While all eyes were on Monte Carlo last week for the ATP Masters 1000 event, the WTA Tour had a rare occurrence: A week off. Now, after the transition from America to Europe and plenty of rest, the best of the best in women’s tennis will hit the clay courts in Europe ahead of the big tournaments coming up in Madrid, Rome and Paris. It all starts this week in Stuttgart with Europe’s oldest indoor clay court tournament.
Headlining the Stuttgart Open is Iga Swiatek, who will desperately be looking to reclaim some of the fine form she had in 2023. With Roland Garros just around the corner, Swiatek will be eager to get clay court wins under her belt, particularly in a tournament she won last year. However, the likes of Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina and Ons Jabeur have narrowed the gap on the Pole and will fancy their chances of claiming a win here themselves. Who will prevail?
We break down the best bets to make with bookmaker William Hill and look at the latest odds for the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: April 17th, 2:30 A.M. (GMT)
Despite her dip in form, World No. 1 Iga Swiatek still leads the odds at bookmaker William Hill ahead of the start of play in Stuttgart. At 1.83, she is well ahead of the next favourite in Aryna Sabalenka, who is paying 6.50. Elena Rybakina, Ons Jabeur and Barbaroa Krejcikova are all third equal in the betting odds, sitting on 13.00 to win this week.
The most important factor to note here is the shift in surface from the American hardcourts. While Iga Swiatek has been dominant across multiple surfaces the past 12 months, clay is her natural arena. The heavy topspin forehand that she possesses is made for clay and it feels as though now is the perfect time for the Pole to get back into form ahead of Roland Garros.
It’s not as if Swiatek has been in bad form—she’s simply less invincible than she was in 2022. Year to date, the 21-year-old is 16-4, having made the semi-finals in Indian Wells, the final in Dubai, and winning in Doha. Switching to clay gives her an edge over the likes of Rybakina and Sabalenka who have had her number this year, and at 1.83, she is a strong bet to win in Stuttgart.
If not Swiatek then Ons Jabeur is looking like a good prospect in Germany too. The Tunisian performs well on clay and has found some form in 2023 finally. The current World No. 4 comes into the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix having won the most recent clay event, a WTA 500 in Charleston. Prior to this, she was battling with Round of 32 and 64 exits in the Sunshine Double. Can Jabeur maintain her momentum? Her potential semi-final meeting with Swiatek could be telling.
