The WTA is back in China with the WTA Hong Kong Open. There are ten more matches scheduled, and LWOS has decided to cover nine of the ten. We aim to bring you most of the early-round matches from the WTA Hong Kong tournament, regardless of the players’ rankings. Please share your thoughts in the comments.
WTA Hong Kong Open
Uchijima –Arango: Time 08:30
H2H: 0-0
Moyuka Uchijima vs Emiliana Arango is a meeting of two Top 100 players in the World, and also the first meeting between the two. Both women are participating in WTA Hong Kong for the first time. Arango is 28-27 overall this year, but 22-15 on a hardcourt. Uchijima is 24-31 overall, and she is 15-20 on a hardcourt. At least Arango can hang her hat on the fact that she won WTA Cancún and then immediately made the final of the next tournament in Mérida. She’s also made the final of WTA Guadalajara 2. Uchijima has yet to make it past the quarterfinals of any tournament in 2025.
Best Bet to Make
The books have Uchijima as the favorite, and it’s probably because she’s 5-5 in her last ten matches, while Arango is 3-7 in her last ten. Uchijima is riding a three-match losing streak, and Arango has a four-match losing streak, so someone is going to snap their losing streak. Uchijima is losing to players like Sofia Kenin, Sorana Cirstea, and Coco Gauff. Arango is losing to Iva Jovic, Suzan Lamens, Varvara Gracheva, and Antonia Ruzic. You decide which losses mean more. I’ll take the over bet on 20.5 games, and call it a day.
That being said, Over 20.5 games is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Over 20.5 games @1.71 @UniBet
Gibson – Mboko: Time 07:00
H2H: 0-0
Talia Gibson will take on Victoria Mboko for the first time. This marks the first time either woman has participated in this tournament. Gibson has two titles in 2025, both coming at ITF events. Mboko has six titles this year, with five coming at ITF events and another coming at WTA Montreal. Gibson is 20-15 on a hardcourt this year. Mboko is 21-7 on a hardcourt. Both women are also 5-5 in their last ten matches, but the level of Mboko’s opponents was much higher than the level of Gibson’s. Mboko is also coming off a quarterfinal loss to Elena Rybakina at WTA Tokyo, while Gibson couldn’t even get out of the qualifying rounds of WTA Guangzhou.
Best Bet to Make
Mboko is a 5.5-1 favorite in this match, and you’re going to have to bet accordingly if you wish to make anything. Even a correct score bet with Mboko winning 2:0 is only going for 1.57, but I think it’s a smart play. Mboko might be struggling somewhat lately, but she’s only been to a third set twice in her last ten matches. Given the disparity between the two players, I truly believe that Mboko can win this match in straight sets if she comes prepared.
That being said, Mboko winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Mboko winning 2:0 @1.57 @1xBet
Bencic – Sasnovich: Time 11:30
H2H: 1-2
Belinda Bencic vs Aliaksandra Sasnovich is a rather interesting matchup. Not only does Sasnovich have two wins over Bencic, but she also has the most recent win over her, and all three matches were on a hardcourt. While the last match took place in 2023, it did go three sets. Two of their three matches have gone three sets. Sasnovich is 6-4 in her last ten matches, and Bencic is 8-2 with a tournament victory at WTA Tokyo. She’s entering this match in great form.
Best Bet to Make
Give me Bencic winning 2:0 for 1.73 on 1xBet. I know two of their three matches have gone to a third set, but I feel like Bencic is in a different place than she was when they were playing those matches. This is Bencic’s power period, and she’s making her name known across the landscape of women’s tennis. Sasnovich may have been a Top 30 player at some point in her career, but she hasn’t been playing like that recently, and her hardcourt play has been cause for concern.
That being said, Bencic winning 2:0 is a value bet for sure.
Value bet/ the best odds: Bencic winning 2:0 @5.47 @Betfair
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
