WTA Paris Tennis Betting Info
Paris is the host of the Open GDF Suez tournament, and this year sees the 20th edition of the very popular event. This is a Premier Level event and therefore there is a strong crop of the world’s best players in contention, looking to pick up points for the world rankings and the Tour Championships. There are three players from the current top ten in the world rankings, with Russian queen Maria Sharapova stepping back into action for the first time since her loss in the final of the Australian Open to Victoria Azarenka. Sharapova was pencilled in to play here last season, but she withdrew before the start of the event. Granted the field is not as strong as it was last year, because the likes of Kim Clijsters (who had just won the Australian Open) and Petra Kvitova are not there. However, because of the three players from the top ten, and whole bunch more from the top 25 in the world, it is going to be a competitive field, and it gives us a great chance to look at some of the youngsters, the rising stars of the game as well. Sadly there is going to be no scheduled appearances from Sabine Lisicki or Kaia Kanepi, which would have made things very interesting. But still, a good competitive line up, which should serve up a good tennis betting treat for the week.
WTA Paris Defending Champion
This time last year, the pretty much unknown force that was Petra Kvitova was picking up the biggest WTA Tour title of her career. This was the third title of the young Czech’s career, and how she blossomed from there. She beat out Kim Clijsters in last year’s final to take the WTA Paris title and surprised a lot of people in WTA Paris tennis betting back then. She is not back to defend her title this time around. Defeated finalist Kim Clijsters isn’t back either. Remember Amelie Mauresmo? Well, the retired star of French tennis is still the tournament record holder with three titles.
WTA Paris Betting Favourite
Little doubt as to who goes as favourite in WTA Paris tennis betting this week, and that is the highest ranked player in the field, and the top seed, Maria Sharapova. She was in fantastic form at Melbourne Park and will be expected to carry that through here. Although she lost and was totally overpowered in the final of the Australian Open, she is still pretty much a class above the rest in the Paris field here, she has the power and tenacity to make an impact here. Trading at 11/8 with Bet365, it is the Russian tennis queen who is pretty much dominating the betting markets for this one. As mentioned, she missed out on her chance here last season, but she won her Fed Cup week 1 match for her country on the weekend comfortably, which will have been a nice warm up. As for Sharapova’s draw, nothing to worry about and genuinely shouldn’t be tested until the semi finals where she could face fourth seed Jelena Jankovic. There is the hovering presence of Lucie Safarova in Sharapova’s quarter. Why is that notable? The only player in the current field taking to the courts in Paris (one of two stops on the regular Tour in the French Capital) to have been in the final of the event before is Czech leftie Lucie Safarova who is actually a double finalists here.
Other Contenders
Well you have to pay attention to the only other two players from the top ten in the field for WTA Paris betting. Chinese star Na Li is generally pretty strong at the start of the year, and this is her first time out since that crushing defeat against an injured Kim Clijsters from such a strong winning position at the Australian Open. This will be a test of her mentality. Fantastic hitter of the ball, powerful and flat, yes she is a Grand Slam winner, however she does tend to trip up against lower opposition in situations like this. So the world number nine is a decent shout, but perhaps not the strongest. Another factor here is looking at players on home turf and therefore Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli has to be considered for your tennis betting. Bartoli, the world number nine, did have a bit of a disappointing Australian Open, but she is powerful at tournaments like this and pretty reliable. Bubbly, bouncy, energetic and gutsy all rolled into one. A joy to watch (and exhausting to watch as she never keeps still), Bartoli, who could meet Na Li in the semi’s maybe just the better value. This is the first time she has ever been inside the top eight players in the world rankings too, following the Australian Open, so she is bound to be confident. Those are definitely the strongest players in the pack. Are there any good outsiders to take a look at? Would consider an outside look at Lucie Safarova for tournament history sake, and while it is still a little early in the season to really gauge form, Jelena Jankovic may be worth an outside bet. Capable of beating the best, and has been alright this season.
Latest WTA Paris Tennis Betting Prices
Maria Sharapova: 11/8 at Bet365
Na Li: 4/1 at Stan James
Marion Bartoli: 6/1 at Paddy Power
Jelena Jankovic: 20/1 at Bet Victor
Julia Goerges: 20/1 at Stan James
Lucie Safarova: 25/1 at Bet Victor
Online Bookmaker Promotion
Online bookie Victor Chandler run a great tennis betting promotion which is worth dipping into throughout the 2012 season. Place a match bet on any match from the main draw of an ATP or WTA event, and if your selection loses the match in a final set tie break, then you will get your lost stake back as a free bet. So this gives you some nice coverage on your tennis betting throughout the season, should your match selection lose in a cruel way in a final set tie break. Online bookmaker Bet Victor offer a free £25 bet for new customers registering an account. The bookie will match the value of your first stake on a new account, up to the maximum value of £25, with a free bet.
