BNP Paribas Open Women’s Singles Final
Daria Kasatkina vs Naomi Osaka
No one, not even the most ardent tennis live betting fan, could have seen this Indian Wells final between Osaka and Kasatkina coming.
Osaka is unseeded in the tournament while Kasatkina is ranked 20th, and a mention of their names won’t ring any bells to the casual follower of the sport.
However, after what has been a spectacular week that saw them defy betting odds and shock the online gambling heavyweights, the two have more than proven they deserve to be on this stage.
Now, the biggest test awaits the two 20-year-old stars when they share the court in the California desert, with both hoping to get the job done and win the most important title of their young careers.
Kasatkina is the favourite in the matchup and for a good reason. Not only is the Russian the higher-seeded player, but she is also in higher spirits after overcoming the likes of Sloane Stephens, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber and Venus Williams on her way to this stage—that’s four straight wins against four former major champions!
Osaka, on the other hand, will hope to build on the momentum she got from her victories against Karolina Pliskova and top-seeded (but out-of-sorts) Simona Halep to produce an upset.
It should be noted, however, that both players are making their debuts on a Premier Mandatory final, so anything can really happen. Their contrasting style of plays could even play a huge role in the outcome of the battle!
The Russian star has a varied game that could make life hard for Osaka. The Japanese youngster, in contrast, boasts a pulverizing power that could throw off Kasatkina’s rhythm—just like she did against Halep and Pliskova.
Indeed, this match has all the makings of an action-packed affair. Not to mention the youthful vigour they are expected to inject in the final, something which lacked in recent years.
Osaka, with her power, should never be counted out. Nonetheless, the relatively slow court and bouncing conditions at Indian Wells fit Kasatkina’s style better. It should also help the Russian that she has more tools with her ability to change rhythm and speed.
I expect their fight to go the distance, but with how things are looking, Kasatkina seems the better choice on Game Handicap -2.00 @ 1.97.
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Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
