The tennis world may still be catching its collective breath after a fantastic month at the Sunshine Double, but this 2023 season waits for no one. This week it’s a shift in pace as the clay court season, and subsequently the road to Roland Garros, gets underway in Charleston. While a few big names are taking a break this week, there are still plenty of stars fronting up at the Credit One Charleston Open on Monday.
Can No. 1 seed Jessica Pegula rekindle her winning ways? What about Belinda Bencic and Ons Jabeur, last year’s finalists in Charleston? Or will we see a new form player come out of the woodwork ahead of Roland Garros on clay? We break down all the best bets to place at the Credit One Charleston Open this week with odds from bookmaker bet365.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: April 2nd, 9:00 P.M. (GMT)
Bookmaker bet365 has this tournament almost too close to call with three women neck and neck at the top of the odds. World No. 3 Jessica Pegula has her nose in front with odds of 5.50, narrowly ahead of Ons Jabeur who sits at 6.00, and Belinda Bencic at 7.50. These three are the clear favourites for the title with the odds dropping off significantly for the fourth and fifth favourites, who are Victoria Azarenka and Veronika Kudermetova at 12.00 and 15.00 respectively.
With 56 players competing for what is the long-running all women’s tennis event in America, this should be a fascinating week on clay. It’s a prime opportunity for someone who’s last name isn’t Swiatek, Rybakina or Sabalenka to grab some momentum in 2023 and charge through to the next Major. For Jessica Pegula, she’ll be licking her lips at the opportunity to pick up some cheap ranking points here.
Last year, Pegula was bundled out in the Round of 16 by Coco Vandeweghe and knows that she is well positioned to go much further than that in 2023. Pegula is a strong clay court player, making the final of Madrid, Round of 16 at Rome, and quarterfinals at Roland Garros in 2022. She comes into Charleston with good momentum having made the semi-finals of Miami but with a potential quarterfinal clash against defending champion Belinda Bencic, Pegula will need to be on her game early in Charleston.
Speaking of Bencic, the World No. 8 will be eager to build on her strong 15-4 year to date record. Her Sunshine Double was nothing to write home about, losing in the first round of Indian Wells and Round of 32 at Miami. However, she has two titles this year already, at Abu Dhabi and Adelaide, and will know that her best form is not too far away.
We say that the winner of the Credit One Charleston Open will come down to this potential semi-final match-up between Jessica Pegula and Belinda Bencic. The winner should have enough firepower to beat the likes of One Jabeur in the final and win the title.
