Australian Open order of play on Saturday: Halep and Wozniacki bid to end Grand Slam drought

ByEurosport

Updated 26/01/2018 at 16:19 GMT

Order of play on the main showcourt on the 13th day of the Australian Open with Caroline Wozniacki and Simona Halep meeting in what should be an enthralling women's final.

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Women's singles - final

1-Simona Halep (Romania) v 2-Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)

Everything will be on the line when the top two seeds take to Rod Laver Arena as both chase a long-awaited first grand slam title as well as the world number one ranking.

Romanian Halep currently holds top spot but Wozniacki, who once spent 67 weeks there, would replace her with victory.

It is the first time the number one ranking has been at stake at a women's Grand Slam since the 2012 Australian Open when Victoria Azarenka defeated Maria Sharapova.

With both having already topped the rankings, however, that will pale into insignificance compared to holding aloft the trophy on Saturday, having both suffered heartbreak on two occasions, Halep at the French and Wozniacki at the US Open.

While points and rankings are quickly forgotten, Grand Slam silverware lasts forever.

Three-times Australian Open champion and Eurosport pundit Mats Wilander says both Halep and Wozniacki have benefited this past fortnight from being forced out of their comfort zones.

The usually cagey Halep struck 50 winners in a brutal semi-final against Angelique Kerber, when she saved match points for the second match here this year.

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"I know that Halep is trying to play more aggressively," Wilander said.

"You wonder if maybe being match points down (against Lauren Davis) in the third round and twisting her ankle - maybe that's the best thing that ever happened to her.

"She's not gone into panic hitting but she is thinking, 'Maybe I can't rely totally on my footwork and court coverage now'."

Second seed Wozniacki has also been more aggressive in her approach after saving match points in round two against Croatia's Jana Fett.

"Wozniacki was way too passive against Fett and was nearly out," said Wilander.v

"They have come out of their comfort zones. You are not going to win these matches in your comfort zone."

Men's doubles - final

7-Oliver Marach (Austria)/Mate Pavic (Croatia) v 11-Juan Sebastian Cabal (Colombia)/Robert Farah (Colombia)