Expert Tennis Betting Picks of the Week – March 12th

Wimbledon Betting Predictions for Women’s Singles Second Round

Written by on June 28, 2016

American Serena Williams had very little trouble in the first round of Wimbledon as she looks to end what for her is a long Grand Slam title drought. Serena is a huge favorite on betting lines for her Round 2 match against Christina McHale.

Wimbledon Betting Predictions for Women’s Singles Second Round

 
 

Serena is the defending champion here and has won the tournament six times overall. She opened this year with a 6-2, 6-4 win over Swiss qualifier Amra Sadikovic. Serena hasn’t a Grand Slam title since hoisting the trophy here a year ago. Her first-round match was choppy at times, with Sadikovic using a junk-ball approach to throw Williams off. Serena looked rusty, having not played since her loss in the French Open final. Serena won 79 percent (26 for 33) of point on first serves, dropping her own serve just once and breaking four times. Both players went eight for 13 at the net. Sadikovic is the world No. 148 who had retired in 2014 only to later be convinced to return to the sport.

Serena now faces another American in McHale. She’s a 24-year-old ranked No. 65 and has twice pushed Serena in tight first sets this year, first in Miami and then again in Rome, Williams winning both of those matches. McHale has beaten numerous top WTA tour players throughout her career, including Grand Slam champions Svetlana Kuznetsova, Victoria Azarenka and Petra Kvitová, as well as 2008 French Open champion Ana Ivanovic, Caroline Wozniacki (ranked world No. 1 at the time) and 2016 French Open champion Garbine Muguruza, among others. McHale advanced to Round 2 with a 7-5, 6-2 win over Daniela Hantuchova.

Venus Williams also is in Round 2 and is a -800 favorite over Maria Sakkari. Venus, seeded No. 8, beat Donna Vekic 7-6 (3), 6-4 in Round 1. She is a five-time champion at Wimbledon, last in 2008. Venus is the oldest woman in the top 200 and the oldest woman in the draw here. Vekic, who turned 20 on Tuesday, was hailed as hugely gifted when she was runner-up in her debut WTA tournament four years ago, but that promise has not blossomed.

Sakkari is a 20-year-old from Greece ranked No. 115. She is on the verge of the top 100 after she scored a good win over Zheng Saisai, winning 6-3, 6-2 for her first win at Wimbledon. In fact, the first time she ever played on grass was last week in qualifiers at Roehampton.

“I never practiced on grass, I never played juniors on grass,” she said. “I just practiced twice before my first match. It’s fine. I like it. It’s different. But if you take care of your steps and your running and think about it more in the beginning then it’s fine.”

Perhaps the most intriguing Round 2 women’s match is Samantha Stosur vs. Sabine Lisicki. Stosur is +140 on betting line and Lisicki at -170. Lisicki surged past Stosur en route to the 2013 title match at the All England Club and also made the semifinals in 2011 and the quarters on three other occasions. But having also partnered Lisicki to the 2011 Wimbledon doubles final, Stosur knows full well what is coming her way. Lisicki looked very good in dispatching rising American Shelby Rogers 6-1, 6-3 in less than an hour in her opener. Stosur, the 14th seed, beat Magda Linette 7-5, 6-3.

Expert Prediction

Both Williams sisters will advance, although Venus could be stretched to three sets. I like Stosur on betting lines in a minor upset over Lisicki.