Abierto GNP Seguros 2022 Picks for March 4 (Archive)
We are in the quarterfinals of the WTA 250 tournament in Monterrey. We have a diverse field remaining, with players representing seven countries and all women playing different styles of tennis. It’s been a fun week of tennis, let’s keep it going with more winning tennis picks.
Qiang Wang vs. Leylah Fernandez
Friday, March 3, 2022 – 09:15 PM EST at GNP Estadio
Qiang Wang had a roller-coaster match against Mayar Sherif of Egypt. Wang got to an excellent start, winning the first set 6-0. The second set was a different story altogether. Sherif kept it close and ended up prevailing in a tiebreaker 7-6. Wang settled down and was in control in the third set and finally won it 6-3.
Although Wang had zero aces, she landed 72% of her first serves and won 69 percent of those (51-74). Where she really controlled the match however was her ability to win second-serve points. She won 48% of her second serves (14-29) while her opponent Sherif only won 24% (5-21). This helped lead to Wang's five breaks of serve. Wang was only broken once in the match.
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I wrote about Wang earlier this week and how she was one of the players who the pandemic greatly hurt. It completely slowed her momentum and she had a poor 2021 season. She started back on tour later than most women.
She finally is settling down, playing well with her feet under her. Wang is playing the level of tennis close (not all the way there yet) to where she once was. Yes, Wang is still prone to lapses of inconsistency, as shown in the second set against Sherif.
Leylah Fernandez was another player that we backed earlier this week due to her success here at Monterrey last season. We backed her against another Chinese player Qinwen Zheng. Zheng plays a more aggressive style than Wang and can hit more powerful shots. Wang is a more balanced player but will put less pressure on Fernandez.
The Pick
At underdog WTA odds here I do like Qiang Wang to get to victory. She's playing more consistently and I don't think she will allow herself to be worn down like her compatriot Zheng was. I also don't think she'll be bothered by Fernandez’s consistency and will be content to play long rallies with the ultra-quick Canadian.
I believe that Wang’s experience will shine through. This should be a long hard fought match and the over is also a good look here. Our first wager for today in WTA Monterrey is Qiang Wang ML.
WTA Pick: Qiang Wang ML (+145) at Bookmaker (visit our Bookmaker Review).
Marie Bouzkova vs. Beatriz Haddad Maia
Friday, March 3, 2022 – 05:30 PM EST at GNP Estadio
Well, I missed my handicap on Bouzkova yesterday. I thought Bouzkova would be fatigued but she was actually workmanlike in dispatching Petra Martic 6-4, 6-2. Martic came into the match in good form and we must give Bouzkova the credit for this win. Although she looked tired against Sara Errani in the previous round, there was no fatigue evident in the match against Martic, and I am hard-pressed to just guess that it will come back overnight.
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Bouzkova won 79% of her first serve points and she saved every breakpoint she faced. This will be Bouzkova’s 10th career quarter-final and fourth in the country of Mexico. Bouzkova is 5-4 in her career in the WTA quarterfinals, and 3-0 in quarterfinals played in Mexico.
Beatriz Haddad Maia is in her first quarterfinal in the last 3 years. She easily dispatched Xinyu Wang in her last match. That match was more highlighted by Wang's inability to land the ball in the court than anything in particular that Haddad Maia did.
We must give credit to Haddad Maia for recognizing that her opponent was struggling with consistency, and allowing her to beat herself. I don't think that she will have that luxury today against Bouzkova.
The Pick
In the preview of Beatriz Haddad Maia vs. Xinyu Wang, I thought that Wang would be able to exploit Haddad Maia’s second serve, but like I said Wang did not play anywhere near her best level of tennis. Bouzkova should have the same ability to exploit Haddad Maia’s serve and this might be where the original handicap comes through.
It is hard to go against Bouzkova now, and the signs of fatigue that I highlighted by Bouzkova against Errani completely disappeared against Martic. I will admit that the assessment was wrong and will handicap this as a neutral matchup. Our second bet for the day is Marie Bouzkova -2 games.
WTA Pick: Marie Bouzkova -2 Games (-115) at Bookmaker
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.