Jankovic favourite at BetFair for Tennis Betting on Monterrey Open

Tennis betting and the WTA pretty much winds down for the week ahead of the much fancied tournament at Indian Wells in just over a week or so. Some players however, are taking the chance to get in a little more hard court practice, by showing up at Monterrey, Mexico. After watching young Russian Alisa Kleybanova beat in form Elena Dementieva in Malaysia, and seeing Venus Williams cruise to back to back victories in both Dubai and Acapulco, it is the turn of a couple of wild card entrants at Monterrey to grab some headlines.

Defending Champion in Monterrey, Marion Bartoli is not back to defend her title, so feisty Serbian Jelena Jankovic heads the field as top seed for the tournament, in hot pursuit by second seed Daniela Hantuchova. Jankovic, ranked 9th in the world, will be strong favourite, as Hantuchova is still outside of the World Top 20, and she is looking to make her way back up the rankings. Jankovic hasn’t been in top form herself this season, and better things are expected of her. She is quick and tenacious around the court, but her best performance this season has been reaching the last 16 in Dubai. For ranking in the top ten, she should be pushing harder for titles. This is one tournament which she should find a breeze, and be able to get some momentum into her season.

Hantuchova started the season well, reaching the quarter finals of Brisbane, but then hasn’t made it past the last 16 in any tournament since. Ranked 24th in the world, the Slovakian will be looking to raise her game ahead of Indian Wells, a place where she has already won twice in her career. Two players to watch out for this time as outside betting tips are Pavlyuchenkova. Well, she is seeded 3rd for the tournament, but remains an outside bet, because she is the highest ranked player in the world, never to have won a singles tournament on the WTA. Yes, another Russian teenager on the scene, but carrying a little form after losing in the Quarter Finals at Dubai to Venus Williams. She also beat Hantuchova during her progress in Dubai too.

World 53, Polona Hercog lost to Venus Williams over 3 sets in Acapulco last week, and that was her second final of the season. Would be a major step up for her to take this one, but dark horse potential is there, and she should meet Pavyluchenkova in the second round in a fascinating prospect. Outside of the seeds, watch out for Sorana Cirstea, who looks like she is due a good run. The one to back could be Lucie Safarova, who reached the final in Paris at the beginning of February in her last tournament, getting the better of higher ranked opponents. Prefers clay, but the world 38 could make an impact, and she is on a collision course with Hantuchova.

Having watched her play, Jankovic should be strong enough to get through to the final, with not much standing in her way in her half of the draw. Biggest challenge is likely to come from Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the semi’s. Tournament winner, in all likelihood, should come from that, but pay heed to outsiders, as shown by Kleybanova (world 26th) winning in Malaysia over top seed, and class act Dementieva.

WTA Monterrey Open Outrights, ranked betting favourites: Jelena Jankovic, Lucie Safarova, Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, Dominka Cibulkova, Daniela Hantuchova.

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