Third round matchups commence on the WTA side of the draw on Monday at the Mutua Madrid Open. It’s been an exciting start to the tournament with a bunch of blockbuster matchups through the first couple of rounds at the Caja Mágica. The action is sure to heat up with places in the quarterfinals up for grabs. Let’s take a look at some of the potential best bets of the day.
WTA Madrid Day 5 Best Bets
(8) Ons Jabeur vs. (11) Belinda Bencic
I don’t think Belinda Bencic should be considered such a clear favourite over Ons Jabeur in the first matchup of the day in Madrid. Bencic just squeezed past Jabeur in the Charleston final last month, a 6-1 5-7 6-4 victory. The odds were even heading into that match; I’d have them pretty much even heading into this one too. I suspect Jabeur will be keen for revenge, that Charleston loss hurt. The quicker conditions in Madrid will also favour Jabeur in this matchup, she has more opportunity to use her weapons. Worth a shot at Jabeur given these factors, a bit of an overreaction to their previous match which could have easily gone the other way.
Recommended Selections:
Ons Jabeur ML – 1 unit @ +122
(Q) Marie Bouzkova vs. Ekaterina Alexandrova
Marie Bouzkova is playing with house money for the rest of the tournament. The Czech completed a remarkable comeback in the previous where she came from a set and a break down, saving match point on route to victory over Dayana Yastremska. Bouzkova faces a similar threat in the next round as she takes on Ekaterina Alexandrova. Facing Yastremska is good preparation for playing Alexandrova, both play ultra-aggressive, flat hitting tennis. Winning has become a habit for Bouzkova this year having amassed a solid 21-7 win/loss record. I see value with Bouzkova as a decent underdog here, she is very much capable of winning in this matchup, especially if Alexandrova is slightly off her game.
Recommended Selections:
Marie Bouzkova ML – 1 unit @ +154
(14) Cori Gauff vs. Simona Halep
Simona Halep looks primed to steamroll Cori Gauff in Madrid. Halep looked flawless as she defeated the second seeded Paula Badosa 6-3 6-1 in the second round, a real statement victory from the two-time former champion in Madrid. It’s no secret that Halep loves playing in Madrid having also reached a further two finals on top of her two title runs. Halep commented before the tournament that she feels rejuvenated and ready for the next stage of her career, that was clearly the case in her win over Badosa. Meanwhile, Gauff was lucky to sneak past Yulia Putintseva in the previous round and looked quite vulnerable. Halep defeated Gauff in straight sets in their two previous encounters, including a 6-3 6-4 win at Indian Wells earlier this year. Their first meeting on clay, at such a successful event for Halep spells big trouble for Gauff. Halep is too solid in all departments.
Recommended Selections:
Simona Halep -3.5 game handicap – 3 units @ -185
(15) Victoria Azarenka vs. Amanda Anisimova
Victoria Azarenka looks to be underrated in this third round matchup with Amanda Anisimova. I understand that Azarenka hasn’t been at her best lately, but she has shown some promising signs through her first few matches this week and is problematic matchup for Anisimova in my opinion. Azarenka completed a strong comeback in the previous round, a 3-6 6-1 6-3 win over Tamara Zidansek where her trademark fighting spirit was on display. When those fighting qualities are activated, she’s tough to beat. I sense Azarenka is up for this one and therefore I’m happy to take her at these odds. Anisimova is talented but fragile and inconsistent, definitely beatable.
Recommended Selections:
Victoria Azarenka ML – 1 unit @ +150
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
Main Photo from Getty.
