Ashleigh Barty vs Jessica Pegula Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 24/01/2022, 09:56  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 24/01/2022 at 10:57 in Tennis Predictions

Top seed Ashleigh Barty continues her bid to win her first Australian Open title. The world number one faces 21st seeded Jessica Pegula in the quarter finals. The winner of this tie takes on either fourth seeded Barbora Krejcikova or unseeded Madison Keys in the semi-final. Barty is in her fourth Australian Open quarter final but has only once reached the last four. That was in 2020 but she's still to get to the final of her home Grand Slam. Barty's position as world number one was strengthened by the defeat of Aryna Sabalenka in the fourth round. This is only her second tournament since the US Open in early September of last year. Barty returned to the court in the first Adelaide International and won the title beating Elena Rybakina in the final. Other wins in that event were recorded against Sofia Kenin, Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek with only Gauff taking a set off her. So far in this Australian Open, Barty has won all four of her matches in straight sets. Only 15 games have been lost and in the last round, Barty defeated Amanda Anisimova for the loss of just four games.

Jessica Pegula was ranked 64th this time last year. A successful year saw her rise to 18th by year end. Pegula is up to 15th in the live rankings and a shock win over Barty can see her climb up to 11th place. Her preparations for this tournament didn't go well. Two warm-up events were played and Pegula lost both her matches to players ranked outside the top 60. Her form has returned in the Australian Open though. Pegula reached the last eight here in 2021 but has never made it past the third round of any other Grand Slam. Wins in this tournament have come against Anhelina Kalinina (after losing the first set), Bernarda Pera, Nura Parizzas Dias and in the fourth round, a big win over fifth seeded Maria Sakkari in straight sets. Barty won their only previous match, beating Pegula in straight sets in the 2019 French Open. Back her to beat Pegula again without losing a set.