I must admit, all those years ago, I had little interest in women's tennis. I had even less interest in those brutish ace-bashing men.
It must be a very long time ago when Anna Kournikova picked up a tennis racquet to start her professional tennis career. It may sound a bit sexist, but men being men, I was struck by her beautify before her ample tennis skills. In fact, such was her popularity with fans searching for her images on the internet that her name became one of the most common search strings on Google Search.
The Russian beauty may have never won singles titles she became one of the best-known tennis players in the world. She had success ranking 8th best in the world in 2000. She was a world no 1 in the doubles partnering Martina Hinges to win four major championships. This included Grand Slam titles in Australia (1999, 2002), WTA Championships in 1999 and 2000. The pair were known as the ''Spice Girls'' of tennis.
In a short-lived career, Kournikova retired from tennis at the age of 21 due to serious back and spinal problems (including a herniated disk).
These days she plays the occasional exhibition match and resides at Miami Beach, Florida, USA. She has lived in America since 1989.
In addition, she has been popular on TV including The Biggest Loser. Series 12 she was a new trainer replacing Jillian Michaels. However, she didn't return for series 13.
Also, serving as a Global Ambassador for Population Services Internationals ''Five & Alive'' program which addresses health crises facing children under 5 years of age and their families.
A few facts about Anna Kournikova you didn't know:
Her father, Sergei, is a doctor and was a professor at the University of Physical Culture and Sport in Moscow.
Her younger brother, Alan, is a youth gold world champion.
Anna Kournikova received her first tennis racquet as a New Year's gift in 1986, at the age of 5.
She said, "I played two times a week from age six. It was a children's program. And it was just for fun; my parents didn't know I was going to play professionally, they just wanted me to do something because I had lots of energy. It was only when I started playing well at seven that I went to a professional academy. I would go to school, and then my parents would take me to the club, and I'd spend the rest of the day there just having fun with the kids."
After arriving in America in 1989, she became prominent on the tennis scene. At 14, she won the European Championships and the Italian Open Junior Tournament. By the end of the year, she was crowned ITF Junior World Champion U-18.
In 1995, (aged 14) she received a wildcard entry and making her debut in the WTA Tour in Russia, the Moscow Ladies Open, qualifying but knocked out in the second round to third seed Sabine Applemans.
1998 - 2000 saw Kournikova reach the pinnacle of her career when breaking into the top 20 rankings of the WTA (16). By the end of 1999, she was ranked 12th in the World (WTA).
In 2001 - 2003, her career was dominated by injury.
Her total prize earning stand at $3,584,662
Her net worth $50 Million.
Guest post: Jason Coote
Mark is taking a short break so I'm writing a few general posts.
I run a number of websites related to gambling, horse racing, and sports betting. I have worked with Mark who is a full-time professional tennis trader for a couple of years. To be honest, I have zero understanding of tennis let alone betting. My area of speciality is two-year-old horse racing which I am an authority. But tennis! Well, I didn't even know the key players in women's tennis.
I have followed the blog [wtapro] since its creation and I have watched and learned. Have I bet on the information? No. Why? Because I am a true novice when it comes to trading and with my own niche betting I really haven't got time to dip my toe into the pond. I am sure many gamblers are the same with a lack of time to think beyond their speciality.
Mark is a consummate professional and I am pleased to say this little blog features in the top ranking on Google search engine for many keywords. That is all to do with the quality of the information on this platform.
I am always trying to push the blog onwards and upwards but it is one of those things that simply happen over the months and years.
Anyway, if you have experience of betting on tennis then you are welcome to leave a comment or even write a guest post.
WTA BEIJING
MUCHOVA (1.82) V KEYS (2.18)
Both have been in good form lately, Muchova winning in Seoul dropping just one set on her way to the title and Keys Winning Cincinnati before reaching the last 16 at the US Open before losing to Svitolina and the reaching the QF at Osaka normally I would favour Keys here but the act she retired from her last match to Kerber leaves me favouring Muchova and I am happy to back her.
BACK MUCHOVA @ 1.82 EXIT 1.30
MERTENS (2.04) V MARTIC (1.90)
Mertens leads the head to head 1-0, Mertens 21-12 hard court record this season compared to Martic 13-10, both players have been in decent form and I favour three sets here or at least two tight sets.
