Daily match picks

This is played on hard courts. Two normal sets with a match tie break to 10 points if a deciding set is needed.

EXHIBITION = REDUCED STAKES!

Kristyna Pliskova (1.41) v Voegele (3.24)

Due to start at 11 am

Pliskova leads their previous matches 3-1. They last met in September 2019 on a hard court. Pliskova won in straight sets. She won both their hard court matches.

Their results in the last 12 months favour Voegele. Her hard court results are also stronger. Most of her best results were in Challenger or ITF events although she reached the third round in Indian Wells as a qualifier.

Voegele has only played 2 matches during the pandemic. They were on hard courts earlier this month. She won both of them in 3 sets including her last match against Jill Teichmann.

Pliskova has played 9 matches during Covid-19. She has only played 2 matches on hard courts and lost both. She played Strycova yesterday. She had lost their previous 3 meetings. She played well and took an early lead. Strycova broke back and broke again. Pliskova took the set into a tie break that was easily won by Strycova. Strycova took the second set with a single break of serve.

Pliskova should be better prepared for today’s match. Hopefully Voegele can be competitive. Back Pliskova around 1.80 to 1.90. Back Pliskova if she loses set 1.

Vondrousova (1.85) v Swiatek (2.11)

Due to start at 12:30 pm

This will be their first meeting.

Overall results favour Swiatek in the last 12 months and also in 2020. Her hard court results are stronger.

Swiatek would normally be slight favourite today but she had a slight injury yesterday against Martincova. She still won the match in 3 sets so it probably isn’t anything serious. However with the main tour resuming in 2 weeks she may not want to make any small issue worse in a match that means very little.

Vondrousova only held serve twice in her match with Bencic. Her second serve was terrible. She won 8 of 28 points on it.

Lay Vondrousova if she gets the first break of serve. I am going with Swiatek today.

Muchova (1.34) v V. Kuzmova (3.2)

Due to start at 2 pm

Muchova won their only previous meeting. That was on a hard court in August last year. She won in straight sets.

Muchova has better overall results in the last 12 months. She hasn’t made the best start to 2020 winning 8 from 15.

Kuzmova has had some decent performances during the lockdown. On hard courts she has won 2 of her 3 matches. She beat Martincova in 3 sets at the start of July. Her match last week against inexperienced Nikola Bartunkova was much closer than is should have been. She won 6-4, 7-5.

Muchova beat Swiatek a couple of days ago in 3 sets. Back her if she gets broken first or if she loses the first set. I would rather wait for a better price on her than try a lay around 1.20 to 1.25 but that is an option.

 

These are played on hard courts. Two normal sets and a match tie break to 10 points if required.

Exhibition = REDUCED STAKES

Martincova (2.82) v Swiatek (1.47)

Due to start at 11 am

This is their first meeting.

Overall results favour Swiatek in the last 12 months and also in 2020. Their hard court results are quite even.

Martincova hasn’t played well on hard courts during the pandemic. She won just 2 games against Bencic yesterday and last month lost to the lower ranked Kuzmova sister. Her only win was over Schmiedlova who has also been in poor form on hard courts.

Swiatek narrowly lost to in form Muchova yesterday. She fought back from losing the opening set but Muchova took the match tie break which had 9 mini breaks.

I am giving the edge to Swiatek but want a much better price before back her. Anything over 1.85 is OK or wait for her to be broken before backing.

Kr Pliskova (2.1) v Strycova (1.62)

Due to start at 12:30 pm

Strycova has won all 3 of their previous meetings. They were all on different surfaces. She won on grass in 2019, indoors in 2018 and on clay in 2013.

Overall results in the last 12 months favour Pliskova. They have been quite even in 2020. It’s the same pattern on hard courts.

Pliskova has played mainly clay matches during lockdown. Her only hard court match was a straight sets loss to 26th ranked Karolina Muchova.

Strycova has also played more clay matches during Covid-19. She has played twice on hard courts. She also lost to Muchova and beat 822nd ranked Linda Fruhvirtova in 2 sets.

Tough one to predict. Despite their previous results we have some value on Pliskova. There is a decent chance that this goes to 3 sets.

Back Strycova if she goes a break behind. Lay the set 1 winner.

Vondrousova (2.20) v Bencic (1.78)

Due to start at 4 pm

This is their first meeting.

Overall results favour Bencic in the last 12 months and in 2020. Her hard court record is also better.

Bencic has played reasonably well during the lockdown. Just one poor performance against Schmiedlova on clay earlier this month. She easily beat Martincova yesterday.

Vondrousova has played 2 hardcourt matches during the pandemic. She beat Schmiedlova and the weaker Kuzmova sister in straight sets.

Both players can be unpredictable at the best of times but I am going with Bencic. The sets should be close. Back Bencic around 2.20. If both are playing well a lay of the set winner is a good plan.