WTA Tour 2019 ASB Classic (Auckland Open) Odds: Is It Wozniacki’s To Win?
- Denmark’s Caroline Wozniacki is heavily favored to win the 2019 ASB Classic (Auckland Open)
- Wozniacki will be looking to use the tournament as a tune up prior to defending her Australian Open title
- Germany’s Julia Goerges defeated Wozniacki in the final of last year’s Auckland Open
Caroline Wozniacki bucked a long-standing trend last year when she utilized a strong showing in the ASB Classic (Auckland Open) to propel her to victory at the Australian Open, the first tennis grand slam event of the season.
But is there a correlation between Auckland Open success and Australian Open success? No, not really.
Odds to Win ASB Classic (Auckland Open)
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Caroline Wozniacki | +300 |
| Julia Görges | +450 |
| Venus Williams | +800 |
| Victoria Azarenka | +800 |
Odds taken 12/29
You have to go all the way back to Evonne Goolagong to find one.
The Aussie won back-to-back Auckland Opens in 1974-75 and also captured the Australian Open in both of the those years.
After that, until Wozniacki’s win last year, there hadn’t been an Auckland Open finalist who’d reached the Australian Open final.
Is It A Two-Player Race?
Recent ASB Classic form charts suggest that this could end up a battle for honors between Denmark’s Wozniacki, the world’s No. 3 player, and German Julia Görges, currently ranked 14th by the WTA.
Wozniacki, the +300 favorite to win the event, lost last year’s final to Görges 6-4, 7-6, and both players show a recent history of faring well in this event.
Caroline Wozniacki talks Christmas, Auckland and her arthritis diagnosis after arriving for ASB Classichttps://t.co/e8Wgf63jsj pic.twitter.com/dvKqaScN5v
— 1 NEWS – Sport (@1NewsSportNZ) December 30, 2018
Görges, the second betting choice in this year’s tournament at +450, lost the 2016 final to American Sloane Stephens. In 2015, Wozniacki was an Auckland Open finalist, falling to Venus Williams of the USA.
Venus Williams vs Victoria Azarenka in 1st Round
Two multiple Grand Slam champions and the co-third betting choices will clash in the opening round of the tournament when Venus Williams squares off against Bulgaria’s Victoria Azarenka.
Azarenka won back-to-back Australian Opens in 2012-13. Williams has seven majors on her resume, but she is 0-2 in Australian Open finals, losing both times to her sister Serena, in 2003 and 2017.
Williams is 4-2 all-time in head-to-head meetings with Azarenka, although Azarenka has won the last two showdowns.
Williams has done well in the Auckland Open over the years. She lost the 2014 final to Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic the year prior to her tournament victory over Wozniacki.
Where Should You Put Your Money?
Wozniacki revealed two weeks ago on social media that she has been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation, pain and swelling in the joints.
She will likely have to go through Williams or Azarenka in the quarter-finals.
FOUR 4⃣ DAYS TO THE NEW SEASON
?: @WTA @ASB_Classic 2018 @juliagoerges pic.twitter.com/YbesjSP8uo
— Krasimir ?? ??? (@lobdowntheline) December 27, 2018
Görges, ranked 14th in the world, definitely has the easier path back to the final. But you have to go back to Eleni Daniilidou in 2003-04 to find someone who successfully defended their Auckland Open crown.
We think Görges will buck that trend. But if you want to play a sleeper, go for 17-year-old American phenom Amanda Anisimova at +2200.
Pick: Julia Görges (+450)
An industry veteran, Bob literally taught the course on the history of sports at Elder College. He has worked as a Sports Columnist for Postmedia, appeared as a guest on several radio stations, was the Vice President of the Society For International Hockey Research in Ontario, and written 25 books.
