2020 Australian Open women’s final stats, betting and preview: Sofia Kenin v Garbine Muguruza
One is playing in her maiden Grand Slam final, the other one is a two-time major winner. Will Sofia Kenin lift her first Grand Slam trophy after Saturday’s Australian Open final or will Garbine Muguruza become a three-time major winner?
We give you all the info you need to know ahead of the 2020 Australian Open women’s final at Melbourne Park.
Meet your #AO2020 women’s singles finalists…
…@SofiaKenin & @GarbiMuguruza‼️ #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/57a2AWUIzs
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
Sofia Kenin
Age: 21
World ranking: 15
Career-high ranking: 12
Career singles titles: 3
Grand Slam titles:0
Garbine Muguruza
Age: 26
World ranking: 32
Career-high ranking: 1
Career singles titles: 7
Grand Slam titles: 2
Recent form
After winning just one match in her previous two visits to Melbourne Park, the 14th seeded Kenin has been brilliant at this year’s tournament.
World No 1 Ashleigh Barty was Kenin’s biggest scalp as she stunned the two-time Grand Slam winner in the semi-final, winning 7-6 (8-6), 7-5, while she also beat American teen sensation Coco Gauff 6-7 (5-7), 6-3, 6-0.
Self-belief 💯@sofiakenin | #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/pfjDS9c8DU
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
As for her form coming into the Australian Open, there were no real indicators that she was about to go on a magical run as she lost in the last 16 against Naomi Osaka in Brisbane and also exited the Adelaide International at the same stage.
Being unseeded meant Muguruza had a tougher route to the final, but she made light work of her higher ranked opponents as she upset fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-2, beat ninth seed Kiki Bertens 6-3, 6-3 while fourth seed Simona Halep was dispatched 7-6 (10-8), 7-5 in the semi-final.
Muguruza certainly showed glimpses of finding her best level again in the build-up to Melbourne as she was a semi-finalist in Shenzhen and reached the quarter-final in Hobart.
One more to go.
@GarbiMuguruza is all about staying calm ahead of Saturday’s final.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/nsFaW1gG69
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 30, 2020
Head-to-head
The pair has only met once, in the first of the China Open in September 2019, and it was the young American who came out on top of the 6-0, 2-6, 6-2 win.
What they’ve said
Sofia Kenin: First I’m just going to be enjoying the moment. You don’t experience this so often. Of course, I’m going to enjoy it. This is so exciting. Literally butterflies.
I’m just going to also focus on what I need to do, focus on my game. I got here, it’s time to shine, do the best I can… Hopefully do something more special.
Garbine Muguruza: I think [Kenin is] playing great. I think since a while she’s just progressing up in the rankings and in the results. So I think she deserves to be in the final with the tennis she has been showing.
[The last time we played] wasn’t a very good match from my side. I think she played good. It was the first time we played, so it was good to have that match as a reference. I mean, it’s going to be a hard match. It’s the final of a Grand Slam. Doesn’t matter who is your opponent.
Conclusion
This is a difficult one to predict as they are certainly two surprise finalists who had dream runs to make it to the showpiece match on Rod Laver Arena.
Muguruza has the experience, having won two of the three Grand Slam finals she has appeared in, while Kenin will bring the youthful exuberance.
However, recent history has taught is not to discount the young guns as Naomi Osaka and Bianca Andreescu have proven that lack of experience in major finals count for nothing.
The first few games are often make-or-break for first-time finalists and Osaka and Andreescu showed that if you can dominate early on then the battle is almost halfway won.
If Kenin can overcome the early nerves and keep the errors down to a minimum, then she might just have the measure of Muguruza.
Like our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter @T365Official.
Latest
-
Tennis News
Daniil Medvedev discusses his popularity compared to Carlos Alcaraz as he offers a theory
“For me, the result is the most important, it’s more important than, let’s say, looking good on the court.”
-
Tennis News
Andy Roddick gives honest verdict on Novak Djokovic’s shock coaching split
“I was surprised. You don’t look to make moves in March or April. This has had to be a surprise to both of them.”
-
ATP Tour
Jannik Sinner makes revealing comment on his eyesight after Miami Open win
Jannik Sinner opened up on his use of contact lenses on court.
-
Tennis News
Martina Navratilova serves up a desperate verdict on Andy Murray’s comeback hopes
Andy Murray is likely to have to wait several days to learn how long he will be sidelined for by the ankle injury he suffered in Miami.
-
Tennis News
Jannik Sinner reveals he has been having Call of Duty sessions with Italian football hero
Jannik Sinner has had some high-profile gaming clashes with Italy’s No 1 goalkeeper.
-
Tennis News
Former British No 1 offers up a theory to explain Novak Djokovic’s shock announcement
Has Novak Djokovic lined up a new coach following his decision to part ways with Goran Ivanisevic?
-
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic’s bombshell announcement fuels growing doubts over his tennis future
Speculation swirling over Novak Djokovic’s long-term future in tennis after his shock move.
-
Tennis News
Novak Djokovic’s final moments of dominance were hard to spot – can he reclaim his crown?
Novak Djokovic’s reign as the king of men’s tennis appeared to be set to run and run – but the mood has changed.
-
WTA Tour
Victoria Azarenka used ‘parenting techniques’ to cope with Miami Open technical meltdown
Victoria Azarenka’s latest match was held up as the line-calling technology broke down – and she was not impressed.
-
Tennis News
Carlos Alcaraz makes Jannik Sinner confession during Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer rivalry comparison
“I hope it will allow me to get the best out of myself … seeing the standard he sets.”