The Brisbane International is a hugely popular tournament for those players willing to put in a shift ahead of the Australian Open which starts in the middle of the month. This is a hard court event in Queensland which attracts some big names. It’s a chance to hit the new year in search of momentum ahead of the Slam.
WTA Brisbane International Winner odds*
Asheligh Barty 11/4
Naomi Osaka 9/2
Karolina Pliskova 6/1
Petra Kvitova 10/1
Sofia Kenin 16/1
Madison Keys 16/1
Kiki Bertens 16/1
Sloane Stepehns 20/1
Dayana Yastremska 25/1
33/1 bar
* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 6th, 2020 at 1:26 pm)
Big names head to Brisbane
Heading up the Brisbane field are Australian home favourite Ashleigh Barty and the reigning Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka. So there is some star power on show for this week’s action. Ashleigh Barty is the top seed and lines up right at the top of the draw at 11/4 odds* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 6th, 2020 at 1:26 pm). She could have an early second-round clash with wildcard Maria Sharapova (a 2015 Brisbane Winner) and then a potential quarter finalist for her could be Petra Kvitova.
Kvitova won the title in 2011 and so there’s not the easiest route ahead for Barty, with Kvitova trading handily at 10/1* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 6th, 2020 at 1:26 pm). Osaka has a far more comfortable-looking draw with a potential quarter-final opponent, should she get that far, being Kiki Bertens. So Osaka may just take a little bit of preference in the outright winner market at 9/2 over Barty (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 6th, 2020 at 1:26 pm). That bottom half of the draw where Osaka is is far less congested in terms of players who look title-challengers.
Favourable draw for Pliskova
There is a favourable draw too then, for the second seed Karolina Pliskova who is right at the bottom of the draw. With 7th seed Johanna Konta falling in the first round, Pliskova wouldn’t meet another seeded player until potentially the semi-finals. The other thing here for the Czech player is that she is a two-time winner of the Brisbane International, and is returning as the reigning champion after beating Lesia Tsurenko in three sets in last year’s final. Pliskova could clash with Osaka in the semi-finals, both of who will go to the Australian Open as leading contenders.
Early rounds set the tone?
Will this be a tournament of upsets? In the first round of action, there were notable upsets. Australia’s Sam Stosur pulled off a shock against Germany’s Angelique Kerber, while America’s Danielle Collins put on a stunning show to crush fourth-seed Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-1 in opening action. With seventh seed Jo Konta falling to Barbora Strycova over three sets, will there be more upsets to come?
Predictions
The top half of this draw is just so tough to call. Barty, in particular, has landed such a tough section with Sharapova, Sloane Stephens and Petra Kvitova in contention there. So it’s to the bottom half of the draw to where the pick will come from. Reigning champion Karolina Pliskvoa is usually a strong starter to the calendar year and with her having taken two of the last three Brisbane titles, she has to be back in the frame as a 6/1 option* (betting odds taken from bet365 on January 6th, 2020 at 1:26 pm)
