After a thrilling fortnight of tennis at the Australian Open, just two women remain in contention for the title at Melbourne Park. Both Naomi Osaka and Jennifer Brady will surely be desperate to get their hands on the trophy and, as ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions, with our panel of Jim Smith, Steen Kirby, Harsh Bhoot, Damian Kust and Faser Learmonth making their picks. But who will lift the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup?<\/p>\n
Jim: Jennifer Brady deserves immense credit for her achievements over the last 12 months, which have propelled up her the rankings at some speed. But it is hard to see her getting the better of Naomi Osaka here. There is a lot that Brady does well, but she doesn\u2019t possess a great deal of variety and she will almost certainly fail to overpower Osaka from the baseline. This should be relatively comfortable for the 2019 champion, just as it was when the met in the US Open semifinals last season.<\/p>\n
Prediction: Osaka in 2<\/em><\/p>\n Steen: Brady will be thrilled to be in her first Grand Slam final, but at most has a puncher’s chance against Osaka who just decimated the always challenging Serena Williams<\/a> in straight sets in the Australian Open semifinals. Osaka will be fresh and too strong from the baseline for the lesser-known Brady.<\/p>\n Prediction: Osaka in 2<\/em><\/p>\n Damian: There isn\u2019t quite as much hype around Brady as at Flushing Meadows, with the American going under the radar to match and then better her best Grand Slam result. As composed and confident as she\u2019s been though, a Major final is completely new ground for her. Even if she doesn\u2019t let the occasion get to her, Osaka can both equal her power from the ground, and redirect it with even more pace. The Japanese has been looking particularly impressive mentally and should continue her domination of the hard court events here.<\/p>\n Prediction: Osaka in 2<\/em><\/p>\n Harsh: Osaka is in stunning form heading into the final and she’ll like the fact that Brady played a long and tiring semifinal. Brady has now had to endure back-to-back three-setters and that will take its toll. Osaka, on the other hand, has dispatched her last two opponents with ease and is definitely the fresher of the two. From the baseline, Osaka has the strength to hit through Brady and Osaka will also have the advantage on serve. With her game firing on all cylinders, it’s tough to see how Brady can stop her from a fourth Grand Slam title.<\/p>\n Prediction: Osaka in 2<\/em><\/p>\n Fraser: If Brady is to have a chance she must serve well. Osaka is too powerful from both wings for Brady to allow her into service games. Osaka has returned superbly so far this tournament and was comfortable against arguably the greatest server ever in women’s tennis in Williams in the semis. Brady has done well to take advantage of a kind draw, but, in truth, she’s outgunned in every department here. Osaka will surely feel good about her chances if she plays anywhere near the level she has all tournament. Ultimately, I am struggling to see any other result but an Osaka win here.<\/p>\n Prediction: Osaka in 2<\/em><\/p>\n Main photo:
\nEmbed from Getty Images<\/a>