WTA Free Pick : Bouchard Bounceback Continues? 3/12

• 12 March 2016

HRWager’s WTA Free Pick looks at the last practical chances of Eugenie Bouchard.  A myriad of health injuries including quite a concussion at the US Open has her sliding off the map of women’s tennis.  Her rating is in tatters as this might be the last year to complete a comeback.  She did well last week in south east Asia but has to fly to a different hemisphere to play a much better class of opponent at Indian Wells.  We at the HRW are going to look at her match tonight as Eugenie (+158) takes on favored Sloane Stephens in the second round on 3/12.

 

PNP Paribas Open

Indian Wells is now known by the sponsors title, PNP Paribas Open.  Sloane Stephens is a little bit of a mystery herself this year.  She exited in the first round of the Aussie Open this year.  After that, she went to the drawing board and played lower competition.  This paid off with two international titles.  After that, she conquered Cibulkova in three sets including the ending tie break.  Now in California, these courts produce higher bounces with slower action.  This will take some of the sting from Stephens this evening.

Jet Lag Over?

That hemisphere of travel on short notice wrecked havoc with Bouchard as she was taken to three sets by a qualifier.  The good news is that Bouchard shown tenacity where in the past she would let her injuries and lack of form get to her.  With finals in Hobart and Kuala Lumpur, she is showing that she is capable of putting strings of success back together.  Eugenie has won 14 matches already this year.  When the form finally returns, she will be ready for that monster run to reclaim her career.

Both players are inconsistent.  For Sloane, there is no real good concrete reason why she wins titles and then flops.  For a +158 value, the player that finds the way to win in 2016 is Bouchard.  Unless she faces a Radwanska who gets everything back, she can handle most other styles. Stephens is not strong enough to blow her off the court.  Take Bouchard +158 for your WTA Free Pick of the Day.