The Miami Open tennis tournament from Key Biscayne will present second-round matches on Thursday as we begin our tennis picks for the event. So far throughout this tournament, we’ve seen some by-the-book results. On Wednesday, we saw the likes of Kristyna Pliskova, Timea Babos, Coco Vandeweghe, Elena Vesnina, Dominika Cibulkova, Caroline Garcia, Yanina Wickmayer, Julia Goerges and Alize Cornet move on without too much trouble. One of the surprise exits in the first round was Canadian, Eugenie Bouchard. She had been playing well as was coming off a good showing at Indian Wells, but remember that she’s still working her way back from injuries. She lost to Lucie Hradecka on Wednesday in one of the notable upsets. She lost the first set 6-4, bounced back to even it up 6-3 and then lost the third set 6-2.
On Thursday, You’ll see big names, and in the early portions of a tennis tournament, you’ll see small names trying to make a statement and some unexpected rankings points.
Heather Watson vs. Sloane Stephens
Betting Odds: Stephens -175
This is a matchup which feels very much like a toss-up. If you recall anything about Watson from the past year of tennis, you probably remember that she was the one who very nearly knocked out Serena Williams at Wimbledon. She took Serena deep into a prolonged third set. Serena was two points away from losing the match on Watson’s serve, but Watson couldn’t find that little extra bit of firepower to put away the world’s best player. Watson has rarely played a better match, though, and that’s part of the problem. She showed so much promise on that day, but has not been able to consistently hit like that and defend with such effectiveness. She remains a player with a low ceiling, trying to bust through to a higher level.
The same, of course, can be said of Stephens, who lost to Eugenie Bouchard relatively early in Indian Wells and will try to make a deeper run in Key Biscayne. Stephens has the tools needed to be a very tough player… except toughness. She comes and goes and loses focus in matches far more often than she should. She is still young, but the variances between her best and worst tennis are still larger than top players allow. No player will be the same all the time, but the top players learn to achieve a certain level even when they’re not at their best. Stephens falls short of that “high minimum” standard.
This is a tough one to call. Don’t think it’s an easy one. Yet, Stephens’ hitting should give her a slight edge. Take her with your tennis picks.
Pick: Stephens in three sets
Daria Kasatkina vs. Simona Halep
Betting Odds: Halep -294
This is a match which has upset potential. Kasatkina is a teenager from Russia who is presenting herself as one of the young and burgeoning hopefuls on the tour, someone who could be a central part of women’s tennis in four years or so. Kasatkina strung together multiple match victories in Indian Wells, a highly important tournament, and now she gets a chance to do it all over again in Miami. Simona Halep didn’t have a great Indian Wells tournament – she lost before the semifinals – but she lost to Serena, so she didn’t fall to a player she ought to have defeated. That’s an improvement, and it should be all a bettor needs to take her here over Kasatkina. Halep is the better choice for your tennis picks.
Pick: Halep in straight sets
Agnieszka Radwanska vs. Alize Cornet
Betting Odds: Radwanska -714
This is a match which could get complicated. Cornet battles elite players and doesn’t easily concede. The negative with Cornet, though, is that she’s so erratic and can’t establish a levelheaded frame of mind most days. Radwanska had a very solid Indian Wells, playing Serena in a close loss in the semifinals. If Radwanska is solid and steady, that should probably be enough here. Cornet, though, will make her earn it. Take Radwanska with your tennis picks.
Pick: Radwanska in three sets
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