The past week has brought ominous signs on the WTA Tour. As much as the rest of women’s tennis will hope this is not the case, it appears as though Iga Swiatek is returning to the form that saw her win 37 matches in a row last year. Whether this is true or simply a flash in the pan will be revealed this week at the Mutua Madrid Open 2023.
With Roland Garros just over a month away, the Spanish clay provides the perfect opportunity for players to both fine-tune their clay court games and gauge where they’re at against the rest of the field. Courtesy of defending champion Ons Jabeur’s calf injury, the field is wide open and Iga Swiatek will no doubt be rubbing her hands at the prospect of adding another Masters 1000 crown to her trophy cabinet.
We break down all the latest odds ahead of the Mutua Madrid Open 2023 with odds from bookmaker William Hill and offer up our expert picks on this tournament.
※ Current Odds Date & Time: April 25th, 8:00 P.M. (GMT)
Looking at the outright betting odds from bookmaker William Hill, it sure seems as though it’s 2022. Yet again a vast gulf exists between Iga Swiatek, the heavy favourite, and the rest of the field. At 2.10, Swiatek is well ahead of the next in the betting odds, which is Aryna Sabalenka at 8.50. Even further back is third favorite Jessica Pegula on 15.00 before a three-way tie for fourth in the odds between Elena Rybakina, Barbora Krejcikova and Paula Badosa at 17.00.
It’s hard to see anyone but Iga Swiatek winning this event. The reason why we make such a bold claim is not just because of the form Swiatek is in—she steps onto the clay in Madrid having just lifted a clay court title in Stuttgart over the weekend—but also because of the shape of her competition. The three players who can typically rival Swiatek all have marks against them this week.
First, Ons Jabeur is not competing, due to a calf injury. Second, Elena Rybakina is having lower back issues, withdrawing from her Round of 16 match in Stuttgart last week as a result—her second such withdrawal this season. Third, Aryna Sabalenka was comprehensively beaten by Swiatek just a few days ago in the Porsche Tennis Grand Prix, 6-3, 6-4.
With Swiatek appearing to have a strong edge over all of her rivals, we say the Pole winning back-to-back titles on clay is an excellent bet to make. However, those who are unconvinced that Swiatek has yet to rekindle her form of 2022 would be best to take a punt on either Jessica Pegula (last year’s beaten finalist and current World No. 3) or Petra Kvitova (three-time Madrid champion and 2023 Miami winner) to take down the title. Both are paying high odds of 15.00 and 34.00 respectively and are the most likely options to upset Swiatek in Madrid.
