OPINION: Is there anyone who really deserves to the win the women's singles title at the Australian Open this year?
No Serena Williams, no Victoria Azarenka, no form from Garbine Muguruza, Maria Sharapova was a shadow of her former self and limited attacking shots from so many other players has given the women's draw a slightly eerie look to it at the fourth round and quarter-final stage.
Second seed Caroline Wozniacki is looking in form, especially after her demolition of Magdalena Rybarikova in the fourth round, but the issue with the affable Dane is that she doesn't attack. She's primarily a defensive player who is a retriever. The remainder of her side of the draw is even worse... Fancy Carla Suarez Navarro in the final?
The top half of the draw at least has a couple of players who can win points, but then 2016 US Open finalist, Karolina Pliskova, has been in horrid form, which is a shame as her shot making can be so good. World No.1 Simona Halep is a lovely person but really devoid of shots to win free points. She's wonderful at rallying and being on the court for a long time, but where's the oomph in her shots to make you go 'wow'?
At least Angelique Kerber has hit top form after thrashing Maria Sharapova. Last year she came to Melbourne as the defending champ and probably shouldn't have turned up and her year got steadily worse. This year she's undefeated after winning all of her singles matches at the Hopman Cup and winning the Sydney WTA tournament, but does she have the shots to excite spectators and actually win points rather than outlast?
There is perhaps one player who has the firepower and has kept very much under the radar... American Madison Keys. The finalist at the US Open a few months ago where she could hardly move due to the extent of her leg injury. Keys is seeded 17th and arguably the most powerful player remaining in the fourth round. However, her lack of match play since the US Open does not bode well for her, which in turn leaves the tournament very open to retrievers winning the title.
Is there anyone in the women's draw inspiring enough to make you think they deserve the title?
Dave Worsley is a Newshub sports reporter who's in Melbourne for the Australian Open.
