Like the men, the top WTA women will be descending in Madrid this week as they prepare for the 2021 Madrid Open. As usual with the women, this big title is pretty much up for grabs. Other than Ash Barty, there doesn’t seem to be a clear favorite, especially on the red clay. Sure, there are some players that have shown flashes of brilliance in the last couple of clay-court tournaments. However, not enough to make an educated guess as to who will take this title. That being said, let’s look at the top five seeds, and their chances.

5. Elina Svitolina

Elina is having a bit of a resurgence after a few months of lackluster results. She once again looks like the top 5 player that she is. Unfortunately for her, she has ran into Ash Barty in the last two tournaments she’s played, and lost in the semis of the Miami Open and Stuttgart. However, in Stuttgart, she took Barty, the eventual champion to three sets. Elina will look to take her good form into Madrid, where she has not had much success through the years.

4. Sofia Kenin

Kenin is having a dismal season, and it doesn’t look like she’ll turn things around any time soon. She’s going to need a confidence booster run if she wants to go deep at the French. Unfortunately for her, Madrid is probably not the place for a confidence boost, as it’s full of top players lurking for a chance to take her out.

3. Simona Halep

Before she ran into Swiatek at the 2020 French Open round of 16, Halep had captured the Prague and Italian Opens, and looking like the champion that she is on red clay. She returned to the clay at Stuttgart where she fell quietly in the semifinals to Sabalenka. She didn’t play badly in Stuttgart, and a couple of matches in Madrid would help her gain some confidence. She’s won Madrid twice, so she’ll be right at home.

2. Naomi Osaka

The red clay has not been kind to Osaka. That being said, she has had a couple of quarterfinal appearances at both the Italian Open and the Madrid Open in 2019. Can she make a run in Madrid? With so much talent, I wouldn’t be surprised. However, it is more likely that she crashes out in the quarterfinals once again.

1. Ash Barty

Ash Barty is the favorite in Madrid. The number one player in the world plays phenomenally on the red clay and showed off her skills on her way to the Stuttgart title this past week. She’ll have that game on display again in Madrid, and it will be tough to beat. She’s my overwhelming favorite to take the title.

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