WTA 2019 Stuttgart Open Odds & Picks: Halep Favored in Deep Porsche Tennis Grand Prix Field

• Eight of the world’s top 10 players are entered in the 2019 Stuttgart Open
• The draw includes all of the reigning Grand Slam winners
• Defending champion Karolina Pliskova is also in the field

From a betting standpoint, the Stuttgart Open couldn’t be shaping up much better.

The field is deep with the best talent that the WTA has to offer. Eight of the top 10 players in the world will be competing in this event, also known as the Porsche Grand Prix.

For the first time since 2012, all the current Grand Slam winners appear in Stuttgart!
Also eight players of the WTA Top 10, the champions of the last eight #PTGP and the Top 8 of the Porsche #RaceToShenzhen are part of this year‘s tournament!

➡️ https://t.co/g2gpCJcCGr pic.twitter.com/fJV7iBnVu2

— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) March 13, 2019

All of the current Grand Slam title holders will be on the clay-court surface in Stuttgart. That includes Japan’s Naomi Osaka (Wimbledon, Australian Open), Germany’s Angelique Kerber (Wimbledon) and Romania’s Simona Halep (French Open).

It’s the first time since 2012 that all the reigning major winners will compete in Stuttgart. That year,  Petra Kvitova (French Open), Li Na (Wimbledon), Samantha Stosur (US Open) and Victoria Azarenka (Australian Open) all participated in this event. But of note, none of them won. Azarenka lost in the final to Russia’s Maria Sharapova.

2019 Stuttgart Open Women’s Singles Odds

Odds taken on 04/21/19. 

Reigning champion Pliskova of the Czech Republic beat American CoCo Vandeweghe 7-6(7-2), 6-4 to win last year’s event. Kerber (2015-16) is a two-time champion here.

As well, French Open runner-up Sloane Stephens of the USA and Australian Open finalist Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic are in the field.

Recent German Dominance

Pliskova’s victory in 2018 ended a three-year reign by German players. There were the wins by Kerber in 2015-16.

In her second of back-to-back titles, Kerber defeated fellow German Laura Siegemund 6-4, 6-0. It was the first time the tournament had ever witnessed an all-German final.

Siegemund rebounded to beat France’s Kristina Mladenovic 6-1, 2-6, 7-6(7-5) in the 2017 Stuttgart final. German players have won five titles since 2010 and seven championships since 2002.

Sharapova Withdraws

Three-time Stuttgart Open champion Sharapova pulled out of the tournament on the eve of the event.

A five-time Grand Slam winner, Sharapova, 32, has been hampered by a right shoulder injury. The ailment forced her to withdraw from the St. Petersburg Ladies Trophy in late January. Sharapova has played in three tournaments this year.

That winning feeling: in 2017 @PorscheTennis was the scene of @MariaSharapova’s comeback to tennis after a 16 month absence, she made it all the way into the semis, starting with a R1 win over Roberta Vinci. pic.twitter.com/G3r2i9TmZr

— Jimmie48 Photography (@JJlovesTennis) April 14, 2019

Following a 16-month suspension for doping, she made her return to tournament tennis at this event in 2017. Sharapova reached the semifinals that year.

Porsche Brand Ambassador @MariaSharapova has withdrawn from this year‘s Porsche Tennis Grand Prix! 😢
Masha needs some more time for her recovery and wants to say sorry to her fans.

Get well soon, Maria! Hope to see you soon back on the court! 👋🏼🤕#porschetennis #PTGP19 pic.twitter.com/tXNRjZzxMw

— Porsche Tennis (@PorscheTennis) April 18, 2019

Sharapova won this tournament from 2012-14. She joined Martina Navratoliva (1986-88) and Tracy Austin (1978-81) as the only players to win the event at least three years in a row. She’ll be the only winner since 2011 not in the field. Germany’s Julia Gorges, the 2011 champion, is entered.

Svitolina Also Out

World no. 6 Elina Svitolina of Ukraine has also withdrawn due to ongoing issues with her knee. She’s the WTA’s no. 3-ranked player on clay court surfaces,

Hey guys 👋🏻😊! Wanted to give you a little update on my health issues…👉🏻 https://t.co/8eyd1eab0v pic.twitter.com/lI0sNsSyt4

— Elina Monfils (@ElinaSvitolina) March 26, 2019

After undergoing an MRI, Svitolina made the decision to drop out. The knee injury has plagued her for more than a month. She hopes to return to tournament tennis in Madrid or Rome.

Who Looks Good In Stuttgart?

In 2009, the Stuttgart Open switched from an outdoor hard-court event in the fall to an indoor clay-court tournament in the spring to serve as a lead-up to the French Open. It became the first indoor clay surface event on the WTA Tour.

Currently no. 2 in the WTA world rankings, Halep is the top-rated clay court player in women’s tennis. She’s yet to win this year, reaching the final in Doha. This is Halep’s clay debut for 2019.

Among her notable performances on clay was last year’s win at Roland Garros, after reaching the final in 2017. She’s also been a champion at Madrid (2016) and a finalist at Rome in 2017. Halep was 16-3 on clay last year. She owns a 72.2% win ratio on the surface.

Pliskova was a solid 12-4 on clay last year, including her victory at Stuttgart. Lifetime she wins just 52.2% of her matches on clay. Kvitova was 15-3 on clay in 2018. That included wins in Madrid and Prague.

Any of these three would be a good play but we’ll go with Halep for the win.