In a similar approach to my Collins-Muchova preview, I think Leylah Fernandez and Caroline Garcia should be a lot closer given their current form. The winner of the WTA Finalsseemingly lost a bit of her momentum as she only beat Katerina Siniakova 7-5 in the third before losing to Belinda Bencic in Adelaide. Both these players are great at redirecting pace, and so is Leylah Fernandez. The young Canadian played herself into pretty good early-season form and her only loss in 2023 came indoors due to the rainout in Auckland. In her first-round win over Alize Cornet, Fernandez tried to be the aggressor all match and even though Garcia will confront her with a lot more power, the 2021 US Open runner-up is able to adjust her style to all sorts of opponents. Fernandez loves a high bounce – as seen in her two title wins in Monterrey – and her quickness and court coverage will force Garcia to hit an extra winner every now and then. With Garcia not starting the new year as consistent as she ended 2022, I’m taking a chance on the talented 20-year-old who has the game to fret the No. 4 seed.
Suggested Bets
0.75u on Leylah Fernandez at 2.85 (+185) with Kambi
0.75u on Over 2.5 sets at 2.55 (+155) with Kambi
Over 18s Only (21+ in some jurisdictions). 1 unit = 1% of bankroll. These are my bets that I am making. Please enjoy your betting responsibly. Never bet more than you can afford to lose, and do not chase a loss.