Ivanovic presents French Open case with unbeaten Rome run
Published:She may be the pin-up of the WTA Tour but Ana Ivanovic is slowly finding the form that saw her reach the heights of the world’s best tennis player in 2008.
Ivanovic proved her first round exit in last week’s Madrid Open last week was just a blip with a dominating performance in her Internazionali BNL d’Italia first round win over Nadia Petrova.
Petrova may have retired but by that point Ivanovic had won all of the first nine games in a performance that looked as if Ivanovic believes she can repeat her 2008 French Open victory.
Should Ivanovic negotiate her way past Yanina Wickmayer in her second round match – she is 8/15 to do so – it is likely that Caroline Wozniacki will be waiting in the third round.
As the world number one continues to struggle with her clay form, Ivanovic will be confident of an upset.
Ivanovic is currently 25/1 to win the French Open and having made two finals at Roland Garros, a victory over Wozniacki would put her right back on punters’ radars.
While Ivanovic takes a well deserved break today there is plenty of Internazionali BNL d’Italia betting action for punters to seek their teeth into.
Maria Kirilenko vs Andrea Petkovic
Kirilenko has struggled in her two clay court appearances of the season and Petkovic, who has lost to Maria Sharapova and Caroline Wozniacki in two of her last three tournaments, offers all the value at 2/5 to win and 11/10 to win 2-0.
Flavia Pennetta vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands
We were huge supporters of Mattek-Sands in Madrid last week but it seems the American’s Internazionali BNL d’Italia hopes will be dashed at the first hurdle.
Pennetta has won four of her five meetings with Mattek-Sands including their two clay meetings and the Italian looks the pick of the day at 4/7 to beat the American.
A £10 stake on Ivanovic winning the French Open would return £260. Sign up here to take advantage of a free bet worth up to £30.
