WTA 2019 Madrid Open Finals Odds: Halep vs Bertens

• Two-time champion Simona Halep has advanced to the WTA Madrid Open final
• She will face 2018 finalist Kiki Bertens
• Halep is in the final for the fourth time in six years

Can Kim Bertens get done what she couldn’t finish last year, or will Simona Halep finally complete a 2019 journey?

Bertens of the Netherlands and Romania’s Halep will clash in Saturday’s WTA Madrid Open final. It’s the second year in a row in the final for Bertens, who lost 7-6(8-6), 4-6, 6-3 to Petra Kvitova in the 2018 final.

.@Simona_Halep is in the final! 💪🏼#MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/YQBZ9w72qS

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 10, 2019

Halep was Madrid Open champion in 2016-17. She’s yet to win a tournament in 2019, though.

Simona Halep-Kiki Bertens WTA Madrid Open Final Odds

*Odds taken 05/10/19

Kvitova (2011, 2015, 2018), Halep and Serena Williams are the only players with at least two wins in Madrid Open history. Halep and Williams (2012-13) are the the only players to win consecutive tournaments.

Bencic Battles Hard

Third-seeded Halep found herself in an unusual semifinal against unseeded Belinda Bencic of Switzerland. Halep cruised to a 6-2 first-set win. She fell 3-1 in the second set before battling back to force a tiebreaker, which she lost 7-6. It was the first set the Romanian player had dropped in the tournament.

Halep’s persistence and consistency returned in the third set, as she blanked Bencic 6-0. Halep won eight break points in the match.

Bencic had defeated world no. 1 Naomi Osaka in the quarterfinals to set up the showdown with Halep. She defeated Halep 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 earlier this year in the quarterfinals at Dubai.

Bertens Looks to Go One Step Further

Already with one win under her belt this year at St. Petersburg, Russia, Bertens will seek to finish the journey she came within a step of completing a year ago.

The no. 7 seed stopped eighth-seeded Sloane Stephens 6-2, 7-5 in the semifinals. It her the first win in three times against Stephens, last year’s French Open finalist.

Bertens avenged her 2018 Madrid Open final loss by knocking off Kvitova 6-2, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. The 27-year-old has yet to lose a set in this tournament. Stephens was the first player to win more than four games against Bertens in a single set.

Armed with the big forehand, @kikibertens storms to a double break lead 💪 #MMOpen pic.twitter.com/p17WB5hymZ

— wta (@WTA) May 10, 2019

This will be the 11th WTA finals appearance for Bertens. She’s 8-2 overall.

In 2013, Maria Sharapova lost in the Madrid Open final. She returned to win the tournament in 2014. She’s the only player to do this in tournament history. And the player Sharapova beat in that 2014 final was Halep.

Kiki #Bertens into the Madrid Open final!

Emotional reaction from #Bertens as she closes out a 6-2 7-5 victory over Sloane #Stephens to move into a second straight #MMOpen final. #Bertens in tears. Lovely scenes.

She will play Simona #Halep for the title. pic.twitter.com/V07lPkyPxv

— Live Tennis (@livetennis) May 10, 2019

On the other hand, Victoria Azarenka lost consecutive Madrid finals in 2011-12. She lost the first of those two finals to Kvitova.

No. 1 with a Victory

It isn’t just Madrid bragging rights that are on the line for Halep. It’s not about joining Kvitova as a three-time winner in Madrid.

Victory in Saturday’s final puts Halep on top of the world. Due to Osaka’s quarterfinal loss, Halep would return to the world no. 1 ranking with a triumph over Bertens.

Si-Si-Mona in her 4th final in Madrid beating Bencic in 3 sets. Her 4th bagel this tournament. Very near her RG form. Both players played real tough 2 first sets, but the 3rd belonged to Halep – well done. pic.twitter.com/kd6ow9Y4dg

— Leif Mortensen (@hoergren) May 10, 2019

Halep owns a 3-2 edge in five previous meetings. Bertens downed Halep 2-6, 7-6(6), 6-2 last year on a hard surface in the final at Cincinnati.

They’ve split two clay matches. Bertens won 6-3, 6-4 in the 2012 Morocco semifinals. Halep was a 7-5, 6-1 victor in the 2017 Rome semifinals.

Simona Halep vs Kiki Bertens Statistical Comparison

The form charts have held well. Halep opened as the +550 favorite. Bertens (+1400) was the co-third betting choice.

It will come down to a battle between Bertens and her power game against Halep’s more polished all-around play.

Two weeks away from defending her French Open title, Halep is rounding into Grand Slam form. She’ll earn her 19th career WTA singles title when she wins here.

Pick: Simona Halep (-166)