Prop Bets: Belinda Bencic VS Ann Li 2025-08-27
Prediction: Belinda Bencic vs. Ann Li – US Open Second Round
Date/Time: August 27, 2025, 11:45 PM ET
The Setup:
Belinda Bencic, the 28-year-old Swiss veteran with a Grand Slam semifinal pedigree (2019 US Open) and a side hustle as a New York City tourist, faces Ann Li, the 25-year-old American qualifier who recently lost a WTA 250 final but has the audacity to show up. Bencic is a 71.4% favorite (decimal odds: 1.40) per the sharpies at MyBookie.ag. Li, meanwhile, is priced at 28.6% (odds: 2.95), which is about the same chance I have of explaining a spread bet to my grandma without her asking if it’s a type of sandwich.
Why Bencic Will Win (Probably):
- Rankings: Bencic (WTA 19) vs. Li (WTA 58). Math says Bencic is better. Math is rarely wrong.
- Recent Form: Bencic breezed through her first-round match (6–3, 6–3). Li? She lost a final in Cleveland but beat someone named “Shuai Zhang” in a thriller. Respect, but not exactly a résumé that terrifies Bencic.
- Spread Alert: Bencic is -3.5 games on the spread at 1.74 (MyBookie.ag). That’s like saying Li needs to outplay a seasoned pro by four games to win. Good luck with that, Ann.
The Underdog’s Case (For Dramatic Effect):
Li’s recent WTA 250 final run is a silver lining, but let’s not confuse “final” with “Grand Slam second round.” She’s facing a player who’s won 10 of her last 11 matches (per doc [2]) and has the poise of someone who’s pregnant, semi-finalist, and still manages to win tennis matches. Bencic’s post-match family trips to Bryant Park are probably more relaxing than Li’s pre-match rituals.
Totals: Even the Odds Are Boring
The total games line is locked at 21.5 (even money). If you’re betting “Over,” you’re banking on a third-set tiebreaker. If you’re betting “Under,” you’re hoping Bencic steamrolls this like she did in 2019. Either way, it’s a 50-50 shot—because nothing says “thrilling tennis” like a coin flip.
Player Props?
None in the provided data. Just Bencic’s inevitable victory and Li’s valiant but futile effort.
Final Verdict:
Bencic wins in straight sets, 6–3, 6–4. She’ll probably take a selfie with Li afterward, call it a “great match,” and then spend her post-match interview talking about how much she loves New York. Li? She’ll go home, practice harder, and maybe write a memoir titled “21.5: The Line That Broke Me.”
Betting Angle:
- Bencic to Cover the -3.5 Spread (odds: ~1.74). The spread is a gift here.
- Under 21.5 Total Games if you trust Bencic’s efficiency.
Note: This prediction is 71.4% confident. The remaining 28.6% is reserved for the unlikely event that Li invents a new tennis strategy called “Swiss Cheese Defense.”
Created: Aug. 27, 2025, 11:43 p.m. GMT