The first tennis Grand Slam of the year is set to culminate this weekend with a pair of intriguing single championship matches. On the women’s side, top-ranked Ashleigh Barty will look to put an end to the host nation’s drought when she takes on Danielle Collins in the Australian Open Final. Both women dominated their respective semifinal matches and will now go head-to-head for the right to host the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup. The Australian Open betting odds have declared the No. 1 player in the world a massive favorite ahead of this Ashleigh Barty vs Danielle Collins championship clash.
The following Australian Open tennis betting preview will provide you with the current odds, head-to-head trends and a prediction for the women’s championship match between Ashleigh Barty and Danielle Collins.
Australian Open Tennis Women’s Final Details
(1) Ashleigh Barty vs. (27) Danielle Collins — Australian Open Women’s Final
Date: Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022
Venue: Rod Laver Arena — Melbourne, AU
Start Time: 3:30 a.m. EST
Coverage: ESPN
Ashleigh Barty Background and Overview
For the first time in her career, World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty is set to represent the host nation in the Australian Open Final. Barty has a chance to become the first woman from Australia to win the country’s marquee sporting event since Chris O’Neil in 1978. While she had reached the final four in Melbourne once previously, she failed to get past American and eventual champion Sofia Kenin, dropping two highly-competitive sets in defeat. Barty has remained atop the world rankings since September of 2019 despite only winning one Grand Slam during that span. She has piled up a total of 14 career titles to date.
A win in Melbourne would also make Barty a champion of three Grand Slam tournaments. She has previously won both the French Open and Wimbledon. The stark difference in playing surfaces at those two majors suffices as a true nod to the versatility of her game. The 25-year-old is far from the tallest, longest or strongest player on the WTA Tour. What Barty lacks in physical attributes, she makes up for in hustle and grit. She has the ability to play well on any court surface, including the more absorbing hard courts of the Aussie Open.
How Barty Got Here
- First Round: def. Lesia Tsurenko 6-0, 6-1
- Second Round: def. Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1
- Third Round: def. (30) Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-3
- Fourth Round: def. Amanda Anisimova 6-4, 6-3
- Quarterfinals: def. (21) Jessica Pegula 6-2, 6-0
- Semifinals: def. Madison Keys 6-1, 6-3
Danielle Collins Background and Overview
For the first time in her career, Danielle Collins is set to play in a Grand Slam final. She bested her previous best at a major which came when she reached the semifinals of the 2019 Australian Open. Collins played perhaps the best match of her pro career on Thursday in a rout of Iga Swiatek. The 28-year-old was actually a small betting underdog in that match. Collins only turned pro in 2016 and has won two titles over her brief career thus far. She entered the Aussie Open ranked No. 30 in the world and was seeded 27th in the tournament draw.
While Swiatek’s playing style can certainly be characterized as “aggressive” one could argue that it pales in comparison to that of Collins. The Univerisity of Virginia alum and two-time NCAA champion is among the hardest hitters on the WTA Tour today. She combines a powerful serve with strong groundstrokes and a fearless attitude. Her strong volleying skills enable her to strike for winning shots from literally anywhere on the court. That being said, Collins is prone to hitting a high number of unforced errors as a result of her aggressive style.
How Collins Got Here
- First Round: def. Caroline Dolehide 6-1, 6-3
- Second Round: def. Ana Konjuh 6-4, 6-3
- Third Round: def. Clara Tauson 4-6, 6-4, 7-5
- Fourth Round: def. (19) Elise Mertens 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
- Quarterfinals: def. Alize Cornet 7-5, 6-1
- Semifinals: def. (7) Iga Swiatek 6-4, 6-1
Australian Open Women’s Final Tennis Betting Odds
Australian Open Tennis betting odds taken from BetMGM Sportsbook.
Moneyline: Barty: (-450) | Collins: (+360)
Games Spread: Barty: -5.5 (+105) | Collins: +5.5 (-145)
Total Games: 19.5 — Over: (-125) | Under: (-110)
Ashleigh Barty vs Danielle Collins Head-to-Head Trends
- Barty has won three of her four previous head-to-head matches against Collins.
- Collins defeated Barty 6-3, 6-4 in the most recent head-to-head match between the two in August of 2021.
- Barty and Collins have split their two previous head-to-head matches played on a hard court surface.
- Only one of Barty’s three previous victories over Collins came in straight sets.
- The latest in a tournament Barty and Collins have met was in the Semifinal Round of the 2020 Adelaide International. Barty won that match 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (5).
Ashleigh Barty vs Danielle Collins Prediction | Australian Open Betting
Barty has looked every bit the part of her No. 1 ranking throughout this year’s Australian Open. She has yet to drop a single set in her six previous matches and has lost all of 21 games the entire tournament thus far. Her semifinal opponent, Madison Keys, had no answers much like each of the five women who tried and failed before her. Barty certainly deserves to be a heavy tennis betting favorite for Saturday’s title match.
While Barty has taken her game to another level, Collins at least comes in knowing that she can cause problems for the top player in the world. If the American plays at the same level she did in her semifinal win on Thursday, we could be in for a classic championship match. Collins was pure dynamite against Iga Swiatek, hitting seven aces and converting six of ten break point opportunities. Then again, Barty certainly won’t have the level of fatigue that Swiatek did after playing in a grueling quarterfinal match.
Rod Laver Arena will certainly be rocking on Saturday as the home country’s fans anticipate the first Aussie victory on the women’s side in nearly 50 years. It would be fitting for Barty to get the job done on the 100-year anniversary of the first women’s tournament being held.
In many ways, the opportunity to play the spoiler role feels like something that the “Danimal” will relish. She may not win a set, but Collins has shown enough to warrant consideration catching 5.5 games. Those willing to give up one game might also consider +4.5 at a +110 price.
Ashleigh Barty vs Danielle Collins Prediction: Danielle Collins +5.5 Games (-145)
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