WTA Hobart International 2020: Predictions & Odds

Points: 280 for the champion.

Total prize money: $275,000

When: from January 13th to January 18th

Where: Hobart International Tennis Center in Hobart, Australia

Surface: Hard (outdoor)

What’s at Stake?

Hobart runs parallel to the second WTA Premier event of the season, the Adelaide International.

It’s the third and final event of the Australian hard court season before the Australian Open.

Since it’s a short tournament, there are fewer competitors, which increases the chances of a deep run for the top players.

A semifinals berth pays more points than a quarterfinals berth at Adelaide.

In other words, it’s a good pick for players who are trying to pile up points for the end of the year ranking.

The tournament has a mix of young talent and experienced players, headlined by two-time Slam champion and former WTA number 1 Garbiñe Muguruza.

Check out also: Adelaide International Women’s Singles.

Let’s take a look at the best picks for the competition.

WTA Ranking: #17

2020 Record: 2-1, 0 titles

2020 Prize Money: $13,321

2019 Hobart International: Did not participate

Mertens returns to Hobart after a one-year absence.

The Belgian was the defending two-time champion heading into 2019 but elected to not participate in last year’s edition.

She will try to recapture the trophy in 2020, as defending champion Sofia Kenin chose to compete at Adelaide.

Mertens had an average 2019 season in singles.

After scoring her first career WTA Premier singles title in the Qatar Open, she failed to reach another final for the rest of the year.

She did have a phenomenal season in doubles, winning two Premier Mandatory titles as well as her first career major title in the US Open.

Mertens’ record on hard courts in 2019 was solid, with a 62.2% win rate.

Her 2020 season started with a third-round exit at Shenzhen, losing to eventual runner-up Elena Rybakina.

Garbiñe Muguruza

WTA Ranking: #34

2020 Record: 3-1, 0 titles

2020 Prize Money: $46,800

2019 Hobart International: Did not participate

The two-time Slam champion is trying to get back on the track of success.

Muguruza has struggled following her career year in 2017, which saw the Spaniard player add a second major title and reach the number 1 spot in the WTA ranking.

She has only won two International titles since then and did not reach a single Premier final in 2019.

The former number 1 also failed to make it past the fourth round in last year’s Slams, including two first-round exits.

Hobart could be a fitting place to begin the climb.

The tournament brings fond memories, as this is where Muguruza won her first career WTA singles title, in 2014.

She also has a doubles title from the 2013 edition.

Her record on hard courts in 2019 court wasn’t particularly great, with 16 wins in 30 matches.

She did however hold a solid win rate of 68% in 2017 and 63% in 2018.

Muguruza’s year got off to a much better start, with a semifinals berth in the Shenzhen Open.

WTA Ranking: #30

2020 Record: 4-1, 0 titles

2020 Prize Money: $88,402

2019 Hobart International: Did not participate

One of the rising stars of the WTA Tour, 20-year old Rybakina looks set for a great year in 2020.

She had a very good record in 2019, winning 57 of 78 matches and scoring her first career WTA singles title.

This included a 19-9 record on hard courts.

Rybakina also made her first two main draw appearances in major tournaments but was eliminated in the first round on both occasions.

Her 2020 season got off to a very good start, as the Kazakh player reached her third career WTA singles final, losing to Ekaterina Alexandrova at Shenzhen.

Rybakina holds the third seed at Hobart, which means that she will avoid facing another seeded opponent until the quarterfinals.

She beat two potential opponents, Kristyna Plyskova and number 1 seed, Elise Mertens, at Shenzhen earlier this month.

2020 WTA Hobart International Odds

The odds for the WTA Hobart International 2020 winner are offered by DraftKings Sportsbook.