It has been an interesting week of reflection for the Women’s Tennis Association as they’ve had a week in between events. The Australian Open presented plenty of surprises, the biggest of which came in the final when Serena Williams suffered an upset loss to Angelique Kerber.
With the year’s first grand slam out of the way, the grind of the regular tour season – in smaller cities and in less lucrative tournaments – kicks into gear this week. The Fed Cup tournament is over and the women of the WTA Tour will settle in for several months of play. It’s time for our tennis picks for Tuesday, so let’s have a look at which players will make a move, and which players will struggle.
Annika Beck vs. Lucie Hradecka
Odds: Beck -255
One of the first matches in St. Petersburg is this interesting encounter between a rising German player, Beck, and the hard-serving Hradecka. It’s a fundamental test for a bettor as well as for the players themselves, in that it pits a player who did well in Australia, winning a few main-draw matches, against a player who did not advance far in Melbourne.
Beck made a deep run at the Australian Open. She got to the fourth round before losing to fellow German and eventual tournament champion Angelique Kerber. The round of 16 is a great result and one which portends well for Beck in the future. Now, of course, she has to show she can put together good tournaments one after the other, instead of flaming out quickly. Hradecka was bounced in the first round of the Australian Open by Daria Gavrilova. It’s true that Gavrilova had the support of an adopted home crowd in Australia, but Hradecka, as the world No. 53, should win a first-round match at a Grand Slam tournament. Her loss points to troubles ahead.
It’s true, however, that a player who does well in one tournament will then suffer a letdown in the next one. It’s also true that a player who stumbles in one tournament will be more motivated in the next one, and will win, having something to prove. Will that hold up here, or will current form mean that Beck will win? Take Beck here in straights, but don’t assume anything.
Pick: Beck in straight sets
Evgeniya Rodina vs. Dominika Cibulkova
Odds: Cibulkova -458
This is a more clear-cut matchup in one particular way: Both players stand on the same footing relative to what they did in the Australian Open. Rodina and Cibulkova both lost in the first round. They both are rested after being idle for nearly two weeks as a result of those quick losses. They are both going to be similarly intent on regrouping in St. Petersburg. What is the difference, then? It’s easier to see. Rodina lost to a relatively anonymous player in her match, but Cibulkova lost to a player who came within one set of making the 2015 U.S. Open semifinals, Kristina Mladenovic of France. That’s not a bad loss, just a bad bit of luck in the draw. Cibulkova is a much more established veteran player. She should win this one easily, so roll with her for your tennis picks.
Pick: Cibulkova in straight sets
Yulia Putintseva vs. Marina Melnikova
This is an easy match in Taiwan’s opening round. Melnikova is ranked 212th in the world right now and has merely played challengers to this point in the 2016 tennis season. Clearly, she’s unprepared for someone of Putintseva’s caliber. It’s not that the latter is that strong but Putintseva did got through two matches in the Australian Open, beating Caroline Wozniacki along the way. That’s at least a notch on her belt. She’s ranked in the top 65 and should have no real trouble moving through this match, on her way to tougher tests in Taiwan. It would be a real shocker if Melnikova is able to mount a significant degree of resistance in this match. There’s too much of a gulf between both players, so go with the chalk for your tennis picks here.
Pick: Putintseva in straight sets
