WTA New Haven Open at Yale Tennis Betting Odds and Preview

Wozniacki aiming for historic five-peat at Yale

Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark)
Caroline Wozniacki (Denmark) © GEPA pictures

WTA New Haven Open at Yale Tennis Betting Info
There is a big chance of an historic five-peat happening in the WTA this week, that is because former World Number One Caroline Wozniacki is gunning for her fifth straight title here. The Danish starlet has dominated the event recently, and is back as one of the main highlights of the tournament for 2012. This will be the final preparations ahead of the action at Flushing Meadows next week and the 2012 US Open. So there is only four of the top ten players in the world in attendance this week at New Haven. Still, there are plenty of good betting opportunities out there to take advantage of.

WTA New Haven Open at Yale Tennis Betting Defending Champion
Caroline Wozniacki, as we have touched upon is the defending champion here, however, she is going to be a long way from being the favourite. Which is strange considering her track record at the event. Why is that? Well it is because the former world number one has been a long way short of her best this year. She has had promising runs, like her recent semi final in Montreal where she pushed hard against eventual winner Petra Kvitova, but then she followed it up with a routine round of sixteen defeat in Cincinnati last week. So she has not looked close to a title since her runner up effort at Copenhagen back in April. That was a long time ago. Her defence is not what it was, she is perhaps burned out a bit and not looking supremely confidence as she did when she was on top of the world. Still, if a title is going to come her way this year, with her track record, you would assume that her best chance will be here. She is trading around 3/1 at online betting exchange BetFair. 

WTA New Haven Open at Yale Tennis Betting Favourite
Petra Kvitova has been making a welcome return to the WTA spotlight. After scrapping it out with Na Li for the title in Montreal, she went straight through to the semi’s of Cincinnati last week. Good to see her back on her game and a much stronger prospect here really than Wozniacki. Kvitova has had a tough year, but she has shown some resilience in getting back to the kind of form she was in twelve months ago. It’s been hard work, but she has been putting in the hours and it is paying off again and could be just peaking at the right time to take on the US Open at Flushing Meadows next week. Kvitova is in good shape at the moment, serving well and has the power to go all of the way here. Kvitova is trading at a price of 2/1 with online betting exchange BetFair. 

Other Contenders
Great field out this week, despite only four of them being from the top ten. Agnieszka Radwanska is one of those from the top ten, but is just struggling to find that ruthless edge at the moment. She isn’t one of the biggest hitters and just looks perhaps as if she is running out of a bit of steam after such a long season. She is bursting with class though and after a disappointing couple of weeks she will be keen to get her touch back ahead of the US Open and that could just make her a danger here in the field. She goes as top seed and the number three in the world wouldn’t hit Kvitova until the final itself.

Italian Sara Errani had a phenomenal season on the clay court swing of the season, picking up four titles. She is a really scrappy little player and this isn’t too difficult of a field for her to conquer. Confidence shouldn’t be a problem for her really, the only question is over her surface ability. She is immense on clay, but has taken a while to transition back to the hard court where she is less comfortable. Still, is she gets into gear, could make an interesting challenger.

Marion Bartoli is just tempting to have a punt on. The Frenchwoman had a tremendous season last year, but has been struggling with injury and therefore maintaining her status. There were signs in July that she was back on the right back, making the quarters of Stanford and then the final of Carlsbad. She hasn’t matched up well against the big guns this season, but this is not an overly competitive field so she could string a run together. Not too bad of a shout really and could run into Errani at the quarter final stage.

Dominika Cibulkova will be one to watch out for as well as she is in decent shape and goes as sixth seed. She is in the loaded top half of the draw where Wozniacki, Radwanska and Maria Kirilenko are all residing. She won in Carlsbad ahead of the Olympics and had to retire with an injury concern from Cincinnati last week. She came through her New Haven first round match though and there is tough draw ahead of her. Dangerous outsider if she is fit.

Best Outside Bet
Young German starlet Mona Barthel is in the mix and could be a threat to Radwanska in the top quarter of the draw. Barthel is one of the best young players on the WTA Tour and very well likely be the next big thing in a couple of years. Has tasted victory on the WTA this season already and took out the experienced Daniela Hantuchova in the first round here. Probably the most dangerous floater in the field. Barthel is trading at 37/1 with online betting exchange BetFair.

Latest WTA New Haven Open at Yale Tennis Betting Prices at online betting exchange BetFair
Petra Kvitova 2/1, Caroline Wozniacki 3/1, Agnieszka Radwanska 4/1, Dominika Cibulkova 19/2, Sara Errani 19/2, Marion Bartoli 10/1, Maria Kirilenko 20/1