WTA tennis tournament predictions: Johanna Konta can start 2020 with a bang

Previews and best bets for the first three WTA tournaments of the new season in Brisbane, Auckland and Shenzhen.

WTA Brisbane International

When to watch

Starts 1am Monday, Amazon Prime

Best bet

Johanna Konta to win Brisbane International
1pt each-way 25-1 Betfair, Paddy Power

Tournament preview

All eyes will be on world number one and top seed Ashleigh Barty in the Brisbane International and the Queenslander is likely to go close to notching an emotional triumph with her country beset by summer forest fires.

But while the French Open and WTA Finals heroine's chances of winning have to be respected, Barty has plenty of work to do in the tougher half of the draw if she is to lift the trophy.

After a first-round bye she could meet 2015 Brisbane champion Maria Sharapova, then Petra Kvitova or Sloane Stephens, then 2018 winner Elina Svitolina or Angelique Kerber, all before the final.

• Tennis 2020 season preview, free tips and predictions

Second seed and defending champion Karolina Pliskova, who is chasing a third Brisbane crown in four years, tops the bill in the bottom half of the draw but it could be worth chancing Johanna Konta to start the year with a bang.

The Australia-born Briton finished 2019 in promising style and Konta could be value to find a path through against Barbora Strycova, then possibly Karolina Muchova and Pliskova.

Third seed Naomi Osaka, who is due to defend her Australian Open title later this month, could prove a tough opponent in the semi-finals but Konta can be difficult to stop when she gets up a head of steam.

WTA ASB Classic

When to watch

Starts 1am Monday, Amazon Prime

Best bet

Caroline Wozniacki to win ASB Classic
1pt each-way 14-1 general

Tournament preview

Serena Williams and Cori Gauff are two of the big draws in the ASB Classic in Auckland this year, but the American duo find themselves in the tougher top half along with compatriot Amanda Anisimova and Jelena Ostapenko.

Rather than try to second-guess what might happen in that section so early in the season, it could be wiser to have an interest in the bottom half.

Petra Martic is the second seed but the Croat is no serial winner of main-tour titles, so an each-way interest on 2015 finalist Caroline Wozniacki could offer value.

Wozniacki is due to retire in the first half of the season. She will do well to make it two Australian Open singles triumphs in three years, so backing the former world number one to win a title of this stature would seem to make sense.

Julia Goerges, seeded fourth and also in the bottom section, is bidding to make it three title triumphs on the bounce in New Zealand but this year's task could be tougher for the German.

Lauren Davis will try to regain the trophy but the American was right on top of her game when triumphing three years ago and is difficult to fancy until she shows evidence of form.

WTA Shenzhen Open

When to watch

Starts 3am Sunday, Amazon Prime

Best bet

Belinda Bencic to win Shenzhen Open
1pt 4-1 Ladbrokes

Tournament preview

Belinda Bencic is the top seed in the Shenzhen Open, which starts early on Sunday morning, and it's the first time in ages that the Swiss miss has topped the bill in such a big tournament.

The Shenzhen title has been farmed by the top seeds in recent years too, so punters are most definitely not put off siding with Bencic, second seed Aryna Sabalenka or third seed Elise Mertens and it's no surprise to see that trio head the oddsmakers' title lists.

The only other player remotely near that trio in the outright betting is Garbine Muguruza, but the Spaniard's confidence dropped to such a low in recent times that it's difficult to back her until she shows signs of a return to somewhere near her peak.

Of the outsiders, Aliaksandra Sasnovich was performing at a decent level until late in the 2019 campaign and so the stocky Belarusian is respected.

But given the nature of the tournament and the fact that Sabalenka and Mertens are in the same section of the draw, an interest on Bencic could be prudent.

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