Formlines to be exposed for Australian Open

Margaret Court Arena hosted a parade of women’s champions with the big guns led by Ash Barty, Naomi Osaka and Serena Williams.

Ash Barty hits a return against Czech Republic's Marie Bouzkova during their match at the Yarra Valley Classic Picture: AFP

Fancy a flutter on finding the winner of the Australian Open?

If so, Margaret Court Arena was the only place to be on Wednesday for keen form students ahead of the Australian Open.

Tournament favourite Naomi Osaka started proceedings. Second favourite and local hopeful Ash Barty followed. Equal-third favourite Simona Halep finished the day’s session in style.

Once the clock ticked to 6.30pm, American legend Serena Williams kicked off a sparkling night session.

Every one of them is a champion. They share 29 major titles between them. All have been No 1. And, in order of appearance, the world numbers three, one and two in Osaka, Barty and Halep all continued winning runs before the queen of tennis Williams stepped on to the court on ­Wednesday night.

In terms of finding an Australian Open winner, there will never be a better form guide for the major than what is unfolding this week in Melbourne.

The world’s best men are competing against each other in the ATP Cup and, while there is a slight injury concern around Rafael Nadal, Melbourne Park king Novak Djokovic is firing.

It is worth waiting until the weekend before deciding on the player to bet on when the Australian Open begins next Monday at Melbourne Park.

This is the second time during the pandemic the world’s best have gathered to play both a lead-in event and a major on the same site.

The Cincinnati Open last August was shifted to New York ahead of the US Open and provided a superb form guide, with an asterisk.

Victoria Azarenka claimed the Cincinnati event, but she did not have to play the final when Osaka withdrew as part of a protest against an infamous police shooting in the US. A fortnight later the pair squared off in the final, with Osaka taking to the court and emerging the winner.

Djokovic, too, was in sterling form in New York. He claimed Cincinnati and looked on the way to a double before being defaulted in the US Open for hitting a ­lineswoman with a ball. Hence the asterisk.

Melbourne is slightly different given there are six events being held this week, but nonetheless, those who push into this weekend will be match-hardened and in form.

From a form perspective, the leading women will be encouraged by their victories.

Osaka was outpaced early by England’s Katie Boulter but rebounded strongly to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-1 and stretch a winning streak that began in the US in August to 13. Halep continued her dazzling form when toppling Laura ­Siegemund 6-2, 6-4.

Just over 16 hours after she departed Melbourne Park on Tuesday night following her first singles win for 2020, Barty was back on court not long after noon on Wednesday.

The Australian was pushed by Czech Marie Bouzkova before rallying late to win 6-0, 4-6, 6-3 in a pleasing victory.

The challenge for Barty in her comeback was never going to be about how well she is striking the ball but more about problem solving under pressure. It is a skill that only comes through match play.

So to be tested by Bouzkova, who had won two of her three previous outings against top-five ranked women, and find a solution in the third set, was a good sign ahead of next week.

“It is obviously a little bit different, particularly coming off a night match,” Barty said. “I am an early riser and I didn’t get a lot of sleep last night. In the middle of the match, I pressed a little bit and lost my execution, but was happy to find it at the end.”