stage of a tournament there isn't much to hide about the way Naomi Osaka and Petra Kvitova have been playing and they should know all they need to about the other. It is going to be very much about which of these players is going to execute the best on the day with both Osaka and Kvitova capable of producing some huge tennis off the ground.
Much begins with how they are serving and I think the narrow edge has to be given to Peta Kvitova who has kept opponents under pressure throughout the tournament. The Czech player has only been broken four times in her six Australian Open matches and Kvitova has not allowed any opponent to secure more than four break points in a single match.
It is going to be a test for Osaka who managed to win 41% of points on the Karolina Pliskova serve in the Semi Final. That is a strong number against a strong server, but I would suggest that Petra Kvitova is producing even better from the serve than her compatriot.
Naomi Osaka has to at least try and put Kvitova in tough spots on the return, but this is still an aspect of her game that could perhaps need a bit of improving on the hard courts. The US Open Champion is getting better and better, but I do think the lefty serve of Kvitova is going to cause some problems and I believe it may give the two time Wimbledon Champion the edge in this match.
The Osaka serve is an impressive shot, but there is a difference with the amount of success she has had on it compared with Kvitova so far in this tournament. Where Kvitova has limited breaks of serve and break point opportunities, Osaka has allowed at least eight break points in three of her last four matches and she has been broken at least twice in four of the last five matches.
Petra Kvitova has been returning very well throughout this tournament and she is following on from the successes she had in winning the title in Sydney.
I do think she is playing slightly better on serve and return than Osaka and that is expected to lead to a win in this Final for Kvitova. It should be a fun Final with plenty of big shots keeping the other guessing, but Petra Kvitova might be the one in the best rhythm and can win this one and cover the number even if the match goes the distance.
MY PICKS: Petra Kvitova - 1.5 Games @
Australian Open 2019: 59-43, + 23.99 Units (201 Units Staked, + 11.94% Yield)
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