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The winner of this match will face either Sorana Cirstea or Alycia Parks in the round of 16.
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The rankings tell one story: Navarro is No. 8; Bencic is No. 66. But recent results tell a very different tale: Two weeks ago in Abu Dhabi, Bencic won a title; last week in Doha, Navarro lost by a stunning 6-2, 6-2 to Leylah Fernandez.
At the start of the year, the idea that Bencic would be in better form than Navarro by February would have been hard to credit. Bencic had recently returned to the tour after having a child, while Navarro was coming off a career season that sent her rocketing from out of nowhere and into the Top 10. So far this year, maybe due to a subsequent rise in expectations, Navarro hasn’t found the same magic in her racquet. Even her run to the Australian Open quarterfinals was more of a testament to her grit than to her form.
Which means this should be a competitive match, and an enjoyable one to watch. Both women cut off angles, take the ball early, anticipate well, and take time away from their opponents. We’ll see who gives the other less of it on Tuesday. Winner: Bencic—Steve Tignor
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Bencic is a -275 moneyline favorite; Navarro is a +210 underdog.
To win the tournament, Bencic is +1000 and Navarro +4000.
(Odds from BetMGM as of 5:00 pm ET on Tuesday, February 18)
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