The WTA Finals are here after a long year. Our WTA Finals participants are Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, Amanda Anisimova, Elena Rybakina, Aryna Sabalenka, Jasmine Paolini, Coco Gauff, and Jessica Pegula. Can Coco Gauff defend her crown, or will Aryna Sabalenka get her revenge? With so many great names and matches, who will come out on top? Please share your thoughts in the comments.
WTA Finals
Swiatek – Keys: Time 16:00
H2H: 5-2
Iga Swiatek and Madison Keys will meet for the eighth time in their careers. The rivalry, if one can call it that, has largely gone Swiatek’s way. She’s 5-2 all-time against Keys, but they are 1-1 this year. Swiatek won their quarterfinal WTA Madrid match in three sets, but Keys won the semifinal match at the Australian Open after a three-set tiebreak that exceeded eight rounds. Keys is 2-1 when they meet on a hardcourt, but Swiatek tends to dominate when the match is contested on clay. Swiatek is 8-2 in her last ten matches with one tournament title, and Keys is 6-4 in her last ten. Overall, Swiatek has three titles this year and has been a winner and a semifinalist at the WTA Finals. Keys has two titles, and her best showing at the WTA Finals was the group stage back in 2016.
Best Bet to Make
Iga is a pretty big favorite for a match of this type. I was a bit surprised to see Swiatek as a 4.25-1 favorite in this match. It’s not that I doubt Swiatek, I just think Keys has acquitted herself nicely in her last two matches against Swiatek. When these two meet, something important tends to be on the line, and this match is no different. I believe Keys can win this match, and my gut is saying she’ll win this one. We don’t have much on offer for indoor matches, so I am just going to go with my gut and take Keys in this match.
That being said, Keys winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Keys winning @4.5 @Pinnacle
Anisimova – Rybakina: Time 17:30
H2H: 0-0
Amanda Anisimova and Elena Rybakina will meet for the first time. Anisimova is on a truly tremendous run lately. She’s made the finals in three of her last five tournaments with a chance now to make it four in six. Anisimova’s only loss during this ten-game stretch was the US Open finals loss to the No. 1 player in the World, Aryna Sabalenka. Even then, that performance was leaps and bounds better than the double bagel she posted in the Wimbledon finals. Still, making the finals in 50% of the Majors is no small feat. Rybakina is also having a banner year. She’s won two tournaments, including the last tournament in which she participated before Hong Kong. Rybakina is also 54-19 this year, and this is her second group stage appearance at WTA Hong Kong.
Best Bet to Make
Rybakina is the favorite by about .25, but I think Anisimova is the right choice. Sure, Rybakina is 8-2 in her last ten matches, but Anisimova is 9-1, and her only loss was to Sabalenka. Anisimova is literally coming off a tournament victory in Beijing. She also has wins over Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Naomi Osaka, and Jasmine Paolini. Rybakina has quality wins in her last ten, as well. I think that Anisimova has been tested just a little bit more. Rybakina’s best win was over Jasmine Paolini, which Anisimova also matches and then topped. Call me silly, but I think the American takes this one.
That being said, Anisimova winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Anisimova winning @2.05 @Betfair
Main Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-USA TODAY Sports
