The Australian Open 2020 has reached its deciding stage. In the women’s section 14th seeded Sofia Kenin is set to take on the World Number 32 Garbiñe Muguruza from Spain. Both players have beaten the tournament favorites Ash Barty and Simona Halep in the semis and look in dominant form. The final should thus be a cracking contest. Let’s analyse how they fare against each other and try to predict the winner of the 2020 Australian Open women’s championship.
Route To The Final
Neither Muguruza nor Kenin were strong favorites in the pre tournament odds. However they have both managed to find excellent form in just the right time. Spain’s Muguruza has increased her playing level with each round progress. She has lost just one set so far and brushed away big names like Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Simona Halep.
Sofia Kenin of America has looked in no less dominant touch. She also goes into the final with just 1 set loss so far in the tournament. Kenin even handed a bagel to the fellow American and teen sensation Coco Gauff in the 4th round. Kenin’s triumph over local favorite Ash Barty in the semi-final match was one of the biggest upsets in the whole tournament.
Head To Head Against Each Other
This might be one of the less significant indices to matter in Saturday’s final between these 2 players. Muguruza and Kenin have met each other so far just once. That was in September 2019 in the Beijing Open. The match was played on hard courts and went to 3 sets. Sofia Kenin might keep that match in mind once she comes to the court on Sunday as the American was the winner in that particular contest.
However it is important to note that Muguruza was not in good touch at that time. She now appears a different player who has rediscovered her 2016 and 2017 game. The Spanish starlet would like to believe that the previous match would have absolutely no impact on this contest of much higher intensity and stake.
Grand Slam Experience
This is one of the most crucial indicators that might well separate the two players, when they take to the Rod Laver arena on Saturday. Garbiñe Muguruza enjoys a significant advantage over her opponent here. This is the 4th Grand Slam final for the former World Number 1, though her 1st on the hard courts. Muguruza has also been a Grand Slam champion twice, winning one title each at Wimbledon and the French Open. That experience could surely come handy during the final match in this year’s Australian Open.
In comparison Sofia Kenin had never been beyond the 4th round of any Grand Slam before the current Australian Open. The American however showed nerves of steel in the semi-final match when she beat Ash Barty, even fighting the crowd. She was not impacted by the occasion or awed by the status of her opponent.
The final however is a much bigger stage and Kenin will know she has much more to lose from here. That may impact her game and tilt the balance slightly in Muguruza’s favour, unless the American puts up a high mental fortress once on the court.
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The Verdict
Muguruza has a more diverse range of shots, a better all round game. She possesses a good serve as well as plays great from the baseline. The former World Number 1 has had previous Grand Slam successes against Serena and Venus Williams in the finals. When in full flow few players in the WTA circuit can match the Spaniard in both athleticism and raw power of the shots.
Sofia Kenin has performed beyond expectations in the tournament. Her recent form shows very encouraging signs. The American might provide some solid resistance and even take a set in the match but the odds are highly stacked in favor of the Spanish lady. Expect Garbiñe Muguruza to collect her 3rd Grand Slam trophy and the 1st Australian Open title when the two meet on Saturday.
Our Prediction: Garbiñe Muguruza to win the match in 3 sets