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Mixed martial arts Wednesday Tennis Best Bet: WTA Cluj-Napoca, Anna Bondar vs Harriet Dart
Anna Bondar vs Harriet Dart Best Bet: Wednesday, October 12th
Tough result for the Diane Parry to win selection for Tuesday, but I’m content with the selection. Two extremely close sets in a match that was much closer to a 50/50 proposition as expected. Viktorija Golubic’s level was strong and Parry blew a few too many leads in service games.
Onto Wednesday, where we’ll continue to look for value in Romania, and break down the match between Anna Bondar and Harriet Dart.
In this article:
Anna Bondar vs Harriet Dart Preview
October 12th, 13:00 UK Time
Great chance for both Bondar and Dart to reach a WTA quarterfinal this week, as both have plenty to play for this week. Dart has already set a new provisional career-high ranking, and would solidify that with a victory on Wednesday, while Bondar has a chance to re-enter the top-50 this week and set a new career high of her own.
With neither being a force on the tour, and the rankings implications, there’s no concern here over potentially motivational issues.
In terms of the matchup, I think both women can actually play well for these conditions, albeit for different reasons.
Having come up on clay courts, Bondar seems to have been almost pigeon-holed into being a dirtballer, despite having a decent game for hard courts as well. The consistency from the baseline serves her well, but her serve and forehand are big enough to play in these conditions as well.
Recent form on the surface may not turn many heads, but losses to the likes of Elise Mertens, Camila Giorgi (in three sets) and the in-form Tatjana Maria are nothing to hang one’s head over. I respect Dart’s game, but she isn’t quite in the same conversation as those three for the moment.
As for the Brit, her flat ball style is suited almost exclusively to hard courts and grass courts, as the lack of spin and naturally lower margin-for-error game simply don’t lend themselves well to clay. The problem for her has always been the consistency part of the game.
I think the aggressive mindset is there, as is the ball striking, but she hasn’t really adapted all that well to constructing points with higher percentage shots to create open space, then using that aggression and strong ball striking to end points when the situation calls for it.
Anna Bondar vs Harriet Dart Best Bet
For my money, in a market where these two are priced up relatively evenly, I’m going to back Bondar.
I think she’s been undervalued on hard courts in general, yet also has the ability to find points with her serve and forehand, but her more consistent play from the baseline sets her apart and makes her a favourite in my books.
- Selection: Bondar to win
- Best Odds: 1.98 (Pinnacle)
- Stakes: 3/10
Odds as at 1:00 am on October 12th, 2022. Odds may now differ.
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