Australian Open 2020 women’s final: Sofia Kenin vs. Garbine Muguruza preview, profiles and predictions

Australian Open women’s singles final

• Who: Sofia Kenin (USA) vs. Garbine Muguruza (Spain)
• When: Saturday 1 February 2020
• Where: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne Park
• Start time: 8.30am (GMT)
• How to watch on TV: live on Eurosport and Eurosport Player

After two stunning semi-final encounters the Australian Open women’s final will see American Sofia Kenin go head-to-head with Spain’s Garbine Muguruza.

Kenin, 21, is the 14th seed in Melbourne and her 7-6 (8-6), 7-5 victory over world No.1 Ashleigh Barty means she will play in her first grand slam final.

Unseeded Muguruza, 26, progressed to Saturday’s final after a 7-6 (10-8), 7-5 win over Romania’s Simona Halep in the last four.

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Muguruza, the 2016 French Open and 2017 Wimbledon champion, is a former world No.1 but currently sits at 32 on the WTA world rankings.

Kenin and Muguruza’s semi-final success ensures there will be a first-time winner of the Australian Open. Should Muguruza triumph she would become the third unseeded player to win the women’s title after Chris O’Neil in 1978 and Serena Williams in 2007.

Saturday’s final on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne starts at 8.30am (GMT) and is live on Eurosport.

What the players had to say

Kenin (seeded 14)

“First I’m just going to be enjoying the moment. You don’t experience this so often. Of course, I’m going to enjoy it. This is so exciting. Literally butterflies. I’m just going to also focus on what I need to do, focus on my game. I got here, it’s time to shine, do the best I can. Hopefully do something more special.”

Muguruza (unseeded)

“I’m very excited to be in the final - it is a long way to get there. I wasn’t thinking I was down, I just thought keep going and knew I’d have an opportunity. I was hanging in there and fighting with all the energy I had. Luckily I have 48 hours to recover and get ready for the last match. We train all our career to play on this court and [in front of] this crowd. It’s going to be a hard match. It’s the final of a grand slam. Doesn’t matter who is your opponent.”

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Player profiles: about the finalists

Sofia Kenin

• Age: 21
• Nationality: United States
• World ranking: 15
• Plays: right-handed
• Turned pro: 2017
• Career titles: 3 WTA, 4 ITF
• Grand slam history: first final

Garbine Muguruza

• Age: 26
• Nationality: Spain
• World ranking: 32
• Plays: right-handed
• Turned pro: 2012
• Career titles: 7 WTA, 7 ITF
• Grand slam titles: French Open 2016, Wimbledon 2017

Predictions: who will win the title?

George Bellshaw, Metro: Garbine Muguruza

“While Kenin did beat Barty, that was the only seeded player she dispatched on route. Muguruza has sent four seeds packing including three top-10 players: Elina Svitolina, Kiki Bertens and Simona Halep. This final is as difficult to call as it was to predict they would even be there, but I sense Muguruza has the edge. Once she’s on a roll, she is very tough to stop. Prediction: Muguruza in 2.”

Yesh Ginsburg, Last Word on Tennis: Sofia Kenin

“How much do I trust Garbine Muguruza? Will she be able to hit clean baseline shots, point after point, for three full sets? Because that’s what she’ll need to do to beat Kenin. Kenin won’t go for too much and won’t crack under pressure. This will be Muguruza’s match to win or lose. Do I trust her to win it? Right now, I don’t. Prediction: Kenin in 3.”

Adam Evans, The Stats Zone

“This was not supposed to be the Australian Open final when Ashleigh Barty and Simona Halep met Sofia Kenin and Garbine Muguruza respectively, but both players have an incredible opportunity here in what should be a real battle from the baseline. On the balance of play, Muguruza’s Grand Slam experience should see the 26-year-old win her third major title, but Sofia Kenin must not be underestimated and her first major would not be a huge surprise.”

Nurein Ahmed, Last Word on Tennis: Sofia Kenin

“Experience is key here and Muguruza has an enormous edge in that department. However, Kenin is no slouch when it comes to baseline exchanges, and her ability to extend the Spaniard - who is not the cleanest striker on the run - could be a very effective strategy. Assuming the young American fights off the early nerves, she should outlast the two-time Major champion. Prediction: Kenin in 2.”

Sports Chat Place: Garbine Muguruza

“Looking at all the information, I am going to pick Garbine Muguruza to win this match. Sofia Kenin has been playing exceptional tennis but she has never played a grand slam final in the past and I see that being a big issue. Muguruza has won two grand slams and I see her using that experience well in this match.”

Bwin: Sofia Kenin

“There have been plenty of surprises over the course of the last two weeks and it would not be a shock to add Kenin to that list. Looking at the Kenin vs Muguruza odds, we reckon 9/2 on the underdog to win in three sets, just as she did in China last year, smacks of excellent value.”

Women’s final betting odds

Prices according to Oddschecker

Women’s final winner

• Garbine Muguruza: 4/7
• Sofia Kenin: 6/4

Set betting

• Garbine Muguruza 2-0: 7/5
• Garbine Muguruza 2-1: 3/1
• Sofia Kenin 2-0: 7/2
• Sofia Kenin 2-1: 9/2

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