The round of 16 rolls on at WTA Indian Wells, and matches remain good. Not a single competitor in the back half of this round is ranked lower than No. 54 in the World rankings. Two matches feature players ranked inside the top 13 in the World. LWOS has our best bets for these matches, but we also want to hear yours. Don’t be afraid to let us know in the comments if you disagree or agree!
WTA Indian Wells
Kartal – Rybakina: Time 15:30
H2H: 0-0
Sonay Kartal meets Elena Rybakina for the first time at WTA Indian Wells. As solid a start as Kartal has had in 2026, going 12-5, Rybakina is 14-3, and she won the Australian Open. The pressure is going to be all on Rybakina, as she’s ranked higher and has the Major win in 2026. If Kartal can relax and play her game, she has a chance to win. It will take her playing as she did from 2021-23 to get it done, but she can do it.
Best Bet to Make
The books are very decided on this match, and it’s heavily in Rybakina’s favor. Rybakina is averaging being a 5-1 favorite. If you’re hoping to make money off this match and bet on Rybakina, then you’re going to have to take a chance on the over/under for total games. I like taking the under on 19.5 games at 2.1 on Betway. It’s either that or taking Rybakina 2:0 for a measly 1.57 on bet365.
That being said, Under 19.5 games is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Under 19.5 games @2.1 @Betway
Siniakova – Svitolina: Time 14:00
H2H: 0-4
Katerina Siniakova has not had the best luck against Elina Svitolina. In four career tries, she hasn’t won a single match. Every one of them has gone all three sets, but she hasn’t managed to get the win. Svitolina is one of the hottest players in 2026. She’s been to two finals, winning one, a semifinal, and twice made the round of 16. She’s coming off a final loss at WTA Dubai to Jessica Pegula. Siniakova is 7-5, and she hasn’t made it further than the round of 16 in a tournament this year.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Svitolina as a 3.5-1 favorite in this match. These two have played a lot of tennis, and most of it has gone Svitolina’s way. There are a couple of ways to approach this. These two have never had a match with fewer than 24 games played. You can take the over on 21.5 games at 2.11 on 1xBet or you can get Svitolina 2:0 at 1.8 on Coral.
That being said, Over 21.5 games is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Over 21.5 games @2.11 @1xBet
Muchova – Swiatek: Time 10:00
H2H: 2-4
Karolina Muchova plays Iga Swiatek for the seventh time in her career. Swiatek has won the last four times these two have met. You have to go back to 2020 for the last time Muchova beat Swiatek. One of those wins came in the final of the 2023 French Open. Muchova is having a heck of a year at 14-2, and coming off a WTA Doha tournament victory. She had previously made the round of 16 at the Australian Open and the semifinal at WTA Brisbane. Her only losses this year came to Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff.
Best Bet to Make
Despite all I just mentioned in Muchova’s favor, the books still have Swiatek as the favorite. Swiatek is a two-time winner at WTA Indian Wells, but Muchova has yet to win here. Swiatek’s only losses are to Gauff, Bencic, Rybakina, and Maria Sakkari. Swiatek took their last two meetings in straight sets, which is a departure from their earlier three-set matches. I like Swiatek 2:0 at 2.3 on Coral.
That being said, Swiatek winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Swiatek winning 2:0 @2.3 @Coral
Pegula – Bencic: Time 11:30
H2H: 0-4
Jessica Pegula has yet to beat Belinda Bencic in four previous attempts. They’ll meet for the fifth time in a match that Bencic probably needs more than Pegula. Pegula is 15-2 in 2026, and Bencic is 10-2. The only thing separating the two of them is Pegula’s crown at WTA Dubai in February, and that she’s also been to two other semifinals. Bencic has yet to advance past the round of 16 this year, but Pegula is playing for titles almost every event thus far.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Pegula as a one-point favorite, and I agree with this. I know that Pegula has yet to beat Bencic, but this is as good a chance as she will ever have. She’s playing better than Bencic entering this match, and she’s coming off a tournament victory. It’s also worth mentioning that they haven’t played since 2023, and a lot can change in three years. I think Pegula 2:0 at 2.38 on bet365 is the smart play here. She’s going to get this win, and it’s going to be fairly easy.
That being said, Pegula winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/the best odds: Pegula winning 2:0 @2.38 @bet365
Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane–USA TODAY Sports
