WTA Western and Southern Betting: Back Halep to prevail against Sharapova

Can Halep continue her fine run of form?

The final eight are ready for action on Friday, and Abelson Info assess their respective chances of making it to the semi-finals...

It was business as usual for world number one Serena Williams as she dropped just four games en route to beating Flavia Pennetta on Wednesday, with the American seemingly in fine form.

Despite her opponent enjoying some decent success on this surface this year, it was Williams who dominated as she made it 12-0 on US hard-courts in 2014 ahead of the US Open.

Her next challenge is against Jelena Jankovic, and although she leads her rival 9-4 in their head-to-head record, winning the last five consecutive meetings, Williams did concede that it is always a difficult assignment playing the Serbian.

Generally speaking, their previous results don't reflect that theory, and ultimately Williams is a heavy favourite to prevail and continue her march towards adding another title to her collection.

Elsewhere in the top half of the draw, in-form Agnieszka Radwanska thrashed Sabine Lisicki to continue her hot streak after defeating the German in less than an hour and dropping just two games in the process.

The fourth seed arrived in Cincinnati off the back of her triumph at the Rogers Cup, and instead of fatigue being an issue she has merely continued her excellent run of form and is looking a threat here too.

Nevertheless, she faces another star in form in the shape of Caroline Wozniacki, and the Dane will be equally as confident after her victory over Angelique Kerber last time out.

It's been well over a year since the pair last met, and although Wozniacki leads 5-4 in their previous meetings, Radwanska has won three straight and they have all come on this surface.

However, Wozniacki appears to have found her stride again in recent months, and ultimately this could be very competitive even if Radwanska's form suggests otherwise.

Meanwhile, in the bottom half of the draw, Ana Ivanovic will be expected to see off the challenge of Elina Svitolina. The ninth seed has won all four of their previous meetings, including two earlier this year, and she should make it five in a row despite her opponent already defeating Petra Kvitova this week.

Perhaps the most talked about quarter-final on Thursday though is the one that pits Maria Sharapova against Simona Halep, and it hasn't been a straight-forward week for either player.

Sharapova was taken the distance by Madison Keys before a tough win over Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, while Halep was pushed relatively hard by Lucie Safarova.

Nevertheless, both top seeds came through their respective tests, and although Sharapova leads 4-0 in their head-to-head, the French Open final earlier this year proved the gap is closing.

The Russian has also won their previous two meetings on hard-courts, but Halep is a completely different proposition now and we envisage the Romanian being capable of pulling off an 'upset'.

Recommended Bets:
Back Halep to beat Sharapova @ 2.186/5
Back Three Sets in Radwanska vs Wozniacki @ 2.3411/8