One of the most engrossing events on the tennis calendar, last year’s Madrid Open women’s competition concluded with a gripping final between the world’s top two in Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka.
It was Sabalenka who prevailed 6-3 3-6 6-3 in the Spanish capital last year and both her and Swiatek are again among the favourites to reign supreme in Madrid in the coming weeks.
But there are reasons to oppose both and there are a handful of other players eager to make their mark in Madrid.
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Swiatek and Sabalenka look short enough in the betting
Women’s top seed Swiatek will be eager to get her revenge for last year’s final defeat to Sabalenka but the Pole’s form of late has left plenty to be desired.
She was dumped out of the Stuttgart Open in the semi-finals last week and suffered a premature last-16 exit at the Miami Open when up against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
She can be a danger on clay but she has not exactly been electrifying in 2024 while Sabalenka has also struggled.
Since winning the Australian Open in January, Sabalenka has endured a dip in form, having won just four matches across the Dubai Tennis Championships, Indian Wells, Miami Open and Stuttgart Open.
Rybakina can make her mark in Madrid
With neither Swiatek nor Sabalenka in blistering form, it could be Elena Rybakina’s time to shine in Madrid.
The Kazakhstani ace has reached five WTA finals already this year, two of which were in WTA 1000 events like that of the Madrid Open.
It was only last week when Rybakina won the Stuttgart Open on clay, while she also reached the final of the Miami Open at the end of March.
In Stuttgart, Rybakina beat Swiatek as well as Marta Kostyuk en route to the title and she can overpower anyone on her day.
The 2022 Wimbledon winner knows how to rise to the big occasion and with 11 wins in 13 matches on clay in 2023, she is a solid bet to take the title.
In-form Collins could be a dark horse
For an outsider selection, punters should look no further than Danielle Collins.
American ace Collins took down Rybakina in the final of the Miami Open last month and is on a 13-match winning streak heading into the Madrid Open.
She recently claimed a clay-court title at the WTA Charleston Open in her home country, having seen off the likes of Ons Jabeur, Sloane Stephens and Maria Sakkari in the process.
She has already won a WTA 1000 event in 2024 – the Miami Open – and looks a dark horse to win the Madrid Open, having missed the event in 2023.
The 30-year-old is set to call time on her tennis career at the end of this year and so far she is on course to bow out with a bang.
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Odds correct at time of writing
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