- The WTA Western & Southern Open main draw begins Saturday. It is the biggest tournament so far in tennis’s return – and a leadup to the US Open, which kicks off Aug. 31.
- Despite being the top seed, Karolina Pliskova has had only one good summer hard-court run in her career – back in 2016.
- After such a long break, historical form is only one of many considerations. We give you the scoop on the X factors at play.
World No. 3 Karolina Pliskova is the No. 1 seed at the Western & Southern Open, relocated from Cincinnati to the US Open bubble during this unusual pandemic season.
She should not, however, be considered the favorite.
Since winning the tournament (in its traditional location) in 2016 and going on to reach the US Open final that year, the Czech has not put together a serious run since – at either location.
Meanwhile, world No. 4 and reigning Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin is the No. 2 seed.
She can be considered a favorite, despite that quiet way she has of still being overlooked. In fact, given Kenin is in the bottom half of the draw with a US Open-focused Serena Williams, a desultory Sloane Stephens and an inexperienced Coco Gauff, we’re picking her to sneak up on everyone – again – and win it.
The 21-year-old American got plenty of match play during the three-week World Team Tennis season. The format is one set, first to five games, much shorter than a regular WTA Tour match. But she won – a lot.
Kenin won six of her first seven sets in the WTT competition (losing only to 38-year-old Kim Clijsters – see above).
She defeated Jennifer Brady, Venus Williams and Stephens – twice.
Kenin could face 2017 US Open champion Stephens in the third round (after a first-round bye).
WTA Western & Southern Open women’s singles odds
| Player | Odds |
|---|---|
| Sofia Kenin (USA) | +550 |
| Karolina Pliskova (CZE) | +600 |
| Serena Williams (USA) | +600 |
| Petra Kvitova (CZE) | +700 |
| Naomi Osaka (JPN) | +700 |
| Elena Rybakina (KAZ) | +1000 |
| Aryna Sabalenka (BLR) | +1300 |
| Madison Keys (USA) | +1400 |
| Anett Kontaveit (EST) | +3000 |
| Jennifer Brady (USA) | +3300 |
| Cori Gauff (USA) | +3300 |
| Dayana Yastremska (UKR) | +3300 |
| Elise Mertens (BEL) | +5000 |
| Karolina Muchova | +6000 |
| Iga Swiatek (POL) | +8000 |
| Marketa Vondrousova (CZE) | +8000 |
| Johanna Konta (GBR) | +9000 |
| Ekaterina Alexandrova (RUS) | +10000 |
| Victoria Azarenka (BLR) | +10000 |
| Danielle Collins (USA) | +10000 |
Western & Southern Open long shots worth pondering
| Prop | Odds |
|---|---|
| Venus Williams | +10000 |
| Kim Clijsters | +10000 |
| Sloane Stephens | +25000 |
There are not many players in the Western & Southern Open draw who know what it takes to win big titles. But golden oldies Clijsters, 38 and Venus Williams (40!) are two of them.
Clijsters injured her abdominal in the final stages of World Team Tennis a few weeks ago. Beyond that, she continued the run of tough draw luck she’s experienced since beginning her latest comeback. Clijsters will play Brady, the most in-form player on the hard courts after winning her maiden WTA Tour title last week in Lexington, Kentucky, in the first round.
But the Belgian’s ball-striking remains top of class. If she can serve.
What a view ! My team and I are excited to be here 🗽Thanks to the @usta & @cincytennis for all their hard work and keeping us safe! #fortheloveofthegame pic.twitter.com/9J9wGh2ZA5
— Kim Clijsters (@Clijsterskim) August 19, 2020
Grand Slam champions’ quarter
Venus Williams had the misfortune of running into sister Serena in the second round last week in Lexington, Kentucky. But the tweaking she did during the shutdown – including a modified service motion – showed promise.
Her draw is challenging. As wild card, she’s sandwiched in a quarter that includes 2018 US Open champion Naomi Osaka, and two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. On paper, those two would meet in the quarterfinals.
But Osaka struggled before tennis shut down. And she has not been seen on the match court since managing just … three games in a Fed Cup qualifier against Sara Sorribes Tormo in early February.
Kvitova has played exhibitions, but they were on clay and grass – not hard courts. And has never thrived in the heat and humidity of the National Tennis Center; only twice in 12 US Open appearances has the lefty even reached the second week. And even then, she went no further and lost in the quarterfinals.
Meanwhile, Venus Williams has spent the last month competing on hard courts. If her body holds up, she could be the one to emerge from that quarter.
Upsets and predictions
- Jennifer Brady over [5] Aryna Sabalenka in the third round
- Coco Gauff over [13] Maria Sakkari in the first round
- Gauff over [3] Serena Williams in the third round
- Venus comes out of the Osaka-Kvitova quarter and reaches (at least) the semifinals
- Jennifer Brady (+3300) vs. [WC] Venus Williams (+10000) and Coco Gauff (+3300) vs. [2] Kenin (+550) will be the semifinal matchups
Best Bet
With so little tennis since March to gauge form – and various levels of fitness and comfort with the New York conditions – the favorites at the Western & Southern Open likely will be those who have played the most on hard courts and who haven’t had the stress of having to travel from Europe.
In other words, the Americans.
More specifically, the younger Americans for whom “Cincinnati” is a huge aspirational title, and who won’t be looking ahead to the US Open.
With the Williams sisters at or near 40, the grind of five matches in seven days will be a test. And Serena may well be looking ahead to trying to make history at the big event – not to mention conserve her energy in the heat and humidity.
Champion prediction: Sofia Kenin (+550).
The post WTA Western & Southern Open odds and betting preview: a wide-open field appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.
from Sports Betting Dime https://www.sportsbettingdime.com/news/tennis/wta-western-southern-open-odds-and-betting-preview-a-wide-open-field/
via https://diachibet.com/fb88
https://diachibet.com/fun88
from Tumblr https://diachibetcomme.tumblr.com/post/627023768493096960
Không có nhận xét nào:
Đăng nhận xét