BACK MERTENS 2.04 LAY 1.60 USE GREEN ACCUMULATED TO LAY THE FIRST SET WINNER @ 1.30 EXIT 1.80
TOMLJANOVIC (2.24) V RISKE (1.73)
Tomljanovic leads the head to head 2-, Riske has been in brilliant form last week reaching the final at Wuhan but it is always tough trying to follow that up and Tomljanovic hits the ball flat and hard and sometimes Riske can struggle, in the head to head all matches have gone to three sets and if Riske wins the first set then I will be looking to lay at a price around the 1.30 mark at any point during the first set.
LAY RISKE 1.73 RELAY 1.30 EXIT 2.40 1.80
KERBER (1.52) V HERCOG (2.72)
Kerber leads the head to head 5-2, Kerber coming back into form and Hercog continues with her struggles on hard courts this season
BACK KERBER 1.52 REBACK 2.20 EXIT 1.20 1.70
PETKOVIC (6.2) V OSAKA (1.17)
Petkovic leads the head to head 1-0, Osaka should come through but has played a lot of tennis lately and Osaka is far too short a starting price here so is a very low liability lay here.
LAY OSAKA 1.17 EXIT 1.30
WTA WUHAN
KVITOVA (1.65) V YASTREMSKA (2.48)
Both players have been in decent form with season records of 22-7 for Kvitova and 19-10 for Yastremska. I feel that Kvitova will come through here as she may just be able to overpower the youngster with her hard flat hitting. Yastremska is incredibly aggressive on her return of serve and will put pressure on Kvitova’s serve but I expect her to come through but want a higher price before backing her.
BACK KVITOVA 2.0+ EXIT 1.30
WTA WUHAN
HSIEH (2.50) V KUZNETSOVA (1.62)
Kuznetsova leads the head to head 2-0, Hsieh has great variety and will get Kuznetsova moving around the court and this could expose what is becoming a bit of a weakness. She was impressive in beating Wozniacki in her first match here.
LAY KUZNETSOVA 1.62 RELAY 1.20 EXIT 2.35 - 1.55
RISKE (1.82) V PUIG (2.16)
Puig leads the head to head 2-0, Puig tends to overpower Riske who is very consistent but lacks the power to be able to dictate matches and Puig although not having a great season was impressive in beating Kerber in her first match here.
BACK PUIG 2.16 REBACK 3.50 EXIT 1.45 - 2.80
MUGURUZA (1.96) V SVITOLINA (1.96)
Svitolina leads the head to head 5-4 but on hard courts, it becomes 5-2, Svitolina has been in better form this season on hard courts as shown by her 24-12 record compared to Muguruza 18-10. Svitolina does not really have a weakness in her game and I fancy her to overcome Muguruza who is becoming increasingly inconsistent.
LAY MUGURUZA 1.96 EXIT 2.80
WTA TASHKENT
PARMENTIER (2.26) V KRUNIC (1.72)
Parmentier leads the head to head 1-0, Krunic has been in awful form on hard courts this season with a 2-9 win-loss record and Parmentier can come through here if her serve is working well.
LAY KRUNIC 1.72 - EXIT 2.70
WTA OSAKA
HIBINO (1.57) V FLINK (2.68)
Hibino won last week in Hiroshima but will find it very difficult to follow up this week and against a very competent opponent on hard courts, I feel she is a good value lay here.
LAY HIBINO 1.57 EXIT 2.50
MUGURUZA (1.82) V HSIEH (2.20)
Hsieh leads the head to head 1-0 winning at the Australian Open in 2018, she has the variation to cause problems to a lot of players Muguruza being one of them as she can expose her movement. Muguruza has not won a match since the French Open so she has to be a lay here.
LAY MUGURUZA 1.82 EXIT 2.80
GIBBS (3.20) V KERBER (1.40)
Gibbs is a very consistent player who can sometimes get overpowered on court, Kerber is in such poor form at the minute she has to be opposed especially against a consistent defensively sound opponent and she has not won a game since the first round at Wimbledon and looks like she cannot wait for the season to finish
LAY KERBER 1.40 EXIT 2.20
SEOUL WTA
HERCOG (1.90) V BOGDAN (2.08)
Hercog leads the head to head 1-0 but that was on clay 10 years ago so fairly irrelevant, Hercog needs to use this end of season weaker events to get herself some more ranking points that way she will be less dependent on having such a stellar season on the clay, She should be able to overpower Bodgan here but I do want a higher price before backing Hercog.
