WTA LAUSANNE
KIICK (2.28) V STOSUR (1.73)
Kiick leads the head to head 1-0, both happy on clay Kiick 105-50 record and Stosur 158-90 but Stosur’s record over the last 2 seasons reads 13-12 and she is struggling to maintain her consistency and level to what it was, The last 2 seasons for Kiick has seen her record a 41-16 record so to see her not favourite for this clash astounds me. Lay Stosur at current price, happy to relay if she hits 1.30 as I think Kiick comes through this matchup.
CORNET (1.52) V VIKHLYANTSEVA (2.80)
Head to head is tied at 1-1 both matches were at Moscow on the indoor hard courts and both matches went to three sets, both these players are happy on clay and have looked in decent form here, I fancy 3 sets and happy to lay Cornet at her current price and look to close around the 2.60+ mark as I do fancy Vikhlyantseva to edge a tight match.
WTA WIMBLEDON
SVITOLINA (3.10) V HALEP (1.47)
Head to head is tied 4-4 although they have never met on grass. Svitolina in the past has struggled on grass but this season she has been playing very well and although Halep is rightly the favourite I can see this match being closer than how it is priced up. I am laying Halep at her current price and look to exit around the 1.90 mark.
WTA BASTAD
VIKHLYANTSEVA (1.75) V KOVINIC (2.30)
Vikhlyantseva the better player on clay and although I expect it to be tight she should come through but I want a price of 2.20+ before backing her to win
LARSSON (1.91) V KRUNIC (2.04)
Larsson leads the head to head 2-0 both wins in straight sets, she loves playing on clay and this tournament. Normally I don’t like backing players under 2.0 but on this occasion I am happy to back Larsson as I thing she comes through here in straight sets, if she starts slow then I am more than happy to back her at 2.50+ to top up.
WIMBLEDON
STRYCOVA (2.30) V MERTENS (1.73)
Mertens leads the head to head 1-0, Strycova has yet to lose a set here and been playing very impressively, Mertens came through a tough three-set match defeating Wang. Both players are happy on the grass and I think we see three sets here if Mertens is successful or two tight sets if Strycova comes through. I would favour Strycova to come through but I want to lay Mertens at a lower price than what she is currently at so will be looking to lay Mertens at 1.50 or below.
BARTY (1.16) V RISKE (6.80)
Riske leads the head to head 1-0, both players are excellent on the grass and both players are in spectacular form Barty winning the French Open then transferring her form onto the grass by winning Birmingham and not dropping a set in her three victories here. Riske won Hertogenbosch and has come through some tough matches here beating fellow grass court lover Donna Vekic and then yesterday a huge win in defeating Bencic despite being 3-0 down in the second set and facing three break points on her serve. Lay Barty for a low-risk trade her current price, the possibility is to either trade out the liability once she hits 1.25+ then play with the free trade money or just green out as I think Barty comes through but not easily.
RISKE (3.10) V BENCIC (1.46)
Bencic leads the head to head 2-1, both are very happy on grass Riske with her record of 75-31 and Bencic 42-18, Bencic won in the second round at Wimbledon last year in three sets and I can see something similar happening today, Bencic has been the more impressive layer here so far not dropping a set in her two wins. Having the outright position on winning the tournament means I am happy to lay her in this match at her current price and look to exit at 1.90+
SUAREZ NAVARRO (1.72) V DAVIS (2.34)
Navarro leads the head to head 2-1, Davis is a very consistent if unspectacular player but I do believe the market has this wrong as looking at who CSN has beaten Stosur and Parmentier both are weak players on grass, Davis beat Kozlova and Kerber so I have to favour her today providing she can back up the upset she caused in defeating Kerber. I will lay CSN at her current price, look to relay if she hits 1.26 and exit around the 2.40+
MERTENS (1.67) V WANG (2.42)
Wang leads the head to head 3-0 and all three matches have gone to three sets, both players have been impressive so far but going on the head to head record I am happy to lay Mertens at her current price, with a relay in place at 1.22 and look to exit at 2.60+
WTA WIMBLEDON
AZARENKA (1.39) V TOMLJANOVIC (3.35)
Azarenka leads the head to head 1-0, Tomljanovic has the power to be a blessing to cause Azarenka problems here. Azarenka has struggled for consistency back on the tour after her well documented off court issues and I a happy to take her on here.
LAY AZARENKA 1.39 + 1.20 BACK 1.80+
HSIEH (1.55)V FLIPKENS (2.76)
Flipkens leads the head to head 2-, both players are happy to play on grass and this match has three sets written all over it, Hsieh with her variation is great to watch and Flipkens with her net play is also great to watch, I am going to take on Hsieh here
LAY HSIEH 1.55 + 1.25 BACK 2.20
MARTIC(1.29) V POTAPOVA (4.20)
Having backed Potapova outright this looks the tricky match for her to get through, Martic is a very good player with a superb slice which works so well on grass. Potapova being a former junior champ here plays well on grass and while she will trade higher I am not sure she can quite overcome Martic but I am happy to lay Martic at her current price.
