The Australian Open Women’s and Men’s Finals are here.
Naomi Osaka takes on Jennifer Brady while Novak Djokovic will battle Daniil Medvedev.
Each match has been analysed to the upteenth degree and our best bets are in.
#24 j.brady v #3 n.osaka
20th february 7.30pm
World number three Naomi Osaka will vye for her fourth career grand slam title when she faces world number 24 Jennifer Brady on centre court tonight.
In what will be the fourth encounter between these ladies, Osaka holds the aces from a head to head perspective having already beaten Brady twice.
The most recent clash being at the US Open semifinal last year where Osaka prevailed with a 7-6, 3-6, 6-3 victory.
Brady got the Australian public on her side when she defeated public enemy number one Karolina Muchova following Muchova’s controversial win over local champion Ash Barty.
The 25-year-old American made her way through to the final with a three set 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 win over Muchova, but now the task to win her maiden grand slam trophy gets much harder.
Having been down 2-0 early in the first set against Serena Williams, Osaka rallied back and would eventually crush the 23-time grand slam with a 6-3, 6-4 straight sets triumph.
Osaka has only dropped one set in the entire tournament, that was during her win over 14th seed Garbine Muguruza in the fourth round.
The advantage for Brady might be her efficiency when serving.
Brady has hit seven less double faults than Osaka throughout the tournament but to quell that Osaka has smashed 44 aces compared to Brady’s 32.
It’s clear the more volatile server is Osaka but a high serving speed of 197km/h – equal second fastest serve of the tournament – shows how much more power she possesses, which, if utilized with accuracy, will become a major weapon for the 23-year-old against Brady.
Both ladies clearly hold their nerve in tense situations.
Brady just edges ever so slightly clear in the break point converted statistic with 27 in her six matches while Osaka has converted her breakpoint opportunities on 25 occasions.
Osaka would also want to put behind her that slow start against Williams which Brady will be sensing as a clear opportunity to get some early momentum up and clear away the butterflies in the stomach in her first ever grand slam final.
The market is suggesting Osaka already has a stranglehold on the trophy.
If Brady replicates the form she has shown throughout this will go to three sets but Osaka, with that winning experience in finals on her resume, will make it four grand slam victories.
Suggested Bet: Naomi Osaka to win two sets to one at $3.80
#4 d. medvedev v #1 n.djokovic
21st february 7.30pm
Novak Djokovic is only one step away from his ninth Australian Open title as the young hard-hitting Russian Daniil Medvedev stands in his path as the pair get ready to do battle in the men’s final.
A win for Djokovic would make it an 18th grand slam title while a win for Medvedev would bring to an end his search for maiden grand slam glory.
If there were any doubts about Djokovic’s fitness, the world number one put minds at ease after cruising past the surprise packet of the tournament Aslan Karatsav with a straight set 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 victory to book his spot in the final.
All the while, Medvedev continued his dominance over Stefanos Tsitsipas with a crushing 6-4, 6-2, 7-5 semi final win against the world number six.
Medvedev made his way through the tournament with relative ease as his only scare came against Flilp Kranjovic who ran him to five sets.
Djokoivic, too, has had a few nervy situations with the most notable being his match with Taloy Fritz in the third round.
The world number one had to dig deep and would eventually come away with a 7-6, 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2 win.
He had his fair share of battles against Milos Raonic and Alexander Zverev but the 34-year-old’s class shone through brightly.
It will be a test of stamina again here with Djokovic being on the court for three sets longer than Medvedev who will clearly have the fresher legs.
Another advantage for Medvedev is first serve percentage won measurements.
The wirey 25-year-old manages to win 81% of points when his first serve lands while Djokovic averages 78%.
Both players come up big time with their serves as well.
An ace count of 100 to Djokovic has him ranked first spot while Medvedev has smashed away 74 aces to sit in fourth in the rankings.
Having already met seven times prior to this final, Djokovic holds sway here with four wins but it is Medevev who has been the better of the two in the more recent fixtures.
Medvedev has won three of the last four matches against the 34-year-old Serbian after inflicting a 6-3, 6-3 defeat at the Nitto ATP Finals in Great Britain.
Djokovic did start a heavily backed $1.40 favourite in that game.
This game could end up going to Monday morning if both players bring their best to centre court on Sunday.
Edging towards Novak to make it an unprecedented nine Australian Open titles and inch closer to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal atop of the grand slam titles leader board.
Suggested Bet: Novak Djokovic to win at $1.81
