Second round matchups commence on day 3 of the 2022 Mutua Madrid Open. Eight WTA second round matchups are scheduled on Saturday, including a blockbuster clash between the second seeded Paula Badosa and two-time former champion Simona Halep. Also on the cards is an intriguing matchup between a pair of qualifiers as Marie Bouzkova takes on Dayana Yastremska. Let’s take a look at those matches and a couple of others to try and find the best bets of the day in Madrid.
WTA Madrid Day 3 – Best Bets
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz vs (Q) Ekaterina Alexandrova
I was surprised to see Parrizas-Diaz placed as such a large underdog in this matchup. The Spaniard claimed one of the biggest wins of her career in the opening round when she defeated Sorana Cirstea 6-4 6-2, her best win based on rankings over the world no.27. Meanwhile, Alexandrova has already won three matches this tournament having come through the qualifying draw as the top seed and beating the 10th seeded Jelena Ostapenko 6-2 4-6 6-4 in the opening round of the main draw.
I believe Parrizas-Diaz has a better chance in this matchup than the odds suggest. It’s fair to say clay is Alexandrova’s worst surface. The conditions in Madrid are much quicker than a regular clay event, but I’d still say the conditions favour Parrizas-Diaz in this matchup. Parrizas-Diaz has such a solid playing style, if her opponent if off she will be there to take advantage. Alexandrova is the type of player that can be off, thanks to her ultra-aggressive style. The Spaniard will ask a lot of questions and should at least keep this close.
Recommended Selections:
Nuria Parrizas-Diaz ML – 1 unit @ +263
(14) Cori Gauff vs Yulia Putintseva
Putintseva pushed Gauff all the way in their only previous meeting, Gauff prevailed 7-5 4-6 6-4 in Rome in 2021 on that occasion. I see Putintseva as a troublesome matchup for Gauff, especially on a clay court. There are holes in the Gauff game, Putintseva is the type of opponent that can expose those weaknesses thanks to her variety and defensive skills. Putintseva will force Gauff into uncomfortable rallies over and over again, Gauff will need to play very well to come through this match. I’m happy to recommend a small play on Putintseva at these odds, she usually does her best work in these types of situations as an underdog on the big stage.
Recommended Selections:
Yulia Putintseva ML – 1 unit @ +177
(Q) Marie Bouzkova vs (Q) Dayana Yastremska
Marie Bouzkova is having a great week in Madrid. The Czech came through the qualifying draw with straight set wins over Fiona Ferro 6-2 6-2 and Danka Kovinic 7-5 6-4. Bouzkova went on to defeat the 5th seeded Karolina Pliskova 6-4 7-5 in the first round of the main draw. It’s been a great couple of months for Bouzkova who has now won at least three matches in four of her last six tournaments. That’s a lot of winning. The odds suggest that Bouzkova is about a 50/50 in her second round clash with Dayana Yastremska. I’d have Bouzkova as a sight favourite based on her incredible consistency over the last few moths and strong form this week. This is the type of matchup where Bouzkova is likely to prevail more often than not, Yastremska will need to maintain a high level, something she often struggles to do.
Recommended Selections:
Marie Bouzkova ML – 1.5 units @ -106
(2) Paula Badosa vs Simona Halep
It doesn’t get much better than this for a second round matchup. I see some value with Halep as a slight underdog against Badosa. Badosa has to be respected, she is number 2 in the world. However, Halep is a class above in my opinion, especially on a clay court and especially in Madrid. The conditions in Madrid are perfect for Halep, it’s one of her most successful tournaments having won it twice and made two other finals. The Romanian seems rejuvenated and keen to impress under her new coach Patrick Mouratoglou. The pressure is on Badosa as the second seed, Halep has nothing to lose and a lot to gain, a favourable position for the Romanian. I like Halep here.
Recommended Selections:
Simona Halep ML – 2 units @ -104
Recommended selections are based on a 5-unit betting system where 1 unit is a minimum stake, and 5 units is the maximum stake.
This article is intended for entertainment purposes only. LWOS makes no guarantees that the picks will win. Only gamble where it is legal to do so, and only amounts you can afford to lose. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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