Tennis Betting Advice - April 2022
WTA Charleston - clean strikers at 16/1 and 40/1...
Wednesday 6th April 2022
The men’s game has been good to us in recent weeks, but we lost 40/1 underdog Marcos Giron in Houston last night. There wasn’t much in it against the pre-match favourite Frances Tiafoe – just a break of serve between them in each set, 6-4, 6-4.
Ones to Watch in Charleston…
I said we’d be returning to take a closer look at the WTA Charleston event – and that’s where we’re headed today. Play starts at 3pm…
On Monday I mentioned the youngster, Linda Fruhvirtova. We’ve talked about the teenager a few times in recent months, along with her even-younger sister, Brenda. Linda is 16 years old, turning 17 at the start of next month. Brenda just turned 15 a couple of days ago.
I said I liked the initial Charleston price for Linda (50/1), but was a little unsure of her clay-court form. Since then, Fruhvirtova has won her 1st round match, taking out an error-prone Ana Konjuh in three sets. Odds of 40/1 are now generally available in the Outright Winner market, with Unibet still going 50/1. I don’t want to miss any chances with this exciting and very highly-rated newcomer…
I’ve also dabbled into the ITF formbook for Linda’s record on clay, and it paints a strong picture (as does her entire Junior record, to be honest). An 83% match win-rate on clay as a Junior – played 29, won 24 – shows the Czech teen can certainly play on the bouncier and slower surfaces.
After a recent breakthrough run at the WTA 1000 Miami Open, where the courts were playing a little clay-like, in slow conditions. Linda made the Last 16 there as a 50/1 shot, and with this week’s Charleston event at WTA 500 level, with a slightly less formidable field to overcome, today’s 40/1 prices are very much Ones to Watch territory.
On the upset hunt, odds of 11/4 (3.75) for the teenager to beat Belinda Bencic this evening appeal in their own right, too. Bencic was a tad fortunate to come through her first match – also against a promising youngster – having to come back from a set down, with a crucial tiebreak in the second set proving the difference. At one stage there, the Swiss was just two points from defeat.
In the opposite side of the Charleston draw, the one I want to follow is Amanda Anisimova at 16/1 or 14/1. That 16/1 top price hasn’t budged since day one with a couple of firms, despite the American winning her 1st round match in straight sets, including a ‘bagel’ 6-0 set.
Amanda gave a good account of herself as a 100/1 outsider for us at the Australian Open in January. Reaching week two and the Last 16, and only stopped by the eventual champion and then-world-no.1, Ashleigh Barty.
Anisimova has her ups and downs during matches and tournaments, for sure. But she’s still just 20 years of age, and looking to improve…
On clay, she’s won a WTA title before, and also made the French Open semi finals – boasting a very respectable overall Senior career match win record of 68%.
Anisimova has the power to hit through these Charleston ‘green clay’ courts, and when on song, is one of the cleanest and purest ball-strikers on the tour. Early signs suggest that Linda Fruhvirtova is also in that category – able to take the ball on the rise, and drill winners past opponents. Amanda’s favourite move in that respect is the whistling two-handed backhand down the line. Watch out for it.
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Ones to Watch picks:
WTA Charleston – Credit One Charleston Open
Match Winner:
Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
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Play starts in Charleston from 3pm UK time. Bookies will take down their Outright Winner markets during play.
You can watch all the matches live on Amazon Prime Video.
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Tom Wilson