The big clashes at the Australian Open 2019 are now going to be coming thick and fast. This is a fantastic looking match up as home talent Ashleigh Barty will be pitting her wits against Maria Sharapova. Both overcame some big challenges in the third round. The winner will face the winner of the Amanda Anisimova v Petra Kvitova clash in the quarterfinals.
Australian Open 2019 Preview – January 20th, 2019 at 1:30 am
Ashleigh Barty v Maria Sharapova odds*
Ashleigh Barty 8/13
Maria Sharapova 13/10
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 18th, 2019 at 6:55 pm)
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Barty bringing her A-Game
Given the big support that she was going to get on home soil, Australia’s Ashleigh Barty was always a very interesting proposition for the Australian Open 2019. She has looked in fantastic form so far at the tournament having reached this fourth-round tie against Sharapova without having dropped a set. Barty saw off Maria Sakkari in the third round, powering her way to victory in the second set after being made to work hard in the first.
Before the Australian Open, Barty showed her form in making a run to the final of the Sydney International. That was a fantastic primer there, although she lost the final against Petra Kvitova, who, interestingly, she could meet in the quarterfinals next. But that form in Sydney saw Barty take out some big threats like Simona Halep, Elise Mertens and Kiki Bertens.
Focused Sharapova
Now standing in her way of reaching the second week at Melbourne Park is Maria Sharapova. Sharapova was looking ruthless across her first two matches. She dropped just three games in total in wins over Harriet Dart and Rebecca Peterson. They were pretty much, non-contests at the end of the day. But that set her up with one of the biggest high-profile games of the tournament so far, a third-round tussle with reigning champion Caroline Wozniacki.
The two really went at it as well. Sharapova took the first but saw herself pinned back in the second. It was the defence and power hitting at the end of the day which saw Sharapova take a 6-3 win in the deciding set, to knock out the reigning champion. Sharapova described that as being a sweet victory as they don’t really see eye to eye.
Head to head
This will be just her second ever match between Barty and Sharapova. The Russian took the win over the Australian last year when they met up on clay in Italy. It went to three sets though and this one is 11/8 odds to go the same way* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 18th, 2019 at 6:55 pm).
Prediction
This should be a great duel and Barty has looked fantastic so far, particularly in the way she was handling the serve of Sakkari in the last round. However, despite the favouritism on her, Sharapova may just have the edge. She won’t care that the crowd will be against her, but Sharapova looks ready to give as good as she gets at the moment and isn’t a bad proposition at all at 13/10 underdog* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 18th, 2019 at 6:55 pm)
