Monday Tennis Best Bet: WTA Monastir, Claire Liu vs Ana Konjuh
Claire Liu vs Ana Konjuh Best Bet: Monday, October 3rd
Another new week of tennis is upon us, as the season heads into its 10th month, with the WTA Tour off to Ostrava for a 500-level event and Monastir, Tunisia for a 250. It’s a big deal for the coastal town, with Monastir typically being home to weekly events at the lowest levels of the ITF Tour.
It’s from that event we find our selection for Monday on the women’s side of things. Last week ended decently – even if it took until Saturday for Sherif’s wager to grade – and we’ll look for another winner here in the match between Claire Liu and Ana Konjuh.
In this article:
Claire Liu vs Ana Konjuh Preview
October 3rd, 12:30 UK Time
A lot of respect in the betting markets here for a player in Konjuh who has done absolutely nothing noteworthy in quite some time. As a highly-touted prospect from a young age, the Croatian still has plenty of potential and time to get back into good form, but at the moment, she’s far from her best.
With a game based on powerful groundstrokes in baseline exchanges, Konjuh has been far too erratic this year and her serve has been far too vulnerable (even on hard courts, she’s won under 42% of her points on second serve over the last year and held her serve under 64% of the time). Without much stamina, and movement being a liability on any given day, she’s really struggled for wins this season.
In fact, at the WTA level, she’s won just four matches since February. All four of those were in qualifying matches and none of her opponents were anywhere near the level she’ll face in Liu on Monday.
What’s more, Konjuh has struggled physically, and with two qualifying matches in two days entering the main draw, the likelihood of her being at her best for the full match on Monday isn’t the greatest.
As for Liu, it seems I continue to be much higher on her prospects than the betting markets. She’s a well-rounded player, with a strong first serve, aggressive forehand, consistent game and decent, if not incredible movement. She’s taken the step to reach the WTA Tour this year, and just hasn’t been able to win some close sets and matches in order to climb up the rankings, but she was impressive in Tokyo, beating Elise Mertens and Alison Riske as an underdog and keeping Qinwen Zheng inside the handicap.
Claire Liu vs Ana Konjuh Best Bet
Given the form of both of these women, the games each of them possess and the physical advantage that Liu has, I’ll gladly back her here at the given odds.
For my money, the American should be a large favourite in this match, as opposed to being close to a pick ‘em.
- Selection: Liu -2. Games
- Best Odds: 2.02 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes: 2/10
Odds as at 9:35 am on October 3rd, 2022. Odds may now differ.
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