Ash Barty betting tips & top odds – Australian Open women’s final

Ash Barty has a golden opportunity to end a 44-year national drought as she takes on Danielle Collins in the 2022 Australian Open women’s singles final at Melbourne Park this Saturday night.

The world no.1 has been in electric form at her home championship, reaching the final without dropping a set. Indeed, she has given up only 21 games in total across her six matches.

The startling thing about Barty’s campaign is that she has not slowed down at the pointy end. The Queenslander dismantled Jessica Pegula in the quarter finals (6-2, 6-0) and then did much the same to Madison Keys in the semis (6-1, 6-3).

Having also defeated Amanda Anisimova in the fourth round, Barty will now look to claim her fourth consecutive American scalp when she tackles Collins in the decider.

The 27th seed has taken a decidedly different route to her next opponent. She needed three sets to get past the unseeded Clara Tauson in the third round and also Elise Mertens in the fourth, coming from a set down on both occasions.

However, Collins has looked every bit a contender since reaching the last eight. She played Alize Cornet off the court with a 6-1 second set in the quarter finals, then did the same to Iga Swiatek – a Grand Slam winner – in the last four.

That kind of form sets the scene for a tantalising final between a heavily backed favourite and a dangerous outsider. Is anyone game enough to take the $4.80 odds at Sportsbet about Collins?

Barty vs Collins predictions & top tips

Total games: Under 20.5

Barty has made short work of her opposition throughout the tournament, but will she be quite as dominant against an opponent who has shown she can go the distance and win the hard way? Not one of the Aussie star’s matches has gone over 19 games, so the line of 20.5 looks a tad generous.

Match result: Ash Barty 2-0

Chris O’Neil was the last local to win the Australian Open women’s singles title, all the way back in 1978. Aussie fans have been teased a few times in the decades since, but it would be a great shock if Barty did not end the drought this weekend. Get on her to win it straight sets.