We take a look at selected fixtures from the WTA Tour's Monterrey Open taking place at Club Sonoma, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon on the 2nd of April 2019.
WTA Tour 2019 | Monterrey Open
Club Sonoma, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Hard Outdoors
Selected Round of 32 Matches
Heather Watson (17/4)
vs Garbine Muguruza (1/8)
The plight of former British number one Heather Watson has been really depressing to behold. The 2016 Wimbledon Mixed-Doubles Champion was once an emerging talent that seemed to have the world at her fingertips. She won her 3rd WTA Title in 2016 and looked destined for progression into the upper echelons of women’s tennis. But a seismic drop in form and injury issues have seen her plummet down the world rankings. In fact, she enters this event on the back of seven straight losses: she lost her first 10 matches last season. The big-serving Englishwoman will be looking to seek solace at an event that should give her some positive muscle memories. This was, of course, the last title that she won in 2016, beating Kirsten Flipkens in the final.
Of Spanish-Venezuelan stock, Garbine Muguruza’s progression through the tennis ranks seemed undeniable following her 2nd Grand Slam in 2017. The 2016 French Open Champion claimed her 2nd Slam at Wimbledon in 2017. Her aggressive style and powerful baseline play made her an immediate fan favourite: she was almost a female equivalent to Rafael Nadal. But 2018 was a choppy year for Muguruza, despite that run to the semi-final of the French Open. Her 2nd round defeat at Wimbledon was the earliest opening round defeat for a defending champion since Steffi Graf bowed out of the 1st round in 1994. The end of the season was particularly insipid, with a slew of disappointing results in North America and Asia. This year has been uninspired thus far, included a shock opening round loss to Nicolescu in Miami last week. One bright spot on her 2018 campaign was victory in this event. So this match is actually a clash of two former champions experiencing their own relative issues with form.
I was fairly surprised to discover that this will be the first meeting between these two. Muguruza may just have some issues with a Watson that used to dominate on its day. But in reality there’s no real value in backing Watson, such is her form. Perhaps a three-set victory to Muguruza would offer some value at 29/10.
Kristina Mladenovic (7) (11/10)
vs Beatrice Haddad Maia (13/20)
The career of Frenchwoman Kristina Mladenovic has taken various twists and turns in recent years. The statuesque Mladenovic looked primed for a sustained presence in the top 20 of the single’s rankings following an excellent 2017. She reached four finals in the first half of the year, claiming the St Petersburg Open. She also reached the quarterfinals of the French Open that season, and when coupled with a Madrid Open Final appearance it is clear that she is fairly comfortable on the clay: she claimed the 2016 French Open Double’s title alongside Caroline Garcia. But inconsistent form has seen her successfully ply her trade on the double’s circuit. Her and Timea Babos won last year’s Aussie Open Final before losses in the US Open Final and this year’s Aussie Final. But it would seem that the former top 10 player is still keen to impress herself upon the single’s circuit.
Beatrice Haddad Maia is a 22-year-old Brazilian who has carefully negotiated her way through the ITF Tour and towards the tour proper. She is a veteran of 15 ITF Finals, 8 of them on clay. She actually has a full WTA Tour final to her name, having reached the 2017 Korea Open Final. She is a crafty lefty who relies more on defensive nuance than any recognisably huge weapon - think the Adrian Mannarino of the female tour. She has come through a gruelling qualifying here, winning three consecutive matches. She also has a quarter-final to her name in Mexico already this season: she beat Sloane Stephens in the process, though that appears to be a recurring theme for Stephens of late.
This will be their 2nd meeting, with Mladenovic winning a super tight three-setter in Mexico last season. I think that the Brazilian should have the edge here looking at recent form.
Written by Damien Kayat for Hollywoodbets.
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