Short and sharp here to kick off the week, where I like Kaja Juvan to win and cover the large game handicap.
The start to 2021 for Juvan has been largely interrupted, namely by the world number 114 contracting COVID and struggling in terms of endurance for an extended chunk of the season. Juvan remarked after her loss to Swiatek at Roland Garros that it was the first time she felt okay physically in terms of playing of a match, which was a promising sign after a difficult couple of months. She has played a limited schedule since, but has looked more comfortable on court. I am not as worried about the 3 set losses that have come in a number of her losses on clay of late, and against a weaker opponent in Marina Melnikova today this looks to be a great opportunity to kick off the tournament with a strong win.
This match rests on the racquet of Juvan, and I just don’t think Melnikova can pressure her enough to be a consistent threat. Juvan should be able to pressure the Russian’s serve consistently, and looks great value to cover the -5.5 games.
Suggested Bet:
2 units Juvan -5.5 games vs Melnikova at $2 at Unibet