Wednesday Tennis Best Bet: WTA Miami, Leylah Fernandez vs Lesia Tsurenko

Leylah Fernandez vs Lesia Tsurenko Best Bet: Wednesday, March 22nd
Another article, another loss. They’re piling up now, as either player we back play horrifically, or their opponents play to the best of their abilities. Tuesday was the latter, as Rebecca Marino’s serve was borderline untouchable.
Onto Wednesday, as we continue the 11-month grind that is the tennis season! For Wednesday’s selection from the women’s draw, we’ll look at the first-round matchup that pits Leylah Fernandez and Lesia Tsurenko against one another.
In this article:
Leylah Fernandez vs Lesia Tsurenko Preview
March 22nd, 19:30 (UK Time)
I’m still far from being sold on Tsurenko this season. Her paltry service hold rate of 51.1% is simply unsustainable at the top level of the game.
This being a 1000-level event, and Fernandez being a borderline top-50 player and excellent returner, I’m happy to oppose the Ukrainian here.
Even playing lesser opposition, her near-60% break rate is also a number that is highly improbable to last throughout the course of an entire season. It’s also a part of her game that isn’t totally in her control, seeing as improved opposition service alone would see that number drop.
WIth both women being very consistent players, I’m happy to side with the younger player that is much quicker, takes the ball earlier and has a bit more aggression to her game.
The Canadian fits all of those categories, and while she hasn’t been great this year, I’d argue that is more a by-product of a very tough schedule than a dip in her play.
She has lost six times in 2023, with four of those coming against top-20 players and a fifth against a redlining Shelby Rogers, who has been known to upset even the best of players when her big serve and baseline game are clicking at the same time.
With Tsurenko far from being a strong server, big ball striker and just not having much to trouble Fernandez from the baseline, I’m happy to take the youngster at a relatively cheap price in this spot.
Leylah Fernandez vs Lesia Tsurenko Best Bet
The inflated success of Tsurenko is likely providing us with a relatively cheap price on the Montreal native in this one.
Tsurenko has piled up 20 wins already in 2023, but with that number being more quantity than quality of win, I think the markets are getting a bit carried away with her pricing.
I also highly recommend taking this with a bookmaker that grades “to win” bets after one set is completed. Tsurenko has a nasty tendency to retire when she is trailing, and if that were to occur in a second or third set, you don’t want the bet to void, where it could be paid out with a different bookmaker.
- Selection: Fernandez to win
- Best Odds: 1.78 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes: 4/10
Odds as at 3:00 am UK Time on March 20th, 2023. Odds may now differ.
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