Women’s Tennis: Monterrey Open Picks

Monterrey, Mexico – Slovak Dominka Cibulkova is a promising talent in the women’s game and we saw glimpses of that potential last year at the Australian Open (where she finished in the last 16, lost to Dementieva); and the French Open (where she reached the semis but lost to Safina). Where Cibulkova falls short on is on consistency and her lack of steady progress from tournament-to-tournament is what holds her back in the ranks.

What Cibulkova now has to do is find consistent form. Because if she does there is no doubt in my mind, she can be a top ten player.

Cibulkova got off to a modest start in 2010, reaching back-to-back quarters in Auckland and Sydney. Upon returning to the Aussie Open, the scene of her first breakthrough last season, she failed to replicate that performance, instead falling in the first round to Vania King of the United States 6-3, 7-5(5), 7-5.

She bounced back during Fed Cup week, winning both her rubbers for Slovakia against China. Seemingly, back on track, and full of promise, Cibulkova went to Dubai where experts, encouraged by her turnaround in Fed Cup action, had her tipped as a dark horse to watch. She fell at her first challenging hurdle, top seed Caroline Wozniaki. She went out not so quietly though 6-2, 7-6(2).

Cibulkova has a sweetheart of a draw in Monterrey. Though her path to the quarters is not without some threats, they are beatable threats and I feel she should deal with anything that would fall her way successfully, starting with Roberta Vinci in the first round.

Match Betting Line:

Roberta Vinci +4 -135 +200 20½O -105 U -135
Dominika Cibulkova-4 -105 -300 20½O -105 U -135

First Set Line: Roberta Vinci +150 Dominika Cibulkova -200

Match Time: 10:00 PM Eastern Time Tuesday March 2, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: World No.29 Cibulkova is the favourite ahead of her encounter against Roberta Vinci of Italy (ranked No.58). BetOnline bookies offer Cibulkova at -300 to win outright and -200 to win the first set. Both price points are good and well adjusted in my opinion. In turn, Vinci is the modest underdog at +200 to win outright and +150 to take the first set.

Cibulkova and Vinci have never met at a WTA main draw event so this will be their first-ever clash. Both come on exactly the same form, 7-4 on the season. Whereas Cibulkova has two quarterfinal finishes on the season as a part of that mark, Vinci has several wins in the qualies as part of her mark. In view of these opposing components of the season mark, Cibulkova comes off the better for it surely.

Tennis Free Picks: The betting trend should fall in line with Cibulkova to win outright and certainly, she should do so. Vinci could make things interesting, especially if Cibulkova is struggling with form and perhaps even confidence. Which is probably why the bookies favour Vinci on the spread come to think of it, offering her at +4 -135. The totals are touch and go methinks but I fancy the Over 20 ½ at -105.

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