There is another big step on the Road to Singapore and the WTA Finals this week as the WTA China Open is contested in Beijing. There is a big competitive field out, but sadly British interest was ended early as Johanna Konta lost in the first round against Monica Niculescu. Well, she didn’t lose, she was dismantled by the Romanian who landed her first-ever win over a top 10 player. There were some surprise results around in Wuhan last week with scrappy French youngster Caroline Garcia taking the teht title.
It means that the race to end the year as World No 1 is wide open. Garbine Muguruza leads the way still (but retired from her first round match in this tournament against Barbora Strycova), but now Simona Halep, Elina Svitolina and Karolina Pliskova are all within sight. So this is another big competitive tournament and the usual suspects are at the head of the market, starting with joint favourites Pliskova and Svitolina who are 8/1 at Ladbrokes to go on and claim the title this week. Along with the race for number one spot, there are two places left for the Singapore WTA Finals this season.
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Starting this week in seventh is Jelena Ostapenko, the French Open champion getting a great win over Muguruza in the quarter finals of Wuhan. So there is a lot going on in this one and a good look at the draw is going to be all important and the bottom half of the draw is the one where things are a little bit tougher. That’s because Simona Halep, Jelena Ostapenko, Karolina Pliskova and Maria Sharapova are all squished into it. So there’s going to be an epic battle for someone to reach the final from there. It leaves things a little wider open perhaps in the top half which suits Svitolina.
Karolina Pliskova 8/1, Petra Kvitova 8/1, Elina Svitolina 8/1, Caroline Wozniacki 13/2, Maria Sharapova 10/1, Simona Halep 10/1, Elena Ostapenko 16/1, Ashleigh Barty 18/1, Coco Vandeweghe 18/1, bar 20/1
Karolina Pliskova
Was stopped in the quarter finals of Wuhan last week by Ashleigh Barty and never looked really that comfortable or threatening in the tournament before that. Not carrying the greatest of form anymore since her run to the quarters at the US Open. She hasn’t looked close to getting a title on the board since then. Last year she got to the round of sixteen in Beijing where she was stopped by Johanna Konta. Hasn’t quite been at her best and in a tough quarter, maybe worth a miss.
Petra Kvitova
A risky one as Kvitova could be on for a showdown as early as the round of sixteen against Caroline Wozniacki who has been in decent form lately. That’s tough match to get through and Coco Vandeweghe could be waiting in the quarters. Not the easiest of sections for Kvitova and aside from a decent crack at the US Open hasn’t really been in the mix for a title lately.
Elina Svitolina
Svitolina won in Toronto at the Rogers Cup recently but followed that up with some disappointing runs in Cincinnati and the US Open. Skipped on Wuhan so should be fresh to make a run in this one. She has a decent draw ahead of her as well. Wuhan winner Caroline Garcia is in there but Garcia’s win last week probably took an emotional toll and Svitolina would be favoured. She has a nice draw in front of her and really should be a lock for the semi finals.
Caroline Wozniacki
The Dane has been in great form lately but surprisingly slipped last week in the second round of Wuhan against Maria Sakkari who made that surprising run to the semi finals. That will have been a dent in Wozniacki’s recent form, but she has, by and large, looked positive down the back stretch of the season. She could have that clash with Kvitova early but should be competitive in the top section of the first half.
Maria Sharapova
The Russian is just going to be a dangerous floater in the draw, but she is squashed down in the really competitive bottom half of the draw and there would be a really tough path ahead. What’s interesting is that she could meet Halep in the round of sixteen, a rematch from the US Open first round which Sharapova won. Still not back 100% match sharp and on point tactically and worth a pass.
Simona Halep
One of the contenders for the world number one spot at the end of the year, so you would imagine that she would be up for this challenge. Unfortunately for the Romanian, her form is not going to give anyone confidence. Following her loss in the final of Cincinnati, she has made a first round exit at the US Open and in Wuhan last week. The pressure looks to be getting to her again and a potential early clash with Sharapova isn’t going to be easy and that will be on her mind as a distraction.
Elena Ostapenko
The youngster, who won the French Open this season is going to be worth a flutter. She is carrying a bit more form than those around her and at 16/1 with Ladbrokes has to be value. She got to the semi finals last week in Wuhan beating Garbine Muguruza along the way and she is on the outskirts of making it into the WTA Finals so needs to keep some momentum going. There is a decent enough draw for her here with only Pliskova potentially stopping her from getting another semi final berth this week.
Predictions
Ostapenko who has a bit of momentum behind her as well as a comfortable draw, looks a decent wager this week in Wuhan. So too does the fresh legs of Elina Svitolina who like Ostapenko has a comfortable looking draw in the less congested top half of the tournament looks some decent value to back this week.
