Tennis Betting Advice - April 2024
WTA Charleston: Hometown glory at 14/1 and 125/1…
Tuesday 2nd April 2024
There are plenty of former champions and finalists in this week’s WTA Charleston field…
Played on distinctive – if a little ugly – ‘green clay’ courts. The Credit One Open isn’t the most modern-looking or aesthetically pleasing event. But it’s a 500-grade one. With almost a million dollars in the prize pool. And that means this tournament attracts star names and high-ranking women, year after year.
Former Charleston champs in this week’s draw include Ons Jabeur (10/1 at best today), Veronika Kudermetova (22/1), Madison Keys (22/1), Daria Kasatkina (20/1), and Sloane Stephens (40/1). Along with previous runners-up such as Caroline Wozniacki (25/1).
The 2024 event started yesterday, including the longest women’s match of the year so far – the wonderfully named Katie Volynets delighting the hardy home crowd with a 6-2, 6-7, 7-6 victory over Arantxa Rus. Clocking in at three hours and 43 minutes.
Clay courts often produce gruelling slug-fests like that. Charleston’s quirky green courts tend to be less ‘slippy’ than South American or European red clay – with a bit more firmness under foot. Big servers and powerful strikers have done well in these ball-bouncing conditions over the years – see Keys, Kudermetova, and Stephens, for example.
Ones to Watch in Charleston at 14/1 and 125/1…
One 100/1+ shot who catches my eye here is SHELBY ROGERS. This is the American’s hometown tournament. And after an emotional return to the tour in Miami last month, the 31-year-old, recently-married Rogers is very happy to be backing playing – after a series of heartbreaking injuries…
We saw just last week in Miami what some late-career motivation and perspective can do for you. Danielle Collins was the second straight 100/1, 30-year-old+ winner at the Miami Open (following in Petra Kvitova’s footsteps from last year).
Back to Charleston and the job at hand – and Shelby got off to a great start in the 1st round last night. Seeing off fellow American, Claire Liu, with a dominant 6-1, 6-1 win. A score-line that was every inch as one-sided as it sounds. I watched that match, and was impressed by Rogers’ attacking play.
Ranked no.325 in the world right now, due to her substantial injury lay-off. Rogers has been as high as the Top 30 in the past. She remains one of the most notable yet-to-win-a-WTA-title names in the women’s game…
Of course, the romantic, Hollywood story is that Shelby does it right here in her own backyard. But stranger things have happened. And odds of 125/1 and 100/1 give us plenty to chew on. Take out the frequently-flaky Kudermetova tomorrow, and Rogers might just ride a wave this week. The head-to-head v the Russian is 2-1 to Rogers.
Here’s a nice little quote from Shelby, after her 1st round win on Monday:
“So happy to be home and competing; lots of good vibes out there … I felt pretty free out there”
For more modest but nonetheless appealing prices, let’s once again get behind a fast-rising player who we’ve been tracking in recent weeks. And another home hope, too…
EMMA NAVARRO (14/1) is also a Charleston local. And the 22-year-old could benefit from playing the potentially battle-scarred Volynets, with the higher-ranked American having a Bye into the 2nd round as a seeded player. That’s the kind of reward that Emma now gets, having recently burst into the Top 20.
Navarro has won 20 out of 27 matches so far this season (74%); this week is her first venture away from hard courts. And while these courts aren’t red and orange, Charleston is registered as a Clay tournament… and last year, while climbing through the ranks on the lower-tier circuit, Navarro went 37-11 on clay… a 77% match-win stat that once again gets my formbook radar beeping…
In fact, two of Emma's ITF Tour trophy wins last season came right here in Charleston...
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Ones to Watch picks:
See above for full details
WTA Charleston – Credit One Charleston Open
Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
Check also with: Betfred, BetVictor, Paddy Power & Betfair Sportsbook – prices not up at time of writing.
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You can watch the Credit One Charleston Open live on Sky Sports, and with bookies such as Bet365.
Enjoy the tennis…
P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at:
oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone