Emma Navarro vs Madison Keys Prediction & Betting Tips - WTA Charleston Open

Prediction published on 03/04/2023, 10:11  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 03/04/2023 at 17:31 in Tennis Predictions

It's a bit different this week with the only WTA tournament played on a green clay court. Madison Keys is seeded ninth for the Charleston Open and takes on fellow American Emma Navarro in round one. The winner faces either Wang Xiu or Hailey Baptiste in the second round. Keys begins this tournament ranked 22nd but was 10th before the Australian Open. Keys reached the last four of that Grand Slam last year but only the third round in 2023, hence her slipping down the ranking list. The year had started well though as Keys was part of the USA team that won the United Cup, with the American winning all of her matches. Her best result since then was getting to the last eight in Dubai, including wins over Victoria Azarenka and Caroline Garcia. Keys has had some great results on clay with a semi-final at Roland Garros. 2019 saw her win this Charleston Open title, four years after being beaten in the final.

Emma Navarro was ranked 118th as this Charleston Open began. That's a career high for the American who began this year ranked 149th in the world. The 21-year-old got the new year off to a good start by winning an ITF clay court tournament held in Naples, Florida and then losing in the final in Vero Beach, again on a clay court surface (not green though). It hasn't gone so well for her on hard courts though and her most recent tournament in Miami saw her exit in the qualifying rounds. A return to clay will please Navarro, who four years ago lost to Leylah Fernandez in the Junior final at Roland Garros. Keys has far more experience though and can get the win here.