The action continues on the third day of the WTA United Cup. The lines are much better today than they were yesterday, and these matches might actually be interesting. There are four matches on the books for today. Here are our best bets for those matches. Please share your thoughts in the comments.
WTA United Cup
Lys – Lamens: Time 00:30
H2H: 1-1.
Eva Lys and Suzan Lamens will play for the first time since 2024. Lamens won their only WTA match in the qualifying rounds of WTA Osaka, but Lys won a 2021 ITF match in Johannesburg in three sets. Both matches were played on a hardcourt. Lamens had a very average year in 2025, going 33-31 and winning zero titles. Lys had a slightly better ’25 at 34-25, and she also came up empty for tournament titles.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Lys as a 3-1 favorite in this match. Lys is ranked higher in the World rankings, but this match is truly capable of going either way. I would play it safe with this match and take the over on 20.5 games for 1.93 on UniBet. This covers you in case the books are wrong about the winner, which is an extreme possibility in this match. If you’re into betting the underdog, then I would take Lamens straight up for 3.5 on Betway.
That being said, Lamens winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Lamens winning @3.5 @Betway
Mboko – Zhu: Time 07:30
H2H: 0-1
Victoria Mboko will take on Lyn Zhu for her first match of the year. Mboko had a hell of a year in 2025, and she moved from No. 20 to No. 18 in the World rankings as a result of her play. Mboko finished 62-14, and she claimed seven titles, including two at the WTA level. Zhu is not to be taken lightly in this match, as she defeated Elise Mertens to get here, and she defeated Mboko in their only match before the United Cup. That victory also came in a final at ITF Monastir 32 in three sets.
Best Bet to Make
The books see Mboko as a 4-1 favorite in this match. Zhu may have won the last time they met, but Mboko has only matured and gotten better since then. Mboko is also 9-1 in her last ten matches, even if she hasn’t played since the middle of November. I think Mboko is going to get her revenge in this match, and I would take Mboko 2:0 at 1.75 on 1xBet.
That being said, Mboko winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Mboko winning 2:0 @1.75 @1xBet
Raducanu – Osaka: Time 04:30
H2H: 1-0.
Emma Raducanu and Naomi Osaka will meet for just the second time. Raducanu beat Osaka in the round of 16 at WTA Washington last year. She took the match in straight sets, with Osaka only winning six games total. Osaka will be playing her second match of the year, after defeating Maria Sakkari in straight sets. Time will tell if Raducanu can take the next step in her career. She had a career-high 28 wins last year, but she also had a career-high 22 losses.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Raducanu as a very slight favorite. Only about .05 points is separating the two on the books, so this is very much a push for the books. I think Osaka is the smarter pick. Not only has she played already, but I think she’s the better player. The smart bet is taking the under on 2.5 sets for 1.58 on bet-at-home. I like Osaka winning 2:0 for 2.95 on bet-at-home.
That being said, Osaka winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Osaka winning 2:0 @2.95 @bet-at-home
Paolini – Bencic: Time 10:00
H2H: 2-2
Jasmine Paolini and Belinda Bencic will meet for the first time in 2026 after meeting twice in 2025. Paolini won both of their ’25 meetings, with one of them coming at this very tournament. The other match was a quarterfinal match at WTA Ningbo, which went three sets. All of their matches have been played on a hardcourt. Bencic is coming off a victory over Leolia Jeanjean to start her year.
Best Bet to Make
The books favor Paolini, and I agree. Paolini didn’t have much trouble with Bencic last year, and you have to go back to 2018 for a time that she beat her on the WTA tour, as their other match was in the Billie Jean King Cup in 2022. You can get Paolini straight up for 1.51 on 1xBet, and that’s my pick for this match, especially since Bencic didn’t look great against Jeanjean.
That being said, Paolini winning is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Paolini winning @1.51 @1xBet
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane–USA TODAY Sports
