The Women's Final takes centre stage as the Australian Open draws to a close over the next two days.
I will have a fuller thread for the Men's Final ahead of the Sunday completion of the tournament.
Naomi Osaka - 4.5 games v Jennifer Brady: She may be the younger player, but Naomi Osaka will be the one with the experience edge when the Women's Final is played at the Australian Open. This is not only the fourth Grand Slam Final that Naomi Osaka has played, but she has won the previous three (two at the US Open and once here in Melbourne), while her opponent Jennifer Brady is in her maiden Grand Slam Final and has only just played in her second Slam Semi Final.
Both of these players are big hitters and the serve is going to be a key weapon for both on the day, but it does feel like Naomi Osaka has peaked in time for the Final while we have seen the best tennis from Jennifer Brady earlier in the tournament. The American was a little fortunate to come through her Semi Final against Karolina Muchova who was unable to complete the fightback despite being the stronger player in the match and Jennifer Brady will know she needs to be a lot better if she is going to beat someone as good as Naomi Osaka.
In the last two matches Brady has had to spend three and a half hours on the court compared with Osaka rattling through her two matches in over an hour less time. That is a potential factor considering the majority of those matches would have played in hot conditions and only furthers the edge towards the Japanese former World Number 1 who is likely going to cement her place at the top of the WTA Tour with a victory, even if the World Rankings don't reflect her status.
It also has to be noted that this is considerably the toughest challenge that Jennifer Brady has had to face at the Australian Open and the first player Ranked inside the top 20 she would have played. None of her previous six matches have come against anyone Ranked higher than Number 27 and the struggles in the last Round is a particular concern.
Jennifer Brady was not able to get her teeth into the Karolina Muchova serve, but took the chances when they came up. Ultimately if she has struggled in her return game in that match, this one is going to be a real problem for her although I do think the evening conditions will just make things a touch easier for the underdog.
Those conditions should slow up the ball enough for Jennifer Brady to see the ball a little better on the return, but there is a counter downside to that and that is her biggest weapon, the serve, may not be as effective as she would like. In the last couple of matches here, opponents have been able to create break point chances against the Jennifer Brady serve and Naomi Osaka just took the game to Serena Williams and has continued to have plenty of returning success.
The American has just struggled with her first serve percentage over the last week and I think that will only add pressure on her. You know Naomi Osaka will look to attack the second serve and I do think she has a big enough advantage in this match to secure another Grand Slam title and likely with a relatively comfortable win produced.
Naomi Osaka has room for improvement in her first serve percentage, but she has looked after her second serve a lot better than Jennifer Brady.
These two players met at the US Open in the Semi Final and it was Naomi Osaka who came through a tight three setter. However, the higher Ranked player had a considerable advantage on the return of serve that day in what was a relatively tight match, and I think that is likely to be the case again in the Final on Saturday.
If Brady serves at her best she can keep this close, but she may be tiring and will have to be a lot better than she has been in the last two matches here. There is some real pressure on Naomi Osaka as a big favourite, but she is in the better form and looks to be playing with the kind of belief that may see her dominate this Final.
MY PICKS: Naomi Osaka - 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Victor (2 Units)
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