MADISON Keys leads the field in the WTA International event in Acapulco, Mexico, where Sloane Stephens is the other top 30 prospect taking to the hard courts next week.

FAVOURITE:

Madison Keys (USA)

The standout prospect in the draw, Keys realistically should not have too many problems winning this title. All of her major rivals have had poor lead-ups to the tournament, and are far from consistent week-to-week. The 25-year-old is currently ranked 12th, and while she ran into a red-hot Maria Sakkari at Melbourne Park, her form in Brisbane the week earlier was as good as anyone. She lost to world number two, Karolina Pliskova in three sets in the final, having knocked off Petra Kvitova in the semis. Keys is also still in strong form over the past 12 months, winning two titles in Charleston and Cincinnati last year, both of which were on hard court. Coming in as the number one seed, Keys is the hunted, but if her form from Brisbane and even Melbourne holds up, then she is the one to beat and will be hard for someone to do so here.

CONTENDERS:

Sloane Stephens (USA)

Last year’s number one seed fell in the Round of 16 here in 2019, to lowly ranked Beatriz Haddad Maia. The now 26-year-old has had an up-and-down career having looked like a multiple Grand Slam winner having won the US Open as a 24-year-old. Having reached the top five over the past two years, she drifted out to 25th by year’s end in 2019. If 2020 form is anything to go by then it is not great reading. Losses to two players outside the top 100 in the lead-up to the Australian Open, then a loss to 35th ranked Zhang Shuai at Melbourne Park is the last match Stephens has played in the lead-up to Acapulco. The month’s rest since that loss at Melbourne Park will no doubt of given her a reset, and if she can find her tennis of 2018 – when she last won a title – she will go deep here. One thing going for Stephens is she is a past winner, having saluted in Acapulco back in 2016.

Wang Yafan (CHN)

The reigning champion claimed her maiden title here in Acapulco 12 months ago, and reached a career-high of 47th last year. The 25-year old Yafan defeated Sofia Kenin – who won a Grand Slam 12 months later – in the final – as well as Donna Vekic, Bianca Andreescu and Marie Bouzkova on her way to the title. It will take a good effort to knock off Keys here in Mexico, but the world number 57 should pick up the fourth seed in the draw which will help her avoid her until at least the semi-finals. Her form coming into Acapulco is something to forget, having only won one match this year – against Sara Sorribes Tormo in Shenzhen – and has since lost four straight matches. In fairness, three of those came against top 35 players in Elena Rybakina, Garbine Muguruza and Alison Riske, but her first round loss to 105th ranked Patricia Tig in Thailand was a disappointing lead-up event.

Marie Bouzkova (CZE)

In an open field, the tournament could see a first time winner claim the title, and 21-year-old Bouzkova is a player who has plenty of development left in her having risen into the top 100 over the past 18 months, and is eyeing off a top 50 spot. A deep surge here in Mexico and she could crack into the top 50, but will need to improve on her 2020 form. She is yet to win a main draw match this year, but also copped unfortunate first round draws in Brisbane (Keys) and Melbourne (Naomi Osaka). A disappointing loss to American Catherine Bellis – ranked 838th in the world at Hobart – as well as a loss to 377th ranked Francoise Abanda at the receive ITF tournament in Kentucky and her form is not ideal heading into the tournament.

ROUGHIE:

Sara Sorribes Tormo (ESP)

The Spanish 23-year-old is underrated on the circuit and while she is still finding her feet in terms of consistency, she has what it takes to match it with the best. Sorribes Tormo beat Osaka in the Fed Cup 6-0 6-3 just a couple of weeks ago. Remarkably this came a week after somehow losing to 459th ranked Australian Ivana Popovic in three sets at an ITF60K event in Burnie. The literal definition of a wildcard, Sorribes Tormo could be bundled out in the first round or go the whole way. The Spaniard is yet to win a WTA Tour, having won a couple of doubles titles along the way.

DARK HORSE:

Venus Williams (USA)

The 39-year-old Grand Slam winner is well past her prime now, but having accepted a wildcard into the WTA International event, she is well up there in terms of her top quality. Given there is just three players inside the top 50 who will compete at the event, the evenness outside of Keys will give Williams every chance of going deep in the tournament. Ranked 66th in the world, she has only played one match this year – a loss to Coco Gauff in the first round of the Australian Open – and many predict she will retire within 12 months. But going out on a high could be a huge thing for Williams, especially considering she is one title away from her half century, though that has been the case for almost four years now.