Jasmine Paolini vs Madison Keys Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA National Bank Open

Prediction published on 08/08/2023, 10:44  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 10/08/2023 at 03:00 in Tennis Predictions

The second round of the National Bank Open sees 13th seeded Madison Keys takes on unseeded Jasmine Paolini. The winner of this match could face the fourth seed Jessica Pegula in the last 16. This outdoor hard court event in Montreal is a major stepping stone on the route to the US Open later this month. Keys will hope to repeat the win she had over Paolini on the hard courts of Dubai earlier this year. That saw her win and only drop two games. Keys started this tournament ranked 15th but is up two places in the live rankings after beating Venus Williams 6-2 7-5 in the first round. The American has reached at least the quarter finals in her last three tournaments. That run includes winning the grass court Eastbourne title and getting to the last eight at Wimbledon. Last week saw reach the quarter finals of the Washington hard court tournament. 

Jasmine Paolini started this tournament ranked 49th. That's seven places below her career high achieved two months ago. Beating Donna Vekic in the first round has seen her rise to 46th in the live rankings. The Italian reached a WTA Tour final in Palermo last month but that was on clay. May saw her win a title on that surface but only one hard court quarter final has been reached this year. That was back in Lyon when beating two opponents ranked 100th and 134th before losing to Caroline Garcia. Keys is our pick to repeat her Dubai victory and again win in straight sets.