Pliskova Favored, But Seven Players Given +850 Odds or Shorter to Win 4th Quarter at Aussie Open

• Karolina Pliskova outpaces a crowded pack near the top of the Australian Open fourth quarter odds
• Elina Svitolina trails as a strong +600 second favorite, while American teen Amanda Anisimova offers intriguing value at +750
• Read below for our preview and prediction for this part of the bracket

Karolina Pliskova will be aiming to continue the steady run of success at the Australian Open, capped by her march to the semi-finals a year ago, when she open’s this year’s edition of the tournament perched as strong +300 favorite to emerge as the winner of the fourth quarter of the draw in the tennis odds.

Odds to Win 2020 Australian Open Women’s 4th Quarter

*Odds taken on January 17, 2020

Pliskova Opened 2020 on a Winning Note

Pliskova’s victory at last week’s Brisbane International cemented her position at No. 2 on the WTA singles rankings. Overall, the 27-year-old has advanced at least as far as the semi-finals in three of her past five outings, and has reached the quarter-finals in each of the past three years at Melbourne.

Karolina #Pliskova played some of her best tennis at the #AusOpen last year and just won the Brisbane title – but she has received one of the toughest R1s out of the top seeds

Read more > https://t.co/6jt5XW8vnk pic.twitter.com/vpZ9JMv8nx

— Live Tennis (@livetennis) January 17, 2020

While glory has eluded Pliskova since her lone Grand Slam tournament victory at the 2016 US Open, she produced consistent results throughout 2019, picking up four tournament victories, with her lone early exit coming in a Round of 64 loss to Jelena Ostapenko at the China Open.

Svitolina Coming Off Deep Grand Slam Runs

Elina Svitolina lags as a lengthy +600 second favorite to win the fourth quarter at the 2020 Australian Open, just ahead of Kiki Bertens and Amanda Anisimova, who follow deadlocked at +750.

Elina Svitolina is the first Ukrainian woman ever to reach a Grand Slam semi-final! 👏👏👏

She's beaten Karolina Muchova 7-5 6-4 and will face Simona Halep for a place in the final.

👉 https://t.co/9eHc03W3hm #wimbledon #bbctennis pic.twitter.com/jMzuLmmTeN

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) July 9, 2019

Svitolina has powered her rise to No. 5 on the WTA rankings with deep runs in three of her past four Grand Slam appearances. The 25-year-old Ukrainian reached the semi-final at both Wimbledon and the US Open in 2019, and has been a quarter-finalist in each of the past two years at the Australian Open. Svitolina has also held the clear edge in recent clashes with Pliskova, earning the win in each of their past three matches, including a straight sets win over the Czech star on her way to victory at last fall’s WTA Finals.

Bertens a Grand Slam Disappointment

Conversely, Bertens has enjoyed little success in eight previous appearances at the Australia Open, with her best showing coming two years ago when she bowed out in the third round. The 28-year-old subsequently went on to win a pair of tournaments in 2019, with her most notable win coming at the Madrid Open, where she avoided losing a set on her way to an eventual straight sets win over Simona Halep in the finals.

2019 Kiki #Bertens 🇳🇱 Highlights 📹:
Credits: @WTA 🎾

📹: Madrid final 🇪🇸🏆
🔺Defeated #Halep 🇷🇴 6-4 6-4

📹: St. Petersburg final 🇷🇺🏆
🔺Defeated #Vekic 🇭🇷 7-6(2) 6-4 pic.twitter.com/GreO01du7Z

— Match Point Podcast 🎙🎾 (@MPTenisPodcast) December 23, 2019

Anisimova Poised for a Breakthrough?

Anisimova enters this year as an intriguing dark horse to be this year’s fourth quarter winner. The 18-year-old American turned heads in her debut at the Australian Open a year ago, advancing to the fourth round before bowing out to eventual finalist Petra Kvitova. She would follow up with an impressive march to the semi-finals at Rolland-Garros, a stellar run that featured wins over Aryna Sabalenka and defending champion Simona Halep, and made her the first player born in the 21st century to reach a Grand Slam semi-final.

The second half of Anisimova’s year was marred by a nagging back injury, and the sudden death of her father and coach, Konstantin Anisimov. However, she enjoyed steady start to 2020 at least week’s ASB Classic 2020, advancing to the semi-final before falling to Serena Williams. Forced to grow up fast since her last Grand Slam appearance, Anisimoiva’s maturity will be tested this time around in Melbourne. And while Anisimova is winless in four previous matches with Pliskova, Svitolina, and Bertens, a breakthrough is only a matter of time.

Pick: Amanda Anisimova (+750)