BACK HERCOG 2.30 + EXIT 1.50
HON (2.48)
V BUZARNESCU (1.64)
Buzarnescu has had a bit of a horror season but looked like she was coming back into form a little bit in reaching the semi-final at Hiroshima before losing in three sets to eventual winner Hibino, She desperately needs a strong finish to this season to climb back in the rankings.
BACK BUZARNESCU 2.0 EXIT 1.30
Scores/Schedules
WTA NANCHANG
PETERSON (2.06) V LINETTE (1.91)
Peterson leads the head to head 1-0. Peterson is the more powerful player but Linette is nicely in form so it should be a close match here. Peterson has a far better record on hard courts 115-56 compared to Linette 139-105
LAY LINETTE IF SHE HITS 1.60 DURING THE FIRST SET OR AT 1.20 IF SHE WINS THE FIRST SET, EXIT 2.20
WTA ZHENGZHOU
ZHENG (2.56) V RISKE (1.64)
Riske leads the head to head 4-2 but on hard courts, it becomes 2-2 with Zheng both the last two meetings. Zheng record this season is 12 -10 compared to Riske 16-12 and both are similar players in that they don’t possess hugely powerful groundstrokes but Riske likes to stay int he points and force her opponent to make the mistakes whereas Zheng is slightly more attacking and I feel that will be the difference today and favour Zheng to come through.
LAY RISKE 1.64 - RELAY 1.15 - EXIT 2.30 1.40
US OPEN
SVITOLINA (3.55) V WILLIAMS (1.39)
Williams leads the head to head 4-1 on hard courts it becomes 3-1 but I am not reading too much into this as since their meetings, Williams is not the same player and neither is Svitolina. Williams has come through losing just one set so far but Svitolina has yet to drop a set and has beaten some top-class players in Konta, Keys, Yastremska and Venue Williams while Serena in truth has had on paper as easier run through here. Svitolina has great movement and will look to keep the rallies Long against Williams who will look to be very aggressive to keep the points shorter.
LAY WILLIAMS @ 1.39 - RELAY 1.18 BACK @ 2.60 - 1.70
US OPEN
VEKIC (1.96) V GOERGES (2.0)
Goerges leads the head to head 3-0, Vekic has been laying very well and my heart ays she could win this outlooking purely at the stats there is a reason Goerges leads 3-0 and it is purely that the matchup favours her game, she does everything just that little bit better than Vekic.
LAY VEKIC 1.96 - RELAY 1.40 - EXIT 3.0 - 1.90
OSAKA (1.48) V BENCIC (3.0)
Bencic leads the head to head 3-1, including 2-0 on hard courts Bencic has only dropped one set in this tournament so far and is getting better and better, Osaka has also been playing decent but taking into account the head to head and Bencic’s form then the price’s are wrong.
LAY OSAKA 1.48 - RELAY 1.18 - EXIT 2.30 - 1.32
MARTIC (2.20) V SEVASTOVA (1.77)
Head to head is tied at 1-1 with both meetings on clay, Both have come through their matches with a minor scare but it is Martin who I feel is playing the more consistent tennis and think she comes through this match but I need Sevastova to be a shorter price before laying.
LAY SEVASTOVA @ 1.40 EXIT
2.20
KENIN (2.60) V KEYS (1.60)
Head to head is tied at 1-1, both players been in excellent form with Kenin reaching the QF at Cincinnati before winning her matches here in straight sets, Keys won Cincinati and has also won her matches here with ease. This should be a great match as the head to head shows Kenin winning once on clay earlier this season and Keys winning most recently on hard court in two very tight sets. I would have to say the value s on laying Keys at the start as 1.60 is too short a price in the match up but calling a winner will be tough.
LAY KEYS @ 1.60 EXIT
2.20
SVITOLINA (1.60) V YASTREMSKA (2.60)
Svitolina 19-9 and Yastremska 16-8 record on hard courts so far this season shows they are both very much at home. Gauff’s presence has helped Yastremska avoid the media attention as everyone is focusing on the young American but Yastremska looks like the real deal to me with her super aggressive return game she will cause Svitolina problems today.
LAY SVITOLINA @ 1.60 EXIT 2.40
