WTA 500 Stuttgart April 14th to April 21st

Elina Svitolina has won four matches in straight sets dropping very few games including an impressive 6-0, 6-2 victory over Ruse in the semi final. Her odds of 10/3 advised by DTM to win the tournament look very generous now:) The final against Danilovic looks likely to go Svitolina's way based on the week to date. In Stuttgart Sabalenka's route to glory improved with defeats for Swiatek and Gauff in the last 8. Aryna Sabalenka will fancy her chances now :) So DTM is quietly confident of a good return this weekend as the two "S's" play for the title:) 

By Sunday night Svitolkina's win in Rouen was confirmed:) Tomorrow Aryna will hopefully make it a successful double for DTM:) 

Ekaterina Alexandrova has had a few battles with Jessica Pegula and the H2H record stands at 2-2. Their quarter final today could go either way so a 3 set match outcome seems likely to be the most sensible outcome. Of the two players Alexandrova is possibly the most secure on slow red clay so if pressed DTM would advocate the Russian coming out on top today:) 

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E.Alexandrova v J.Pegula to be a 3 set match

Elise Mertens has had a very consistent season to date. She is playing arguably her best singles for a while and DTM expects that she will overcome the higher ranked Diana Shnaider today. On indoor clay Mertens will prove to be a tougher opponent than Kudermetova who if we are honest surrendered the third set very easily towards the end. Mertens is rested and won her first round comfortably. Elsewhere DTM was surprised to see the odds for Elina Svitolina to win in Rouen :) At 10/3 her draw and her potential route to winning the whole event look a lot more straight forward than Aryna Sabalenka's in Stuttgart. Given 3/1 for Sabalenka has already been advised it would be silly not to also highlight the Ukrainian as being a good investment to win in Rouen :) 

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E.Mertens to beat D.Shnaider

E.Svitolina to win WTA Rouen @10/3

Jelena Ostapenko has drifted significantly overnight so DTM has highlighted her match with Yastremska as one to be AVOIDED! Instead look to Jana Fett causing Donna Vekic problems. Both players last match was against Masarova. Vekic lost whilst Fett won. Stuttgart has never been a good event for Vekic who generally takes several events on clay to warm up in time for Paris. At 3/1 Jana Fett could cause an upset or at least win a set:) 

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J.Fett to beat D.Vekic 

J.Fett v D.Vekic to be a 3 set match

Veronika Kudermetova has clay court pedigree and has recently discovered a more consistent winning habit, often coming through qualifying and winning at least one match in the main draw. She has again qualified winning two matches comfortably. Today she plays Diana Shnaider who is not known for her clay prowess ? Given last year Kudermetova took Coco Gauff to 7-6 in the final set and the year before took Rybakina to 6-4 in the final set her form at this venue is very solid. Shnaider is not at the same level as these two opponents. At 6/4 the early price has been cut to 11/10 already on a Kudermetova win. DTM believes Kudermetova could this time come out on top over 3 sets so back both to provide some insurance:) 

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V.Kudermetova v D.Shnaider to be a 3 set match

V.Kudermetova to beat D.Shnaider 

Stuttgart begins on Monday 14th April and the draw will be ever important in determining who is most likely to come through and win this week. With notable past winners from the top of the game it is very rare that the overall winner of this week's title is an outsider. Elena Rybakina won last year following wins for Iga Swiatek and Ash Barty before that. Martina Navratilova was also a regular winner back in the 80s which although going back in time is indicative of the calibre of the winners. It is largely an event won by top, top players. Will this year be the exception or will we be concentrating on the top few seeds? 

DTM can’t see past Aryna Sabalenka once again in the top half. Finalist two years ago, the world #1 is a different player today. At 3/1 she is seen as the second favourite yet on all recent form DTM believes she is well ahead of Iga Swiatek even on an indoor clay surface.

The bottom half is loaded with recent winners. Iga Swiatek who on past seasons would normally be expected to make the final has to overcome either Jessica Pegula or Mirra Andreeva in her half. Jelena Ostapenko or Emma Navarro will also be a meaningful quarter final. With only a 28 sized field the top players only have to win three matches to get tot he final. DTM advice is to leave the bottom half alone and instead concentrate on the top half where in theory Sabalenka only has to negotiate either Jasmine Paolini or Coco Gauff to make the final:) 

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Aryna Sabalenka to win WTA Stuttgart @3/1