Agnes Szavay (1.83) v Gisela Dulko (2.1)

Dulko won both of their meetings in 2009 but Szavay comes into this match on the back of a Tour-leading 11-match winning streak having claimed titles in Budapest and Prague. While the Hungarian prefers to stick to clay she’s reached two hard court quarter-finals this season and won her opening match in Miami and Indian Wells earlier this year. Furthermore, the lowest ranked opponent she’s lost to on hard courts in the past 12 months has been 53. Szavay has won five of her last six matches against players currently ranked 26-50 (5/6 matches also went to a third set) and eight of 12 on hard courts this year against opponents now ranked 26-100.

Dulko is one of the most inconsistent players on tour. She has not won a match here since 2005 and has lost half her last eight matches against opponents now ranked 26-50. Moreover, she’s lost six of her last nine first round matches, including defeats in four of the five matches against players ranked lower than Szavay.

Recommendation: Szavay to win at 1.83, Sky Bet

Ekaterina Makarova (1.5) v Lucie Hradecka (2.75)

Makarova has won 17 of her last 21 matches and came through qualifying without dropping a set. This form has seen the Russian climb from 100 in the world to a current position of 66. Furthermore, 17 of her last 18 wins have been in straight sets and she’s won 17 of her last 23 matches not on clay against players currently ranked outside the top 50 with 15 in straight sets. More specifically she’s won her last six matches 2-0 against players ranked 101-200.

Hradecka also came through qualifying but is far more of a clay specialist as she’s lost 10 of her last 11 Tour matches on hard courts. Furthermore, she’s lost eight of her last nine matches against players currently ranked 51-100.

There have been 13 all-qualifier matches here since 1997 and 10 have been settled in straight sets.

Recommendation: Makarova to win 2-0 at 2.25, Paddy Power

Maria Kirilenko (1.54) v Dominika Cibulkova (2.65)

Kirilenko won comfortably in three sets when these two met earlier this year. The Russian has gone to a final set in eight of her last 13 matches against players currently ranked 11-50, and also in six of her last 10 completed matches when a 1.4-1.65 favourite. Furthermore, she’s won eight of 12 matches that have gone to a final set this year.

Cibulkova is still struggling to find her best form and has lost her last two matches in three sets. Moreover, she’s gone to a third set in seven of her last 12 matches against players currently ranked 11-50, with five 2-1 defeats, and she’s lost seven of the last eight such matches including all four that went to a third set.

Recommendation: Kirilenko to win 2-1 at 4.5, Sporting Bet

Marion Bartoli (1.08) v Valerie Tetreault (9.5)

Tetreault has been given a Wild Card but has struggled for form recently as she’s lost her last four matches. Moreover, none of those opponents was ranked inside the top 100 and she lost the first set 6/2 or worse in three. She’s also lost all five of her matches against top 65 ranked players since 2009 with four 2-0 defeats and fewer than nine firs set games on four occasions.

Bartoli has won seven of eight completed matches since 2009 against players now ranked 101-200, with fewer than nine games in the first set five times. Furthermore, the last five times she’s been a favourite against a player in their own country she’s won by seven or more games with fewer than nine games in the first set each time. Moreover, she’s won all 14 matches not on clay since 2009 when shorter than 1.2 to win in straight sets with fewer than nine first set games eight times and nine wins by seven or more games.

Recommendation: Under 8.5 first set games at 2.2, Stan James

David Nalbandian (1.29) v Ivan Ljubicic (4.2)

Nalbandian has a surprisingly poor record against Ljubicic having lost five of their seven meetings, although they’ve not played for over three years.

Right now, the Argentine is playing exceptionally well. He has won 11 of his last 12 matches with eight straight-set wins, and has also won his last 10 against players currently ranked 11-50. Furthermore he’s been shorter than 1.40 to win in four of his matches during the current US hard court Series and has recorded four 2-0 wins with three 6/0 sets.

Ljubicic is a Masters champion this year but has lost five of his last six matches – all in straight sets – and aside from that run at Indian Wells he’s lost 12 of 14 hard court matches against current top 25 ranked players since 2009 with eight defeats in straight sets.

Recommendation: Nalbandian to win 2-0 at 1.83, Betfair