WTA 2019 Madrid Open Odds & Picks: Simona Halep & Petra Kvitova Among Betting Favorites

• Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep are favored in the WTA Madrid Open
• Defending champion Kvitova has won the most Madrid titles (three)
• Kvitova and Halep have appeared in the most Madrid finals (three)

In recent years, the WTA Madrid Open has belonged to either Petra Klikova or Simona Halep. Kvitova won last year. That ended Halep’s two-year reign as champion.

Kvitova also was the 2015 Madrid Open champion.

2019 Madrid Open Women’s Singles Odds

Odds taken on 05/03/19. 

One of either Kvitova or Halep has appeared in each of the last five Madrid finals. Halep is the tournament’s third seed. Defending champ Kvitova is slotted in as the no. 5 seed.

¡Cuadro #WTA completo! #MMOPEN

🎥 https://t.co/ikPtUEcQhS pic.twitter.com/76Cii18qyp

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 3, 2019

The Petra Principle

Kvitova is the queen of the court in Madrid. She’s been champion there a record three times, with wins in 2011, 2015 and 2018.

It tends to be all or nothing with her in Madrid, though. In between her titles, Kvitova has stumbled.

In 2017 as second seed, she lost to unseeded Anastasija Sevastova in the quarterfinals. Seeded fifth in 2016 coming off her previous Madrid title, Kvitova fell in third-round play to Daria Gavrilova, also an unseeded player.

That smile! 😃 @Petra_Kvitova #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/QijVCU18V4

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 1, 2019

She was eliminated in second-round play in both 2012 and 2013.

All up for Halep

Romania’s Halep lost in the quarterfinals in Madrid last year to Karolina Pliskova, ending her two-year reign.

Media Day in Madrid and Simona talks about why she loves @MutuaMadridOpen so much.

Source: Madrid Open pic.twitter.com/xDP0xil8Ho

— Romanian Tennis (@WTARomania) May 3, 2019

Former world no. 1. Halep has yet to win in 2019. She’s reached one final in six tournaments, losing to Elise Mertens in Doha. Halep hasn’t advanced beyond the quarterfinals in any other event.

Last week, Halep won two Federation Cup matches for Romania against France. It was her first action on a clay surface this year.

Halep and Serena Williams (2012-13) are the only players to successfully defend their title in the Madrid Open. Halep (2014-16) is the only player to reach three successive Madrid finals.

Supposed Halep won in Madrid and world no. 1 Naomi Osaka of Japan didn’t reach the semifinals. Halep would then regain the spot as top player in women’s tennis. However, if the form charts hold through the draw, Halep and Osaka are destined to clash in the semifinals.

Plenty of Value to Be Had

One of the true positives of the WTA is that each week, there are numerous options to win any given tournament. Consider some of the first-round pairings in Madrid.

World no. 1 Osaka faces Dominika Cibulkova, who lost the 2016 Madrid Open final to Halep. Two former top-ranked players, Angelique Kerber and Garbiñe Muguruza, are poised to clash in the second round.

https://twitter.com/sebshrfam/status/1123590814221983746

There are potential implosions facing top-ranked players all over the draw. Right off the bat, defending champion Kvitova will be asked to overcome rising American star Sofia Kenin. She’s already been in two finals this year and captured her first-ever WTA singles title in January in the Hobart International.

Where Should You Put Your Money?

It’s always wise to look at which players put forth the best performances on a clay surface. Last season, the most dominant performers on clay included Halep and Kvitova.

Madrid loves you @Simona_Halep! 🥰 #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/bLghVKu3Ex

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 3, 2019

Halep won the French Open. She was a finalist in Rome. Her match record on clay courts in 2018 was an impressive 16-3. But Halep’s indifferent form this season makes it a tough call to back her for a victory.

Kvitova posted wins in 13 consecutive matches on clay while conquering the field in both Prague and Madrid. She finished the season 15-3 in clay-court matches. We’ve already discussed Kvitova’s all-or-nothing history in this event.

Our champion, @Petra_Kvitova, told us that she doesn’t have the best game in clay… we can’t believe her 🥇🤪🏆 #MMOPEN pic.twitter.com/vcBbg4Qp69

— #MMOPEN (@MutuaMadridOpen) May 3, 2019

A longshot to consider is Belgium’s Mertens. She was 16-2 on clay last season, with wins in Rabat and Lugano. Bertens, last year’s Madrid finalist, went 15-5 on clay. That included a victory in Charleston. Sloane Stephens (12-4) and Pliskova (12-4) also enjoyed strong clay campaigns.

The draw falls well for 2018 French Open finalist Stephens. She might not face another elite clay player until the semifinals.

Welcome to the team @sventennis – Hope you like boba and Indian food 🙃 pic.twitter.com/gSYTRtYwWE

— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) May 2, 2019

It’s been a big week for her. She got engaged to Toronto FC star Jozy Altidore. Stephens hired a new coach in Sven Groeneveld.

Forever yes ♥️ @JozyAltidore pic.twitter.com/VVvUlrohtY

— sloanestephens (@SloaneStephens) April 29, 2019

Things come in threes, right? We say take a price and go with Stephens.