Auckland Open Semifinals Odds & Pick: Wozniacki vs Pegula
- The Ladies’ Singles Semifinals at the Auckland Open are tonight
- American Jessica Pegula and veteran Caroline Wozniacki are meeting for the first time
- Where can we find betting value?
With the Australian Open approaching players are sharpening their skills and preparing for the first major of the year. Both Caroline Wozniacki and Jessica Pegula are off to good starts in their first tournament of the season.
The winner of this semifinal will face either Serena Williams or Amanda Anisimova for the title. None of them have ever won in Auckland, though Wozniacki has twice been the runner up.
If you believe that momentum is important with the Australian Open looming, each player will be motivated to reach the finals. Let’s look at the latest odds and handicap the match.
Caroline Wozniacki vs Jessica Pegula Auckland Open Semifinals Odds
| Player | Moneyline | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline Wozniacki | -335 | -4.5 (-105) | O 20.5 (-110) |
| Jessica Pegula | +270 | +4.5 (-125) | U 20.5 (-120) |
Odds taken Jan. 10
Caroline Wozniacki
Wozniacki, who is retiring after the Australian Open at the age of 29, is coming off a good win over two-time defending Auckland champion Julia Goerges. The easy straight-set victory came after dominating Paige Mary Hourigan in the first round, and a three-set victory against Lauren Davis in her second match.
Wozniacki won her lone major at the Australian Open in 2018. She reached two other major finals, losing both at the US Open. This is her first tournament since losing in the semifinals to Naomi Osaka at the China Open in October.
Jessica Pegula
Pegula is a bit of a late bloomer, winning her first WTA singles title at the age of 25 in August. Her victory over Camila Giorgi at the City Open did not lead to better things the rest of the year. She finished 2019 with first round losses in the US Open, Korea Open, Wuhan Open, and China Open.
2020 has been strong thus far for Pegula. She has not dropped a set beating CiCi Bellis, Tamara Zidansek, and Alize Cornet to reach the semis in Auckland.
An interesting note is that Pegula’s dad Terry is the owner of the Buffalo Sabres and Bills.
Head-to-Head
This is the first-ever meeting between these players but that doesn’t mean we can’t look closer at the numbers and tendencies as we decide who to select.
Wozniacki vs. Pegula
| 0 | Career Auckland Open Title Wins | 0 |
| 39 | Current Ranking | 82 |
| Right-handed (two-handed backhand) | Plays | Right-handed (two-handed backhand) |
| 7-3 | Last 10 Matches | 5-5 |
| 4-1 | Auckland Open Sets W/L | 6-0 |
Betting the Auckland Open Semifinals
Wozniacki is not the same player who was once ranked number one in the world. However, she is motivated knowing that her career is winding down, and the decisive win over Goerges indicates she is sharp right now.
Pegula has shown an ability to play well in short spurts, and it certainly is positive that she has been good thus far down under, though her win over Cornet came via retirement.
In the end, it just seems like Wozniacki is the stronger player. That said, it is much riskier but our level of confidence doesn’t dictate laying almost 7/2 odds. Let’s play for a mild blowout with more normal juice.
Pick: Caroline Wozniacki -4.5 (-105)
Dave Friedman has covered professional and college sports for two decades. From ESPN to the Associated Press, Regional Sports Networks, Metro Networks, and many local outlets, he has written about and broadcast major and minor events throughout the country.
