The WTA Rome tournament continues on Wednesday. The first-round main draw began on Tuesday. Wednesday will fill out the rest of the Round of 96 before the top seeds begin their tournament on Thursday and Friday in the Round of 64. Players in the back end of the top 100 and in the lower 100s will try to make crucial gains in rankings points with the French Open not that far away. The qualifying rounds are over; it’s an exciting time for tennis fans as the main draw begins to create some very interesting stories. LWOS has our best bets for three matches. Post your best bets and thoughts in the comments.
WTA Rome
Siniakova – Boisson: Time 6:30 EST
H2H: 0-0
Katerina Siniakova faces Lois Boisson in a match that will be all about the Frenchwoman, not the Czech. Boisson is the intriguing player here because she very recently came back from a long injury layoff. She did not play a match from late September through March. Her return to the tour came in late April in Madrid, where she lost to Peyton Stearns in straight sets. Having one match to learn from, can Boisson now play close to the level she displayed when she went to the French Open semifinals last year? That’s the question everyone is asking.
Best Bet to Make
When Stearns played Boisson in Madrid a few weeks ago, we told you to go with Stearns, and we were proved right. The very long layoff did not put Boisson in position to perform well. One match is something, but it’s still not a lot. Boisson probably needs several matches, not just one, to really get back in shape and regain rhythm. Siniakova to win in straight sets is the play.
That being said, betting on Siniakova winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Siniakova winning 2:0 @1.80 @Coral
Tagger – Sakkari: Time 8:00 EST
H2H: 0-1
Lilli Tagger lost in the Rome qualifying rounds but got into the main draw as a lucky loser. Keep in mind that Anastasia Potapova was a lucky loser in Madrid who went all the way to the semifinals. Could Tagger go on a run of her own? Maria Sakkari is trying to revive a career that is going in the wrong direction. Let’s see if she can build some progress before the French Open.
Best Bet to Make
Sakkari is a clear favorite, but is priced at 1.62 in one market. Most of the markets have her priced near 1.50, so you could just go for the moneyline and not worry about anything else. However, if you can get Sakkari moneyline at 1.62, you can get a small game spread for an even better price. The -2.5 game price looks really good. Sakkari should be able to cover it. She is the better, more proven player in this matchup.
That being said, betting on Sakkari -2.5 games is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Sakkari -2.5 games @1.83 @Bet365
Townsend – Brancaccio: Time 8:00 EST
H2H: 0-0
Taylor Townsend looked really solid in her Rome qualifying run, beating Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva in straight sets to get into the main draw. Nuria Brancaccio is a lower-ranked player than Townsend, but she got direct entry into the main draw through a wild card. She is one of a few Italian players who received a wild card for Rome. This match is possibly the most important match Brancaccio will play all year. It’s a huge opportunity for her.
Best Bet to Make
Taylor Townsend played strong tennis in the qualifying rounds. She is ranked 75 spots higher than Nuria Brancaccio (96 to 171). Townsend’s recent losses have been to good players: Katie Boulter, Jasmine Paolini, and new Madrid champion Marta Kostyuk. Townsend has been playing stronger competition than Brancaccio and is coming off two wins in Rome qualifying which should have her in good rhythm for this match. It should be Townsend to win in a straightforward fashion.
That being said, betting on Townsend winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Townsend winning 2:0 @1.87 @Unibet
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-USA TODAY Sports
