The WTA Madrid second round continues on Friday. The Round of 64 began on Thursday with a few eye-opening results. Elina Svitolina, the No. 7 seed, was beaten in straight sets. Naomi Osaka looked very good in a convincing win. Iga Swiatek played a clean match and started her tournament the right way. What will happen on another day of second-round matches, with more seeded players in action? Here are three matches on the Friday card.

WTA Madrid
Pliskova – Sakkari: Time 5:00 EST

H2H: 4-3

Two WTA veterans, both over 30, take the court on Friday. Karolina Pliskova and Maria Sakkari both took last week off. Neither player participated in the WTA tournaments in Stuttgart or Rouen. Pliskova most recently competed in the Linz tour event two weeks ago. Sakkari chose to play in the Billie Jean King Cup. Pliskova has played better competition in April. Sakkari played tougher opponents in March when she lost to Iga Swiatek in Indian Wells. Pliskova did not even qualify for Indian Wells or Miami and did not play main-tour matches in March.

Best Bet to Make

These two players have met seven times, so they know each other’s games. That should favor Sakkari, who is faster and plays better defense. Unless Pliskova serves really well, Sakkari should be able to win extended rallies and make the match hard for her opponent. You could perhaps look for a game spread or set spread angle, but the simplest play is to take Sakkari on the moneyline.

That being said, Sakkari winning is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/ the best odds: Sakkari winning @1.73 @Bet365

Zheng – Kenin: Time 5:00 EST

H2H: 2-0

Qinwen Zheng and Sofia Kenin have both played in a major final before. Both players have been ranked in the top five before. Both players have fallen off the pace in the years since they first rose in the rankings. They are now outside the top 35 and are trying to regain the form that once made them title contenders. Zheng hasn’t played since Miami in March, when she lost to Aryna Sabalenka. Kenin played in April, first in Charleston and then in Madrid. She beat Ashlyn Krueger in the first round.

Best Bet to Make

Kenin has lost eight of her last 10 matches. Though Zheng hasn’t played in over three weeks and will probably be a little rusty, it’s really hard to trust Kenin to win at least one set. Zheng should straightforwardly win this match.

That being said, Zheng -1.5 sets is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/ the best odds: Zheng -1.5 sets @1.73 @1xBet

Frech – Sierra: Time 5:00 EST

H2H: 0-0

Magdalena Frech and Solana Sierra have both lost a lot of tennis matches in recent weeks. Frech has lost her last four matches, while Sierra has lost four of five and seven of nine. Two struggling players will try to build fresh momentum in this second-round match. Frech is ranked inside the top 40 but is not playing like a top-40 player. Sierra is ranked No. 88 and has not been able to improve that ranking due to her recent losing trend. She did, however, upset Dayana Yastremska in the first round of Madrid.

Best Bet to Make

The fact that Sierra beat Yastremska earlier this week in Madrid is worth considering when making a bet on this match. Sierra actually has reason to be confident, whereas Frech’s four-match losing streak makes it harder to trust her. Sierra might be the lower-ranked player, but she shows signs of evolving, whereas Fresh looks stuck at the moment. Sierra might not even win the match straight up, but getting a few games against the spread offers a measure of safety. If you feel adventurous, it would not be a terrible bet to take Sierra on the moneyline, but a game spread provides more of a cushion. 

That being said, Sierra +2.5 games is a value bet for sure.

Value bet/ the best odds: Sierra +2.5 games @1.73 @Betway

Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports 

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