Red hot Barthel to slam Sam

12Mar 2013

WTA új

It's the last 16 for the Women in Indian Wells with all eight games being played tonight. While Victoria Azarenka is still undefeated in 2013, she showed us last night that even the most consistent of players can have their off nights by dropping the first set before rallying to win in three. That minor blip will be no great cause for concern and she remains the stand out tournament favourite at evens.

The top eight seeds all survived last night and joining the elite are some relative newcomers to the scene; Muguruza-Blanco, Arruabarrena-Vecino, Barthel, and Urszula Radwanska, who is fast stepping out of the shadow of big sister Agnieszka. Urszula upset American Jamie Hampton last night, she's in good form and will relish the challenge of turning over the world number two, more so considering she was beaten by Azarenka at this very tournament in their only previous meeting two years ago.

Lara Arruaberrena-Vecino will have her work cut out against Maria Sharapova. While I am a fan of LAV and feel that she can go far, it's hard to look past the Russian tonight. This is the biggest match of Arruaberra's career, the first time she has made it to the last 16 of a Masters event, and only the third time that she has faced a top ten player (she lost convincingly on both other occasions). It will be interesting to see how the young Spaniard fairs against one of the most ruthless players on the tour, probably just one for the notebook.

Sara Errani became the first player yesterday to reach 20 wins on the WTA tour this year. Her stellar performances of 2012 have been well documented but many predicted she would not be able to back it up this year. Yet as a finalist of Dubai on hard court and of Paris indoors already this campaign she has cemented her place in the world's top ten and proven she is much more than just a clay-court specialist.

Her opponent tonight, Marion Bartoli, attracts frequent criticism for her unorthodox playing style and furthermore her unhealthy appearance but since she broke into the top twenty six years ago she has been one of the most consistent players on the tour and her record at Indian Wells is extremely impressive.

Errani in contrast has never gone past the third round. She has already played almost 50 matches in both forms of the game this year. With new coach Jana Novotna behind her, 2013 could be a good year for the Frenchwoman, she opened up at 1.64 and the early money has pushed her price down but I will be opposing this. I like Bartoli in this match up and will be backing her to win at 2.58.

At 22-years-old and at a peak ranking of 27 Mona Barthel is proving to be every bit the player she promised to be when she won her maiden WTA title in Hobart last year. Runner-up in Hobart this year, and victorious at the Paris Masters a few weeks ago, Barthel could well be the most in-form player on the tour right now. She's already beaten three of the world's top ten this year and could make it four tonight by defeating Sam Stosur.

German tennis is enjoying a purple patch, Angelique Kerber rocketed up the rankings last year and blazed a trail for fellow Germans Goerges, Lisicki, Beck (current junior French Open champion), and Barthel. Should she defeat Stosur tonight, Barthel sets up a potential quarter-final clash with good friend, compatriot, and current world number six Kerber and this is just the motivation she needs.

First time opponents of Barthel (like Stosur tonight) are always caught off-guard at how good she really is, and at how little time she gives them to react to her vicious ground-strokes. Most of the time all they can do is stand and watch her hit winner after winner, which is exactly what happened to Ivanovic last night. Barthel is the real deal, she will be in the top ten within a year, it should be closure for Stosur tonight.

Recommended Bets

Marion Bartoli to beat Sara Errani @ 2.58

Mona Barthel to beat Sam Stosur @ 1.6