Tennis Betting Advice - March 2021
Ones to Watch in Dubai – at 18/1 and 28/1…
Monday 8th March 2021
In your Ones to Watch email today:
It’s time to try and secure a bit of value in the Outright Winner market for this week’s hard-court event in the UAE…
WTA Dubai has a history of serving up decent-price finalists. But then again, you could say that about pretty much any women’s tournament these days…
Nonetheless, a 22/1 runner-up last year (Elena Rybakina). Along with a 50/1 winner in 2019 (Belinda Bencic). And a 40/1 runner-up in 2019 (Daria Kasatkina). Provides plenty of encouragement for us here. Going back a couple more years, the 2016 final was contested by a 50/1 shot beating a 100/1 outsider. You get my point.
Ones to Watch in Dubai – at 18/1 and 28/1…
The first name on my sheet is Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian was a 20/1 pick in Doha last week, and I want to follow her again in this neck of the woods. Jabeur is still searching for a first WTA title. But she has all the racket skills needed to get her hands on several trophies in her career. The Dubai field is tough, but Ons can hold her own with the big guns. And odds of 28/1 have enough in them to counter the fact that she hasn’t gone all the way before.
Last year’s beaten finalist Elena Rybakina awaits in the next round. That will be a tough match – maybe a three-setter. ‘Rybakina 2021’ isn’t yet playing the tennis of 2020 though. Jabeur can progress. The bookies agree, with Ons the favourite at 8/11 (1.73) in general.
After that, most likely, the chance to test Petra Kvitova’s legs. Kvitova comes here straight from winning Doha in Qatar last week. The Czech is just 7/1. Back-to-back tournament victories is a tough trick to pull off. In 2018, Petra won Doha, then skipped Dubai.
On the opposite side of this drawsheet, I want to carry on our support of our 100/1 quarter-finalist from the Australian Open, Jessica Pegula. I still feel she’s not getting the headlines and credit that other names are. Which is fair enough, I guess, seeing as compatriot Jennifer Brady beat Pegula at the Aussie Open, and went on to reach the final. And another player who can win matches in straight sets like a train, Iga Swiatek, is of course already a Grand Slam winner. Swiatek is in the big league now, in with the 6/1 favourites this week.
Pegula’s form is showing real menace. As she’s said herself, with past injury issues behind her, the American feels confident to play her best game. And Jessica’s best game is a barrage of attacking shots and winners – with some round-the-court smarts thrown in to balance things out, too.
Turning 27 just last month, 2021 has the potential to be the best year of Pegula’s career. She’s already racked up an eye-catching 13-4 match win-loss record. And those four defeats were all against quality players of higher status – Kvitova, Brady, Sofia Kenin, and Elina Svitolina.
Eleven of those 13 match wins have seen Jessica blast her way past opponents in two sets. With several dominant 6-1 and 6-2 scores in there. At attractive Each Way prices, Pegula is a player to follow on hard courts right now.
Ones to Watch
Outright Winner picks – Each Way:
WTA Dubai (Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships)
Each Way terms: 1/2 odds 1-2 places.
I’ll be back between now and Friday with more on this week’s tournaments.
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Tom Wilson