AUSTRALIAN OPEN 2020 WOMEN'S SINGLES PREDICTIONS

For the past few years, the Women's side of the Grand Slam has always been super unpredictable and this year may not be that different. Several players could potentially take home the Australian Open title for this year but quite a few are starting to rise as potential favorites.

1st Quarter

Top seeded Ash Barty is on the top of the draw and is one of the few favorites in this quarter of the draw. On paper, this might seem like the easiest draw to move forward to with Barty expecting challenge in the 3rd round with No. 13 seed Petra Martic. The other ones favored to do well in this group would be No. 10 seed Madison Keys and the last year's runner-up and No. 7 seed Petra Kvitova.

QF prediction: Kvitova def. Barty (2-1)

2nd Quarter

This is potentially the quarter of "death" as there are several players who could potentially go deep into the second week. Defending champion Naomi Osaka is in this part of the draw and will face stern competition from a lot of players. A 3rd round encounter with young American Coco Gauff looms provided she wins the mouth-watering 1st round encounter with Venus Williams which is a repeat of 2019 Wimbledon 1st round. If she wins that I see her going deep. 24th seed and 14th seed Sloane Stephens and Sofia Kenin are potential 3rd round encounters as well but Stephens' form is a bit in question. A blockbuster 2nd round encounter is on the horizon for 2018 winner Caroline Wozniacki and another youngster 23rd seed Dayana Yastremska. No. 8 seed Serena Williams which won her first title after giving birth a few days back looms as one of the favorites in this group with Wozniacki or Yastremska an early 3rd round challenge for her.

QF prediction: Serena Williams def. Coco Gauff (2-0)

3rd Quarter

Another tricky quarter indeed for this AO 2020. No. 4 seed Simona Halep is considered the favorite in here with potential early collision with hot American Danielle Collins, seeded 26th. A potential 4th round also looms with No. 11 seed Aryna Sabalenka. No. 6 seed Belinda Bencic is also in this draw but faces tricky opponents with Jelena Ostapenko on the 2nd round. 3rd round encounter with 19th seed Donna Vekic is also possible if the Croat hurdles wildcard and former champion Maria Sharapova in a hotly anticipated first round encounter.

QF prediction: Halep def. Bencic (2-1)

4th Quarter

No. 2 Karolina Pliskova is on this side of the draw and promises to show some great seeded potential opponents. No. 5 Elina Svitolina looks as her biggest threat, a potential quarterfinal opponent but she is on a potential tussle in the 3rd round with Garbine Muguruza, a two-time major champion who is unseeded but remains to be a threat.  No. 9 seed Kiki Bertens is a potential 3rd round encounter for Svitolina as well and could cause problems for her. No. 21 Amanda Anisimova and 17th seeded Angelique Kerber are also looming which is the dark horse of this draw.

QF prediction: Bertens def. Kerber (2-1)

SF prediction:

Serena Williams def Kvitova (2-1)

Bertens def Halep (2-1)

Finals prediction:

Serena Williams def. Bertens (2-1)