Australian Open 2021 Women’s Final: Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka -Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions

Australian Open 2021 Women’s Final: Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka -Preview, Head-to-Head and Predictions
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Jennifer Brady Naomi Osaka

The Australian Open Final will see American Jennifer Brady go up against Naomi Osaka of Japan. 

Match Details:

  • Fixture: Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka 
  • Date: 20th February 2021
  • Tournament: Australian Open 2021
  • Round: Finals
  • Venue: Melbourne, Australia
  • Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
  • Prize Money: $2,113,375 (USD)

Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka : Preview

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Jennifer Brady

Brady has had quite a run at this year’s Australian Open. Seeded no.22, she has exceeded all expectations and made her way right into the Finals of the prestigious Grand Slam. Her journey into the finals started with a 1st round clash against Aliona Bolsova of Spain. A match that Brady won easily, 6-1 6-1. In the 2nd round she was challenged by compatriot Madison Brengle. Brady overcame her 6-1 6-2. In the 3rd round Brady blew away Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan 6-1 6-3. The 4th round saw Brady defeat Croatia’s Donna Vekić 6-1 7-5. In the Quarter Finals against compatriot Jessica Pegula, Brady was tested early, but she recovered quickly to win in three sets, 4-6 6-2 6-1.

The Semi-Final: Jennifer Brady vs Karolína Muchová

The semi finals was perhaps her sternest test yet. Karolína Muchová from the Czech Republic battled her for three sets before surrendering, Brady triumphing 6-4 3-6 6-4. But this wonderful run hasn’t come easy or by chance for Brady. She in the past year has worked very hard on her fitness and tactical game with her coach Michael Geserer. In Fact, the association with Geserer has seen Brady’s results improve drastically. Last year’s US Open semifinal appearance, and this year’s run to the Australian Open final, are testament to that fact. 

Brady’s opponent in the final is Naomi Osaka. Osaka came into the Australian Open seeded 3rd and having won the last Grand Slam of the year, the US Open 2020. Osaka faced Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova of Russia in the 1st round, a match she won easily, 6-1 6-2. In the second round Osaka came across Caroline Garcia of France and beat her 6-2 6-3. Next up for Osaka was Tunisian Ons Jabeur. Osaka won that match 6-3 6-2. In the 4th round Osaka was faced with the challenge of Garbiñe Muguruza of Spain. This is one match where Osaka looked like she was in trouble, but she dug deep and recovered to win 4-6 6-4 7-5. In the Quarter Finals, Osaka blew away Taiwan’s Hsieh Su-wei 6-2 6-2.

The semifinal: Naomi Osaka vs Serena Williams

In the Semi Finals, what was supposed to be a tight match against Serena Williams, Osaka completely dominated her, and in the end won comfortably in straight sets 6-3 6-4. Osaka and her team pulled off a coup when they got Japanese fitness guru, Yutaka Nakamura, on board last year. Nakamura was instrumental in Osaka’s triumph at the US Open last year, and has been a great motivation at this year’s Australian Open too.  

Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka : Head-to-Head 

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Naomi Osaka

Brady and Naomi have met 3 times on the tour before. With Osaka leading the head to head 2-1. The last time these two met was at the Semi Finals of the US Open, where Osaka won a tight game of tennis 7-6 3-6 6-3. 

Jennifer Brady vs Naomi Osaka : Prediction 

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Naomi Osaka

Brady is a fighter and a scrapper. She has a power game that is as good as anybody’s on the women’s tour and a serve to match. Brady also likes to keep an eye out for her opponents, watching their every move closely. In most of her matches she has used the court angles brilliantly. 

Osaka is the new queen of the jungle, she really is. In her semi final match, she was getting hard returns from Serena , but every time Osaka’s returns were harder and stronger. It was as if you hit me with a shot. I will hit you back with a more powerful one. Osaka has power and precision both, and that is a rare combination. But the biggest asset of Osaka is undoubtedly her calm demeanor. An expressionless face, rarely breaking out to shout a ‘come on’. Osaka is the favourite to win this. 

Match Prediction: Naomi Osaka to win in straight sets. 

Also read: Australian Open 2021: Karolína Muchová vs Jennifer Brady -Preview, Head-to-Head And Prediction