LAY MARTIC 1.29 BACK 1.90+
I must apologise for this post being uploaded late. Was travelling to the USA and just couldn't get online.
WIMBLEDON OUTRIGHT PICKS
Petra Kvitova 14-1 - Always a threat on grass and loves playing here.
Belinda Bencic 40-1 (Advised 80-1 earlier in the season) - Has matured and got over her fitness issues over the last couple of seasons, grass her best surface.
Iga Swiatek 350-1 - Has a very aggressive return game that can cause problems for anyone and junior champ here last year
Anastasia Potapova 1000-1 Former world junior number 1 and Wimbledon Junior Champ in 2016
MONDAY WIMBLEDON MATCHES
YASTREMSKA (1.60) V GIORGI (2.58)
Giorgi leads the head to head 1-0 and while Yastremska is a fantastic layer with huge potential she could struggle a bit against Giorgi’s all out aggressive attacking flat hitting here and I am laying Yastremska at her current odds and look to exit 2.20+
PETERSON (1.66) V WICKMAYER (2.32)
Lay Peterson current price, relay at 1.20 if she starts well and look to exit around 2.40+
RYBRIAKOVA (3.0) V SABALENKA (1.48)
Rybriakova 58-30 is a grass court specialist and she reached the SF here in the past, while she has struggled with injuries through her career she should not be as big a price here, Sabalenka is a fantastic player so powerful but still a little erratic and while I expect her to come through I am happy to lay at her current price and look to exit at 1.90+
ALEXANDROVA (1.66) V SINIAKOVA (2.36)
Alexandrova leads the head to head 2-1, Siniakova just needs to mature mentally to back up her undoubted potential but she might struggle against a player more at home on grass, I want 1.90+ before backing Alexandrova
ZIDANSEK (1.61) V BOUCHARD (2.50)
Taking a chance here on Bouchard coming back to Wimbledon and producing something better than what she has done of late against a player who is more of a clay courts specialist. Lay Zidansek at her current price and look to exit at 2.0+
KUDERMETOVA (2.20) V BENCIC (1.82)
Kudermetova leads the head to head 2-0, Bencic lost the final in Mallorca to Kenin last week and I am not sure she will be too keen to run deep into this tournament before Wimbledon. Kudermetova is very capable on grass as shown by her 11-6 win-loss record and the fact she has defeated Bencic on grass last season and I will be looking to lay Bencic at around the 1.50 mark.
WTA EASTBOURNE
COLLINS (2.48) V PUTINTSEVA (1.67)
Neither has a great record on grass but Collins has played so few matches it is hard to judge and she has the power to cause Putintseva problems here and her aggressive return game will put Putintseva’s already vulnerable serve under even more pressure. Lay Putintseva
GIORGI (2.84) V HSIEH (1.52)
Giorgi leads the head to head 1-0, Giorgi enjoys playing on grass as her flat aggressive hard hitting if on form can prove very difficult to handle. Lay Hsieh
WTA MALLORCA
KENIN (2.42) V SEVASTOVA (1.69)
Kenin done us a huge favour by beating Mertens after losing the first set 6-1 and then just dropping 4 games in the remaining two sets, Sevastova has looked good as well but I just favour Kenin here as she has played the higher standard and beaten the better grass court players so far. Similar to the Bencic match I feel her price is wrong and happy to back her.
KERBER (1.61) V BENCIC (2.60)
Kerber leads the head to head 4-3, winning all of the last four and all matches have been straight sets wins for the respective players. Grass is easily Bencic’s best surface and having backed her for Wimbledon this year she has shown a maturity to her game that has not been there earlier in her career, both players have been comfortable here but I have to give the edge to Bencic in this matchup due to her liking of the surface and she is too big a price.
WTA MALLORCA
CORNET (2.46) V ANISIMOVA (1.65)
Cornet struggles on grass as her career record of 16-27 shows, Anismova had a great run to reach the SF at the French Open but she can still be unpredictable as she is still a young player, I am looking to back Anismova her but not at her current price I am looking for 2.0+ before backing to get the win here.
KERBER (1.84) V SHARAPOVA (2.16)
Head to head is tied 4-4, Kerber has looked shaky this season so far and appears to be struggling to hit the heights of previous seasons. Sharapova played her first match back for months and as expected she looked rusty in the first set but soon found her range and ended up a comfortable winner, Her serve depending on if it is working well can either be a great weapon on these courts or a huge hinderance but the prices seem a little off to me considering Kerber’s form and I am happy to lay Kerber at her current price and look to relay if she wins the first set at 1.25 or exit at 2.70+
KENIN (2.12) V MERTENS (1.82)
Both players are in decent form but I just favour Kenin who is playing with such confidence and grass will prove no problems for her s her game suits its quite well. Her record currently reads 9-4 compared to Mertens 19-15. Mertens has not really kicked onto to the next level and my fear for her is she has reached her level. I will lay Mertens at her current price and look to exit at 2.60+ if Mertens starts well and hits 1.20 then relay and work on reducing liability.
