WTA Monterrey Draw Betting Analysis: Jelena Jankovic leads the way

March 2, 2010 by admin
Filed under: Tennis Betting 

Monterrey, Mexico – Before us in the tennis betting market this week is a lone WTA event, the Monterrey Open in Monterrey, Mexico. Leading the way is top seed Jelena Jankovic and joining her is second seed Daniela Hantuchova. Both lassies will be tested by a modestly strong field of players, including third seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, fourth seed Dominka Cibulkova, fifth seed Agnes Szavay, sixth seed Anabel Medina Garrigues, seventh seed Aleksandra Wozniak and eighth seed Lucie Safarova.

The big story of this tournament will be whether Jelena Jankovic can find her former top form. The Serbian starlet has fallen out of top five favour, from a high-point as the world No.1 at the start of last year to her current position as the world No.9 player. Jankovic is without a title since August 2009 when she won the Cincinnati tournament.

Jankovic comes into Monterray on questionable form. She is only 5-3 on the 2010 term with performances no deeper than the third round of a tournament. She has yet to even reach the quarters of an event this year – something that is very concerning for Jankovic and her camp.

Having said that Jankovic has a rather favourable section of the draw with Canadian Aleksandra Wozniak her nearest seeded threat, a potential quarterfinal matchup. Should Jankovic come through on pre-tournament expectations and make the quarterfinal appointment, she would be favoured significantly over Wozniak. Should another opposite emerge, she would be favoured by a country mile and would have no excuse not to make the semis. En route to the semis there is a potential obstacle in Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, my dark horse pick in her section. Cornet is a player that could upset Wozniak, easily in my humble opinion, and go on to wreck more misery on Jankovic should they collide in the quarters.

Should Jankovic persevere and reach the semis, she could potentially face Anabel Medina Garrigues or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. Should the former billing be confirmed, Jankovic should negotiate the Spanish woman easily to reach the final. In the latter matchup, Jankovic would once again be in trouble.

In the bottom half of the draw, Daniela Hantuchova has, arguably, a tougher path to the final. Hantuchova’s section is loaded with potential threats in Agnes Szavay, Dominika Cibulkova and Lucie Safarova; either of this trio would be a serious challenger for a spot in the final movement.

Hantuchova could potential meet leftie Safarova in the quarters, a matchup that would be a tossup in my opinion. Hantuchova is the second seed but make no mistake she is not always consistent enough to come through on her weight class. She would be in danger of an upset at this stage.

If Hantuchova would survive to reach the semis, she could meet either Agnes Szavay or Dominika Cibulkova, her compatriot and friend. Both matches would be tough contests for the statuesque Slovak and I can’t say she would be the firm favourite in either contest.

Ideally, if the tournament falls in line with the seeding, we should see a Jankovic vs. Hantuchova final. However, looking at the draw it looks more likely than not, that we will not see such a billing. I fancy Cibulkova or Safarova to emerge from the bottom half of the draw to meet possibly Jankovic but maybe even Cornet or Pavlyuchenkova.

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