Tennis Picks 2025 (Sunday 16th February)

A title might have been handed out at 1000 level when Amanda Anisimova completed her win over Jelena Ostapenko on Saturday, but the talking point throughout the sport would have been the news that broke earlier in the day.

Jannik Sinner has been suspended for three months for the failed test he administered last year in Indian Wells.

However, this is a story that has upset many involved in the sport- many believe the suspension is lenient and the fact that Sinner has been allowed to not only compete, but has won two Grand Slams in New York City and Melbourne has really not been a good look for the sport.

The same will be said about the one month suspension that was handed out to Iga Swiatek, also at a time when it would not really affect her overall plans.

Yes, Sinner will miss a couple of big events in Doha and Dubai and both Masters events in North America, but he is scheduled to return at the Rome Masters and cleared to play at the French Open.

It this really the right punishment? If a deal has been struck to serve the suspension now, and a limited one at that, is that going to be something other players stating mistakes have led to failures can also ask for?

Even level headed players are going to be concerned about this outcome- Stan Wawrinka made his feelings clear through his social channels- and this is a story that is set to run and run.

The timing of the suspension doesn't feel like much of a deterrent and having top players pick and choose what they are willing to accept seems bizarre. Having Sinner back in time for Rome will obviously see him ease his back onto the Tour with the fans behind him, but many will look at this whole situation cockeyed and wondering how clean the sport really is.

A tough week for the Tennis Picks has come to a conclusion on Saturday, but a new week means a new game and a chance for redemption.

The season numbers have been updated and there are some big events taking place this week, which will make it feel like a Grand Slam week.

Top names are out on the courts and it should be one the fans can enjoy, even with Jannik Sinner being a notable absentee.

Linda Noskova - 3.5 games v Yulia Putintseva: The WTA Tour moving through the Middle East has given Linda Noskova an opportunity to pick up some vital World Ranking points and she has played well in Abu Dhabi and Doha.

Three wins were secured in Abu Dhabi and two more were put on the board in Doha, while Linda Noskova will feel she played well enough to beat Iga Swiatek last week.

Next up is Dubai and another WTA 1000 event with the main draw getting underway on Sunday. The First Round has placed Linda Noskova in a rematch with Yulia Putintseva having beaten her last week in Doha, but there will have to be a respect for the latter.

It was only the end of January when Yulia Putintseva earned a spot in the top 20 of the World Rankings for the first time in her career, but she is 1-2 during this run through the Middle East. One of the keys to the early successes on the Tour was the effectiveness of the first serve, but that has not been the case for Yulia Putintseva this month and Linda Noskova was able to also win enough points on that shot to then expose what has been a vulnerable second serve.

The return has not always been the best part of Noskova's game, but the younger player will feel she can get in front of the rally if she is able to have the successes she did when facing Yulia Putintseva last week in Doha. Overall the return has been working much better in the tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Doha and that should give Linda Noskova the edge in this First Round match.

Linda Noskova is the World Number 35 and so the lower Ranked player in this First Round match, but she has been serving really well over the last couple of weeks and that is an important factor that gives her the edge over Yulia Putintseva.

The latter is dropping out of the top 20 in the World Rankings when the new numbers are released and Yulia Putintseva will do well to turn things around against an opponent who had dominated the match last week.

Tennis is a sport of inches and so Putintseva will feel she can win the bigger points, especially as it felt like Linda Noskova won all of the Break Points that they competed in- however, Noskova created five opportunities compared with just two for the higher Ranked player and she can win this match and cover the relatively wide spread.

Belinda Bencic - 5.5 games v Aoi Ito: You cannot blame Belinda Bencic if she was a little disappointed to have not been invited to compete at the tournament in Doha last week, but it has been a positive month for the returning star. Winning the title in Abu Dhabi will have just eased the frustration of not playing in Doha and Belinda Bencic is already back up to World Number 66 and she can push on with a big run at this WTA 1000 event.

No one could have really expected to see this level of tennis from Belinda Bencic just months after giving birth, but also missing so much competitive action.

Belinda Bencic is playing at a good level, although there will be a feeling that there is still plenty of scope for improvement even after winning the title in Abu Dhabi.

The portion of the draw will not be easy to negotiate, but Belinda Bencic will be a solid favourite to get the better of Aoi Ito in the First Round.

The 20 year old Japanese player has won a lot of tennis matches over the last twelve months and will have to be given respect for beating Ashley Krueger in the final Qualifying Round. It was Ashley Krueger who faced Belinda Bencic in the Abu Dhabi Final, so is clearly a player in some form, and that will only have Aoi Ito believing in her tennis that much more as she begins to get used to playing top 100 Ranked opponents.

She had also Qualified for the tournament in Doha, but Ito was crushed in the First Round by Jelena Ostapenko, although that is a defeat that does not look so bad when you think of the fact that the Latvian made the Doha Final.

A title has also been won, albeit not at the main Tour level, and Aoi Ito may feel she can upset the odds if Belinda Bencic overlooks her.

There will be little knowledge of Aoi Ito, which also is a factor moving against Belinda Bencic, but this is a match that the latter should still be favoured to win.

Much will depend on the serve and just building some pressure on Aoi Ito, and the rest might actually have done Belinda Bencic some good after the long run earlier this month. This could all pay off for a solid win to open her campaign here in Dubai at the last big event to be played on the WTA Tour this month.

MY PICKS: Linda Noskova - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Belinda Bencic - 5.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

2025 Season: 34-21, + 14.51 Units (93 Units Staked, + 15.60% Yield)