Attention switches from the clay-court season to the grass-court swing this week, and in women’s tennis, the Nottingham Open is the most eye-catching event starting on Monday.

This year’s Nottingham Open features both men’s and women’s, but it is the women’s tournament which carries more weight as a WTA 250 event.

Having been granted a wildcard entry into the competition, Greek star Maria Sakkari is the top seed, while defending champion Beatriz Haddad Maia is in the other half of the draw as the second seed.

Magda Linette, Donna Vekic and Anhelina Kalinina are among the other big hitters involved, while there is British representation in Katie Boulter and Katie Swan.

Nottingham Open Betting Tips:

• Beatriz Haddad Maia to win @ 11/2

Date: Monday 12 June, 2023 to Sunday 18 June, 2023

Time: From 10:00 Monday 12 June, 2023

Location: Nottingham Tennis Centre, Nottingham, UK

Sakkari unlikely to make an impact in Nottingham

Sakkari has been awarded with the top seed in Nottingham this month, but she did not have much to shout about during the grass-court season last year.

The Greek made the last four at the Grass Court Championships in Berlin but lost her only match at the Eastbourne International and failed to make it beyond the third round at Wimbledon, losing in straight sets to unseeded German Tatjana Maria.

Wimbledon actually remains her worst Grand Slam, with the 27-year-old having never gone beyond the third round at the All England Club, and it is fair to say she is not at her strongest on the faster surface, so punters should not rush to back her in the Midlands.

Vekic could be a danger

One player who could cause a bit of a stir at this year’s Nottingham Open is fourth seed Donna Vekic, who takes the fourth seed and faces Cristina Bucsa in her opener.

Although defending champion Haddad Maia is in her half, it is a relatively soft draw for the Croatian, who had a few promising moments on the grass in 2022.

Vekic managed three wins at least year’s Eastbourne International after reaching the quarter-finals of the Birmingham Classic, so it is clear she likes British conditions and do not be surprised if she strings together a few wins in Nottingham.

Beatriz Haddad Maia to win Nottingham Open @ 11/2

Haddad Maia has been here and done it before, winning the Nottingham Open last year and beating Sakkari and Alison Riske on her way to the title.

She also secured the Rothesay Classic in Birmingham in the same month last season, taking down experienced players such as Petra Kvitova and Simona Halep in the process, and she made the final four of the Eastbourne International.

By the time it came to Wimbledon, the Brazilian appeared a little burned out, but she could nonetheless celebrate a decent grass-court campaign, and she can show her class on the surface in the Midlands once again.

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