The BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament from Indian Wells moves into the semifinals and so do our tennis picks. We’re coming off a successful day with our tennis picks where we cashed both on the ladies side. Victoria Azarenka had a very easy time with Magdalena Rybarikova as the latter didn’t even win a game. She won 6-0 and 6-0. For our other pick, we cashed with Karolina Pliskova, who won over Daria Kasatkina in straight sets as well, winning 6-3, 6-2.
We’re very close to having the dream final many people expected to see at the Australian Open back in January. Can Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka avoid a stumble? Everyone’s waiting to find out. Here are our tennis picks for Friday.
Serena Williams vs. Agnieszka Radwanska
Betting Odds: Williams -556
This is a matchup which has to be seen as Serena’s match to lose. Serena won the Australian Open semifinals in straight sets. She breezed through the first set and had relatively minimal difficulty winning the second. Her power was simply overwhelming for Radwanska, a player who has to get Serena off balance with her changes of pace but could not find a way to reveal a weak spot in Serena’s game. Serena lost the Australian Open final to Angelique Kerber when she rushed the net at inopportune times and simply didn’t make good in-match decisions. The general feeling in this match is that like the Australian Open semifinal, Serena has to play poorly and make flawed tactical decisions in order for Radwanska to have a reasonably good chance. There is always the possibility that, as she did against Kerber, Serena just won’t have a very good day on the court. However, that’s not the sort of thing you rely on or count on. Usually, Serena puts her best foot forward and shows why she’s one of the greatest women’s tennis players in history. Anything can happen, from solely from a betting standpoint, you should definitely expect Serena to take charge of this match and win in two fairly routine sets. Serena is the better choice for your tennis picks.
Pick: Serena in straight sets
Victoria Azarenka vs. Karolina Pliskova
Betting Odds: Azarenka -303
This is a match which offers the possibility of some chaos, but is still likely to end in one result far more than another. The thing about Karolina Pliskova is that strictly in terms of her game, she has the tools to be a major title winner. She has the booming serve. She has the overpowering forehand. She has the attacking game combined with enough defensive ability to reset points and work them to her advantage in the course of time. Pliskova’s level of talent is not in dispute or at issue here. Pliskova’s problem has always been a largely mental one. She will tighten up in close matches. She will freeze in important matches, the ones that can mean a lot to her career if she wins them. Pliskova has not consistently made deep runs at the Grand Slam events or the other tournaments on the WTA Tour that would boost both her ranking and her overall profile in the sport. However, in Indian Wells, she’s gained a draw which was favorable to her. She got to play a teenager, Daria Kasatkina, in the quarterfinals. That’s an amazingly beneficial twist in the road for Pliskova, as opposed to various other opponents she could have faced that late in an important tournament. Yet, Pliskova has squandered similar chances in the past to reach the semifinals of a huge event. Now, she’s finally here, and strictly in terms of talent, she can definitely stand up to Azarenka. Her shots are very comparable.
What should separate these players is the mental game. Azarenka’s mental game might not be all the way back to where it needs to be, but it’s definitely stronger than Pliskova’s. Azarenka has been in this kind of situation so many more times and knows how to deal with increased pressure late in a tournament. Pliskova could easily win this match, but the right betting play is Azarenka, probably in straights more than three sets. Take Azarenka with your tennis picks.
Pick: Azarenka in straight sets
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