WTA1000 Wuhan Open Oct 12th to 18th

How Ostapenko managed to gift the semi final match to Kartal only she will know. The speed with which she left the court kind of suggested she was livid. 4-1 leads in both sets and numerous set points were difficult to lose especially two of them where she missed golden put aways. Kartal gets the benefit of her gift and can look forward to her first final in a week which has seen countless upsets. 

DTM recommends

Leave the match alone and head over to Ningbo:) 

The past few days have been very positive for DTM followers. The slow hard courts have massively favoured clay court players and the odds have been generous to say the least. Ostapenko won in straight sets and continues to look very good in Wuhan. Her game will be too good for the British player if she continues in this vain despite an excellent week for Kartal.

DTM recommends

J.Ostapenko to beat S.Kartal

Jelena Ostapenko seems to be enjoying her week so far. She is a big hitter who has some big career wins. Her match with Shnaider is very much a 50:50 so at 2/1 has to be backed purely for the value. Kartal played so well to beat Paolini she has to be the play against Svitolina who was feeling her legs in her previous match. 

DTM recommends

J.Ostapenko to beat D.Shnaider

S.Kartal to beat E.Svitolina

The slowness of the courts in Wuhan was borne out with DTM getting a decent return with both Chawliska and Paolini winning yesterday. Shnaider had a great French Open as well and could well prove to be a difficult opponent for Muchova who came through a struggle against McNally. Fernandez is also playing well and should overcome Ostapenko who somehow beat Pegula who missed a ridiculous forehand volley to win that match. Fernandez is looking much more solid again.  A day for the lefties to do well again:) 

DTM recommends

D.Shnaider to beat K.Muchova

L.Fernandez to beat J.Ostapenko

The heavy, humid conditions have made these hard courts much slower than usual. Certain players have an advantage and given two are the higher seeded players on Wednesday seems to make for an obvious investment. Both Chawlinska and Paolini are excellent on clay and could be ready to do well this week. Both would be a good option to win on clay so to be both outsiders against Bouzkova and Bartunkova is a surprise. Go for both individually and the double:) 

DTM recommends

M.Chawlinska to beat M.Bouzkova

J.Paolini to beat N.Bartunkova

Plus both in a double

Five lucky losers have entered the draw after numerous late withdrawals. This once again highlights to the WTA tour the futility of mandatory events for the top players. Qinwen Zheng wins in Beijing and also pulls out of the next event with injury ? Bizarre world where transparency and openness is actively discouraged. The tie of the opening round sees Leylah Fernandez take on Ekaterina Alexandrova. Two top 20 players at their best. Fernandez has been good in Asia before and is expected to edge this close match. 

DTM recommends

 L.Fernandez to beat E.Alexandrova

C.Bucsa to beat D.Yastremska

D.Kasatkina to beat J.Ostapenko

Aryna Sabalenka will never have a better chance of getting back on the winning train. With Rybakina, Gauff and Andreeva all pulling out her chances of finally getting another win look good in Wuhan.  

Sabalenka has to navigate past Mertens and then Iga Swiatek but with both those players having played a lot of tennis last week, the former #1 must believe she can get to the final and ultimately win the event.

DTM recommends

A.Sabalenka to win in Wuhan