Tennis Betting Advice - March 2024
Miami update: two dark horses in the women's draw...
Monday 25th March 2024
Good morning. It’s been a scrappy few days at the Miami Open…
Thursday and Friday night saw almost a total wipeout on the schedule. The rain continued to fall at times over the weekend…
But mercifully for James Blake (remember him?) and the Miami organisers, the forecast is better from here on in, including a sunny 25 degrees Celsius today.
The draws have also been hit by several injuries and withdrawals. A couple of our players fell that way. Marta Kostyuk withdrawing before playing any part (void). Jiri Lehecka losing while hampered by injury (he had the trainer on court). And Tommy Paul suffering a freak injury while ahead in his match.
We move on…
Emma Navarro is our sole remaining Ones to Watch candidate from week one. The in-form and fast-rising American is in the book for us at 50/1+, and a top price 66/1. Emma is now 40/1. The 22-year-old plays today for a place in the quarter finals, taking on fellow USA star, Jessica Pegula.
The entire women’s Round of Last 16 is scheduled for Monday afternoon & evening, with eight matches on the list…
And having perused the revised WTA Miami Outright Winner prices, after the dust has settled on the weekend’s activity – there are two names I like at the prices…
While Navarro sits in the top half of the draw as our underdog selection. In the bottom half, where the highest-ranked player Aryna Sabalenka is now out of the tournament. Two women that may still be a bit too big in the betting, looking at how things might pan out over the next couple of days…
Dark horses at 40/1 and 100/1…
Recent debut Australian Open quarter-finalist ANNA KALINSKAYA at 40/1. The 25-year-old Russian is having a great year on hard courts...
She’s 5-0 v Top 10 players in 2024. And if this pattern is anything to go by, today may be a good time to get behind the world no.25…
Kalinskaya takes on world no.9 Maria Sakkari today. A tough opponent, and Anna is the outsider in the matchday betting – as well as almost twice the Greek player’s price for the trophy…
The improving Russian has shown a knack of having a deep run ‘every other tournament’ recently. If she keeps that up, then the sharp-hitting Kalinskaya could prove a dark horse this week…
Since that Aussie Open quarter final, Anna has gone: 1st Round – Final – 3rd Round… if she bounces back again here in Miami, as appears to be the case so far, after a pair of convincing 2-0 wins in the opening rounds. Then this 40/1 shot is one to take.
For even bigger prices, ANHELINA KALININA has underdog chances, too. The draw has opened for someone to come through here, with Sabalenka gone from this section – taken out by Kalinina herself…
The 27-year-old Ukrainian backed up a big result there, having already knocked out another star name, Caroline Wozniacki.
The world no.36 reached a semi final here in the States at the very start of the month, at the WTA 250 event in Austin, Texas. The Miami Open is a much bigger title. But Kalinina has shown her outsider credentials before at WTA 1000 Masters level, reaching the Rome final last season – having gone off at 300/1…
Anhelina started Miami at triple figures last week. And with 100/1 still on the table today, this is another player I feel is being a little underrated. If she takes out the dangerous but unpredictable/ unreliable world no.68 Yulia Putintseva today, then Kalinina will face Victoria Azarenka or Katie Boulter for a place in the semi finals – and the underdog run could be ‘on’…
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Ones to Watch picks:
See above for full details
WTA Miami – Miami Open presented by Itau
Women’s Outright Winner – Each Way (1/2 odds 1-2 places):
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Bookies will take down their Outright markets when play starts today, at 3pm UK time.
P.S
Want to get in touch? Email me at:
oliver.upstone@oxonpress.co.uk
Enjoy the tennis…
Best wishes,
Oliver Upstone