Victoria Azarenka – Laura Siegmund

We are only a week away from one of the highlights of the year for us tennis fans, and for many Wimbledon is the most anticipated of the four majors. And for the players, there is a rush to get started. The grass season is short, and for many it is challenging to get enough grass training before it all starts in London.

We at 90minutefamily will of course cover every day, every match and every stroke, and now that there are so many of us covering tennis, the WTA responsibility has fallen to me. Something I enjoy very much. And not least; someone who is in line with 90minutefamily's philosophy; we believe in knowledge, and we should therefore have areas of expertise. We should not cover too broadly, as you often fail to stay up to date if you gape at too much.

And in today's WTA column we'll be looking at four matches that I think look good. I've picked a main event, but I'll also say a few words about the other two on the list;

Victoria Azarenka – Laura Siegmund

What a nostalgic match. Azarenka at 35 years old against Siegmund at 37 years old. Two ladies who are well above their prime, and two players who benefit from shortening the exchanges to avoid moving more than necessary. When the match is also played on grass, one should expect an aggressive playing style, and relatively many unforced errors.

Victoria Azarenka

The Belarusian girl can look back on a rich career, with victories at the Australian Open (2012 and 2013) as clear highlights. But as world No. 7 (2008), she was a force to be reckoned with on all surfaces, reaching semifinals at the French Open and Wimbledon, and the final at the US Open.

But it's been a long time since the young girl from Minsk moved to Arizona to live with NHL goalie Khabibulin to train and become the best. And it's also been a long time since the depression while living with artist Redfoo and the court case over the custody of her son with ex-boyfriend Billy McKeague. So it hasn't all been ups and downs for Azarenka.

And now, at the end of her career, it's more surprising when she wins than when she loses. And we have to go back to August 2024 to find the last time she won two matches in a row, if we ignore the two qualifiers she has had this week in Bad-Homburg. But her aggressive style of play, and solid backhand, are well suited to the grass, and the favorite stamp and the low odds, can be justified if she can keep the number of unforced errors down. But will she do it?

Laura Siegmund

Although Siegmund's career is not as glamorous, the aging German also has impressive credentials to show for it. Despite a life free of artists, hockey players, California real estate and lawsuits, she was once ranked No. 27 in the world. She was also once ranked No. 4 in the world in doubles. And those are exactly the skills that can come in handy on grass.

Because it is a fact that doubles players are solid at the net. And if Siegmund is to have any hope of shortening the exchanges and taking enough points against Azarenka, she has to get to the net. Considering Azarenka's somewhat limited movement pattern and her quick serve, several of the balls that come back may be of poor quality. And that is exactly why Siegmund should be ready at the net.

In addition, we should remember that Siegmund is on home turf. Born and raised in Filderstadt, she is only 2.5 hours away from Bad-Homburg, and the home fans will probably do everything they can to cheer on their only remaining home hope, after Maria lost yesterday.

Conclusion

On grass, Azarenka is a scary opponent. But she is lucky, and although she has made it through qualifying, she had to use three sets in both matches. The victory against Kurdermetova was strong, and perhaps a sign of what can come, but three sets against McNally (213) scares no one. And against a home hope with a past as one of the world's best doubles players, this one could easily go over the line.

Because here I'm looking for value, and it's no secret that it's the low line that tempts me. On grass, the bookmakers tend to put it considerably higher, but we bow and thank them, and hope it holds.

P.S. Siegmund has also played 2 out of 3 games over 2.5 goals on grass this year, so for the bold, you can push the line even higher for more risk/reward.

Tennis at 16:30: Azarenka – Siegmund: Over 19.5 games (1.70)

Other bets from today's WTA matches;

In addition to today's main match, we have three other matches from this week's two tournaments. Here is a brief commentary on the matches on the odds list;

Samsonova–Siniakova

My fascination with Samsonova is probably no secret. And she is also a better player than Siniakova. But not on grass. And history shows that. The Czech has won both times they have met on grass, but Samsonova won when they met on hard court in Canada. And it is worth mentioning that all three meetings between them have gone to three sets.

Tennis at 13:00: Samsonova – Siniakova: Over 21.5 games (1.68)

Jones – The Memory

Jones' playing style is not suited to grass. And if we ignore the victory against Hart, who is completely out of form these days, Jones has little to show for it. Minnen often struggles to be consistent, but won a grass tournament in Birmingham a few weeks ago, and also beat Collins in the Netherlands a week ago. She has 8 out of 9 on grass this year, and should be many notches better than Jones.

Tennis at 1:30 PM: Jones – Minnen: Minnen wins -2.5 games (1.65)

Osaka–Danilovic

Osaka hasn't been herself since her comeback, and even during her glory days, when she won Grand Slams and was one of the best in the world, grass was her weakest surface. My tip is that she dreams of American hard courts, and then Danilovic could easily be a dangerous opponent.

Osaka has only one match on grass this year, a loss to Samsonova in Berlin, while Danilovic has three matches, two of which were convincing wins in qualifying here in Bad-Homburg. I think the Serb can give Osaka a fight today.

Tennis at 16:00: Osaka – Danilovic: Danilovic +3.5 games (1.73)