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It didn’t take long for this week’s WTA slate to get chaotic. Two seeded players went out in Hobart, including defending champion McCartney Kessler. Meanwhile, Jaqueline Cristian knocked out the No. 4 seed in Adelaide, and Clara Tauson couldn’t even finish her match. For bettors, upsets, retirements, and strong underdog performances defined the opening round.
Monday’s results leaned in favor of aggressive returners, particularly those able to pressure second serves. Converted break points and late-set composure made the difference in several matches. If you backed sharp dogs or watched for retirement risk, you probably started the week ahead.
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Latest WTA Odds & Lines
Lines are shifting fast with early-round volatility. For up-to-the-minute prices, visit the latest WTA odds page. See spreads, totals, and moneylines from top books before making your next move — especially as player form and fitness impact the market.
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Top Takeaways
- Danilovic brought the fire. Five of seven break points converted, plus a huge late push, made her a live dog that cashed big.
- Cristian shut down Alexandrova. Straight-set upset with composure at key moments — perfect execution for a tough draw.
- Tauson retired after a tiebreak. Bettors who faded her fitness or grabbed Tomljanovic got paid without sweating the second set.
- Mboko rallied in a war. Down a set to Haddad Maia, she flipped the match and closed strong — a huge ticket for dog backers.
- Ann Li recovered mid-match. A rocky start turned around late in Set 2, giving chalk bettors a window to buy in.
- Kalinskaya and Cocciaretto were clinical. Both advanced in under 80 minutes — key wins if you played short matches.
WTA Game Recaps
Early action from Hobart and Adelaide delivered surprising results — and some smart wins for bettors who looked beyond the seed numbers. Here’s a breakdown of each match that mattered, what flipped the momentum, and how the betting angles played out.
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Olga Danilovic vs McCartney Kessler Recap: Danilovic wins 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
Danilovic shocked the defending champ in Hobart with a gritty comeback. She trailed 4-3 in the third set but broke at 4-all, then held to close the match in 2 hours and 6 minutes.
She converted 5 of 7 break points and saved 5 of 9 — the numbers of a clutch underdog. Bettors who faded Kessler based on recent form got rewarded big.
Antonia Ruzic vs Emiliana Arango Recap: Ruzic wins 7-5, 6-1
Ruzic stunned the No. 7 seed with a strong finish to Set 1, then dominated the second. Arango never recovered from the late-set pressure.
This was one of the cleaner underdog wins of the day. Once Ruzic closed Set 1, momentum was gone for Arango. A perfect spot for sharp bettors hunting upset potential.
Ann Li vs Katie Volynets Recap: Li wins 4-6, 7-5, 6-2
Li started slow and dropped the first set, but turned it around late in the second with better baseline depth and fewer errors.
Once she took the second 7-5, Volynets lost steam. Li pulled away in Set 3 with confidence — not a smooth win for chalk bettors, but one that eventually paid.
Elisabetta Cocciaretto vs Opponent Recap: Cocciaretto advances
Cocciaretto took care of business to move into Round 2. Specific match details weren’t confirmed, but her advancement continues a strong start to her 2024.
For bettors, this was likely a stay-away without full context — but any straight-set win from Cocciaretto tends to cover spreads and unders.
Solana Sierra vs Opponent Recap: Sierra advances
Sierra moved into the second round behind a solid baseline game. While details are limited, her result contributes to a slate of lower-ranked names outperforming expectations.
Depending on the matchup, this may have been a sharp angle to play — especially for round-robin or long-shot fans.
Jaqueline Cristian vs Ekaterina Alexandrova Recap: Cristian wins 6-4, 6-4
Cristian came into Adelaide ready to compete, knocking out the No. 4 seed with a focused and aggressive baseline attack.
She didn’t blink in key spots and played the bigger points better. Bettors who took the upset angle here cashed clean.
Ajla Tomljanovic vs Clara Tauson Recap: Tomljanovic leads 7-6 (5) (Ret.)
Tauson retired after dropping a tight first-set tiebreak. Tomljanovic applied consistent pressure, and the Aussie crowd helped her push through long rallies.
If you were tracking Tauson’s fitness, this was a prime opportunity to grab Tomljanovic live or pre-match as a fade play.
Emma Navarro vs Emerson Jones Recap: Navarro wins 6-3, 6-3
Navarro controlled the match from the baseline, needing just 78 minutes to knock out the Aussie wildcard. She stayed composed and efficient throughout.
This was a no-doubt chalk play that paid quickly. Bettors who trusted Navarro’s consistency had little to worry about.
Victoria Mboko vs Beatriz Haddad Maia Recap: Mboko wins 5-7, 6-3, 6-2
Mboko pulled off a strong comeback win after losing a close first set to the No. 8 seed. She broke serve early in both the second and third sets and never looked back.
The Canadian’s rally was one of the day’s most impressive. Bettors who saw Haddad Maia’s vulnerability on hard courts or fading trend got a strong payout here.
Daria Kasatkina vs Maria Sakkari Recap: Kasatkina wins 7-6 (2), 6-4
Kasatkina edged a close tiebreak in Set 1 and stayed ahead in Set 2 to knock out Sakkari. Her mix of spins and smart shot selection kept Sakkari off balance.
A minor upset depending on line movement, but a great pick for bettors who favored experience and tactical variety.
Anna Kalinskaya vs Elena Gabriela Ruse Recap: Kalinskaya wins 6-0, 6-3
Kalinskaya cruised in just 75 minutes, breaking at will and never giving Ruse a chance to reset.
For bettors looking for short match props or unders, this was the ideal result — clean, fast, and dominant.
Marie Bouzkova vs Paula Badosa Recap: Bouzkova wins 3-6, 6-3, 6-4
Bouzkova overcame a shaky start, dropping the first set before stabilizing her ground game and breaking twice in Set 3.
She flipped the match with smart baseline changes and absorbed Badosa’s pace well. For value bettors, this was a sharp lean that paid in the final stretch.
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