WTA - WTA Japan Open
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by Bradley Gibbs in Tennis Picks
There are a few WTA matches that I'm interested in from a betting angle on Thursday, all of which will take place during the early hours for US viewers. The showdown between Elise Mertens and Tereza Valentova definitely catches the eye. This look like a nicer opportunity for Mertens than the early odds suggest. Ranked at 21st in the world, the Belgian competitor arrives in strong form having beaten Carolina Bucsa in straight sets, delivering an effort that suggests she means business here.
Tereza Valentova is clearly on the up right now, with her Czech player delivering some of her best ever WTA efforts, picking up two qualifying wins, before beating Alexandra Eala in straight sets during the first round. However, if Mertens is on it here, she'll need to shift through the gears quite considerably. Can she do it? Let's find out.
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Elise Mertens vs Tereza Valentova Form
Elise Mertens and Tereza Valentova Latest Matches
3/6 (50%)
3/6 (50%)
Oct 14, 2025 - WTA Japan Open
Oct 8, 2025 - WTA Wuhan Open
Oct 6, 2025 - WTA Wuhan Open
Sep 26, 2025 - WTA China Open
Sep 10, 2025 - WTA Guadalajara
Aug 29, 2025 - WTA US Open
4/6 (67%)
2/6 (33%)
Oct 14, 2025 - WTA Japan Open
Oct 13, 2025 - WTA Japan Open
Oct 12, 2025 - WTA Japan Open
Oct 3, 2025 - WTA Wuhan Open
Aug 27, 2025 - WTA US Open
Aug 24, 2025 - WTA US Open
Elise Mertens - Tereza Valentova Key Points
- Elise Mertens won her first-round match against a lower-ranked player in straightforward fashion
- Elise Mertens has now won each of her two recent hard-court matches against lower-ranked players.
- Tereza Valentova lost her most recent match against a top-25 player.
- Tereza Valentova has comfortably lost each of her last two matches against top-25 players.
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Our Elise Mertens vs Tereza Valentova Prediction
Consistency is not really something that Elise Mertens specialises in, but on her day, the Belgium is a very strong opponent, while her last couple of efforts tell me that she has her hard-court game in good shape right now. Against a much lower-ranked player, Mertens should be a stronger favorite in my book.
Sure, Valentova has come through qualifying with some nice wins, while her win against Alexandra Eala last time out was pleasing, but I'm not going to overreact and rush to make her favorite for this based on that alone, which is what the early market appears to have done. This will require the Czech player to pull out more and I'm not convinced she can do that. Our Elise Mertens vs Tereza Valentova Pick: Elise Mertens to Win.
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All tips are fully researched and given in good faith, but profits cannot be guaranteed.
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