Who will win the Australian Open 2020 – Women’s Draw

The Australian Open 2020 starts with first-round action on January 20th from Melbourne Park.

Heading into the first Slam of the new season, it is Naomi Osaka who carries all the pressure of being the defending champion.

But 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams heads the outright market in Australian Open 2020 betting, after starting the new calendar year with a bang in lifting a title in Auckland.

Read our Australian Open 2020 predictions and insights for the women’s draw for more details.

Australian Open 2020 Winner Odds*

Serena Williams 4/1
Naomi Osaka 7/1
Ashleigh Barty 8/1
Simona Halep 9/1
Karolina Pliskova 10/1
Aryna Sabalenka 18/1
Petra Kvitova 20/1
Madison Keys 20/1
Angelique Kerber 25/1
Elina Svitolina 25/1
Belinda Bencic 28/1
Garbine Muguruza 33/1
Amanda Animismova 33/1
Cori Gauff 33/1
Sofia Kenin 40/1
Kiki Bertens 40/1
Dayana Yastremska 40/1
Sloane Stephens 50/1
66/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm)

Will Williams secured 24th Grand Slam title?

In a rare foray in pre-Australian Open warm-ups, Serena Williams entered WTA Auckland last week. She powered her way to the title there and that will have made punters sit up and take notice of her and her chances ahead of the Australian Open 2020.

But realistically there was no-one really of note that she beat in Auckland. Well, aside from rising star Amanda Animisova who is a big 33/1 quote to win the Australian Open* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm).

Williams however, has not managed to add a new Grand Slam title since coming back into action last year in February. Since that return from her maternity leave, Grand Slam titles have slipped through her fingers, leaving the 38-year-old empty-handed since her 2017 Australian Open title.

In total, she has lost all four Grand Slam finals since her return, two each at Wimbledon and the US Open. You don’t expect that of her. With only two Australian Open titles in her last seven attempts, then the market looks ripe to oppose her at a terrible 4/1 quote* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm)

Simona Halep

There have been interesting developments behind the scenes for Simona Halep. Twelve months ago she was returning from injury with no coach. Not too surprisingly she fell early in the fourth round. But in 2018 she reached the Australian Open final under the watchful guidance of coach Darren Cahill.

Halep is now back with the Australian and it was that pairing which saw Halep get her Grand Slam title breakthrough at the 2018 French Open. She skipped the first week of the new season and went into action at WTA Adelaide to get a bit of match sharpness under her belt.

After the winter break, she should be fresh and fit and the Romanian makes for a serious challenger with the coaching set up. Halep is a reasonable 9/1 contender* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm)

Karolina Pliskova

At a 10/1 quote to get her first Grand Slam title* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm), there is an appeal on Czech Republic star Karolina Plsivovka. She is one of those players that you watch and think, she surely has to have won a Major title by now.

She hasn’t. But Pliskova makes for a fantastic Australian Open 2020 pick. She is the world’s number two and opened this new season with a title in Brisbane.

To get that Brisbane title, Pliskova faced much higher quality opposition than Williams did in winning in Auckland. In the semifinals of the Brisbane International, Pliskova beat reigning Australian Open champ Naomi Osaka and then took down Madison Keys in the final.

Throw in the mix her rising stock at Melbourne Park where she produced a career-best effort of a semi-final last year, she has to be in the frame.

Naomi Osaka

There is going to be massive pressure on the shoulders of young Naomi Osaka on her return to Melbourne Park. That is because she is the reigning champion after that stunning run twelve months ago. She took out Elina Sviotlina, Karolina Pliskova and Petra Kvitova, all top-ten seeds in a really tough draw.

The rest of her season didn’t really live up to par last year. But then towards the end of the year, she did start to fall back into the groove. That carried over to the start of the 2020 season as well.

Osaka made it to the semi-finals of WTA Brisbane in early January where she was taken out in three sets by Pliskova. That was a good run which should have done wonders for her match sharpness. She’s a 7/1 option to defend her title in Australian Open 2020 betting* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm).

Ashleigh Barty

The Australian is the current world number one on the WTA. How she would love to collect the Australian Open. She claimed her first Slam title last year with victory at the French Open. That was a big step forward in Barty’s career and she rounded off a career-best season with viceroy at the WTA Finals as well.

That’s some form to live up to. But she will have the lion’s share of support in her own backyard. Last year the crowded helped her seduce a square final berth at Melbourne Park, her best ever effort at the tournament. Expectations on her are going to be even bigger this time around. She’s a short 8/1 option to win her home Slam* (betting odds taken from Bet365 on January 14th, 2020 at 3:38 pm).

Rising Stars to watch

There is a very good bunch of younger, rising stars in the game at the moment. Aryna Sabalenka is one of those. She collected some good form towards the back end of last year, however, her 2020 start was a bust, not getting past the second round of Shenzhen. Easily a player who can put a strong run together if she discovers her confidence and form of her 2018 breakthrough season.

Amanda Anisimova is a tremendous young talent and she opened the new season well. It was a semi-final exit at the ASB Classic for the young American, where she was thrashed by Serena Williams. The fact that she went into the event as the third seed, shows her rising status.

Dayana Yastremeska is the other young star that we will pull into focus in Australian Open 2020 predictions who could put together a good run. She has stormed her way up the world rankings over the last 18 months and hit a high of 22nd in November last year with three WTA Tour titles under her belt. Her blistering attack-minded game may cause some upsets.

Predictions

It’s worth giving Serena Williams a pass at her short odds as that 24th Slam title has been eluding her for a while. She may well become susceptible under stronger challengers in the second week at Melbourne Park.

Instead of backing a major surprise winner coming through the field, we are leaning towards a bit of experience, but still on a first-time winner. That is Karolina Plsikova who has started the season well, has consistently improved results at Melbourne Park and can make that Slam breakthrough.