Garbiñe Muguruza vs Kiki Bertens Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Australian Open

Prediction published on 26/01/2020, 11:34  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 26/01/2020 at 12:35 in Tennis Predictions

2019 wasn't the best of years for Garbine Muguruzab but the former Grand Slam winner has made a good start to 2020. The Spaniard is through to the last sixteen of the Australian Open and takes on ninth seeded Kiki Bertens for a place in the quarter finals. Garbine Muguruza has slipped to number 32 in the world rankings but was at the top of that list just three years ago and in the top two in 2018. Last year saw her lose in the first round at both Wimbledon and the US Open but she reached the last sixteen here. Another first round exit looked likely here when she lost the first set to qualifier Shelby Rogers without winning a game. She fought back to drop just one game and make it into the second round. Another set was lost in her second match but then she defeated fifth seeded Elina Svitolina in straight sets for the loss of just three games.

Kiki Bertens has made much smoother progress to the last sixteen but has done so without facing a seeded player. She is yet to drop a set and in the third round defeated Zarina Diyas with the second set going to a tie-break. That has taken the Dutch player to seventh in the live rankings. In her warm-up event for this tournament, Bertens reached the quarter finals of the Brisbane International before losing to Naomi Osaka but dropped sets in two previous rounds. Bertens had a strong finish to last year with a final and semi-final in China including a win over world number one Ashleigh Barty. She has beaten Garbine Muguruza in three of their five meetings but the Spaniard is 2-0 up when playing on hard courts. With the confidence in her game rising, Garbine Muguruza  can get the win here.