One of the elite players that stands out as an underdog is Ukrainian player Kostyuk Marta, who has had a particularly strong start in the first three stages but then often faces health problems. She has a diverse game technique and moves very well. She is suited for tournaments such as Indian Wells.
On the other hand, Elena Rybakina was on a roll at one point, but then hit a tough period during the tournament and struggled against local player Baptiste H. in a three set match. Her playing style is not well suited for this type of court.
In their previous four head-to-head matches, Rybakina has won three in a row, so it's unclear if she will be motivated to win against Ukraine again.
One elite player to watch out for as an underdog is Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk, who has been particularly strong in the first three stages but then often faces health problems. She has great variety in her game and moves well. These are the kinds of courts that suit her well, like Indian Wells.
On the other hand, Elena Rybakina was on form for a while, but she struggled with local player Baptiste H. in a three-set match during the previous period of the tournament. Rybakina may not have the right kind of cards for this match.
As for their past four head-to-head matches, Rybakina has won the last three in a row, so it's hard to say how motivated Ukraine will be for this match.
Siniakova Katerina, a 29-year-old Czech, I think is not in full condition this year, in the middle of the season she had some struggles with the stages of the tournament and towards the end of the season, she lost in smaller tournaments. She also had some health issues. This season, she only played in two stages of the tournament and in both games, she played three sets. So I don't expect much from the Czech player.
Andreeva, an 18-year-old talent from Russia, won't be an easy opponent, as she is well-balanced for this tournament. She is around 10kg underweight, and her height is ideal for the temperature, which is around 30 degrees.
Only with Giannis Antetokounmpo able to score against the Bucks, he won't have him again, as reported two hours ago by the NBA. Additionally, another important Bucks player, Porter (averaging 17 points), will not play. The Magic has no real losses without their usual Wagner, so their handicap in this match seems very high. The Bucks will also play their second game in a row, while the Magic, with a three-game winning streak, arrive to this game.
The Suns are playing their third consecutive home game, so the team should feel good and shoot with a high percentage. The visiting Hornets are in good form and play very consistently. Both teams have an average of easily scoring over 110 points per NBA game - the Suns average 114.5 and the Hornets average 116.2. Neither team has played against each other this season, but they both consistently make around 90 points per game, so I think we can expect a high-scoring game.
Leaders against outsiders. The in-form Trabzonspor club has won 8 out of their last 10 matches, and at home this season they trounced their opponents 4-0. Struggling Kayserispor has had a hard time earning points against top league teams, making the coefficient for them against the leaders quite good.
Sassuolo is currently performing very well and scoring a lot of goals in their last five matches, surpassing their goal limit. Even the currently lower-ranked Lazio is struggling, particularly in defense, so I expect to see a lot of goals in this match. Sassuolo plays a very attacking style of football and forces their opponents to do the same, so there should be plenty of goals.
I think that even three sets in this match are very likely. Diallo has found confidence in himself and is playing very well, and there's no need to even talk about Auger's excellent summer. Both players look good and are holding their serves well, so a tiebreaker is a very possible outcome in each set. Both of them have lost a set in this tournament, but have bounced back, so I believe we will see either three sets or two but with long durations.
And further on, the Bucks do not respect Baez, who has been proving them wrong this season. The pure groundstroker started playing solidly on hard courts, while this hard court is also quite slow and tricky for Argentina. The outbursts of Russian anger and defensive tennis are not as dominant, and the game line is giving us a minimum of three breaks to expect from today's Baez, which is difficult to hope for.
We all understand what the situation is, so there's a high chance that Zalgiris will be very angry, and their chances here are not great. In fact, I would even save the leaders and let the substitutes play to avoid any injuries. It's better to try out different small lineups. We lost by 7 points at home, so I think we'll easily win by 8.5 points in Peru. It's necessary to beat Peru, and I believe they will do their best to earn as many points as possible and be prepared for a scenario similar to Zalgiris' match against Valencia.
In recent times, the Chicago Bulls have shown signs of life: confidently defeated the Bucks, gave a fight to OKC, and won against the Suns in their last game on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the Kings have already buried their season and are currently the worst NBA team. I believe the Bulls will be motivated to win their second in a row, while the Kings will suffer their tenth consecutive home loss.
Wrexham usually plays at a higher pace at home, is able to impose their game and create a fair amount of opportunities. The visitors' attack is not bad, but playing away allows their opponents to create quite a few xG. Considering their decent attacking form and home advantage, choosing them as the winner in this match seems like a logical choice.
Bucks leaving the East is a serious possibility, especially with such high odds. Giannis is having another incredible season and it doesn't seem like his form will decline. Ryan Rollins is becoming a great player. Kevin Porter Jr is not yet there, but he will be, and if we don't count his non-basketball related issues, he is a great player. AJ Green is a complete sniper who can make shots in every game. Myles Turner is struggling right now, but he will start making shots soon. The recipe for the Bucks is clear - Giannis is the main man and the shooters are placed around him, and with this team, it's possible to win championships.
The main contenders will most likely be Cleveland, 76ers, and Knicks, maybe even Orlando, but it's disappointing and unclear which of them will rise this season.
Outrights (NBA 2025/26 - To Reach the Playoffs - Golden State Warriors : NO) @500 4/10
The West is very competitive. In the past years, it was not clear who would rank in the top 4 - 11.
The Spurs will still be in the mix, and the Rockets look strong. It's too early to count out the Kings.
Curry is 37 years old, Butler is 36, and Draymond is 35, so the core players are getting older and could potentially face the same injuries.
First long-term bet for the new full season. Chelsea's coefficient is still over 2, which means they will finish in the Top 4, and I have no doubts about that. Last season, they finished fourth and strengthened their team impressively at the end of the season. It was clear that this young team is a force to be reckoned with, winning two trophies and beating PSG gave them a lot of confidence going forward. So yes, Chelsea will play Champions League football, but in terms of the main competition for the fourth place, I see Newcastle as the main rival and I don't think they have strengthened enough to challenge for it. As for the other teams, United and Tottenham? United have made too much progress in just one season and Tottenham have a lower level than Chelsea, plus they are also in the Champions League. Aston Villa seems destined for relegation and I don't see any other contenders. Overall, I believe Chelsea is closer to joining the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool, rather than fighting for the Top 4 spot, which I don't see them achieving in the upcoming Premier League season.