Anna Blinkova vs McCartney Kessler Prediction, Picks, Odds, H2H, Stats - 3/6/25

Anna Blinkova and McCartney Kessler meet in Section 1 of the top half of the bracket at Undian Wells on Thursday, and the American native is favored to advance.

Unfortunately, the winner of this first-round clash will have to deal with top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka in the second round, which is an unenviable task.

With odds reaching -200, Kessler is expected to progress at this WTA1000 event in California, as the North American swing continues on the WTA Tour.

EJ Garr’s prediction for Anna Blinkova vs. McCartney Kessler calls for American success. You can find his tip for this match below with odds at -110. 

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Anna Blinkova vs McCartney Kessler WTA BNP Paribas Open Prediction: American Favored to Progress at Indian Wells

• Prediction: McCartney Kessler -3 Games
• Best Odds: -110
• Bookmaker: Pinnacle
• Stakes: 3/10

Odds as of 7:00 am UK Time on March 6, 2025. Odds may now differ.

Slowly becoming a household name here in the United States, McCartney Kessler cracked the top 50 of the WTA rankings in January this year, and the projections for the American have plenty in store for the future.

The Florida Gator from the State of Georgia was a win away from securing her second title of the 2025 season last week in Austin, but a loss to Jess Pegula in the finals left her a little short of the trophy.

I expect Kessler to do that and then some today, and landing Anna Blinkova in the opening round sets up nicely for a win for the favorite. The next match in the second round? That might not be an easy map to navigate but we’ll cross that bridge later.

With a mere -110 on the -3 games, I expect Kessler to plow past Blinkova who hasn’t won three matches at her last 11 events dating back to Limoges last year. Blinkova has one victory over a top-50-ranked opponent this year (Svitolina), and as we look over the losses this season, there is so much room for improvement. 

Blinkova got stifled by Sofia Kenin at Hobart earlier this season, and the loss to 122nd-ranked Ella Siedel in Cluj was a major disappointment.

I don’t have confidence in Blinkova to perform on this stage, and Kessler will send her packing in straight sets. The +140 odds on the 2 – 0 sweep look tempting, but let’s just bank on the Kessler win and cover of the -3 games.

ANNA BLINKOVA RECENT FORM

Anna Blinkova is 8 – 6 this season and has dropped to 82nd in the WTA Rankings after reaching 77th last season.

Blinkova produced a disappointing 25 – 30 record in 2024, and went 4 – 12 between the clay and grass portion of the campaign.

MCCARTNEY KESSLER RECENT FORM

McCartney Kessler is 14 – 6 to start the 2025 campaign after a 39 – 28 season in 2024.

Kessler won four tournament titles last year and earned her first WTA trophy in Cleveland, along with the trio of ITF/Challenger wins.

The win at Hobart gave Kessler her second WTA title since turning pro, and we are just getting started with the campaign. Expect big things from the 25-year-old American as she works her way up the rankings.

BLINKOVA VS KESSLER HTH –  STAT OF THE MATCH

Today will mark the first meeting between Anna Blinkova and McCartney Kessler.

The winner of this match has to face Aryna Sabalenka, who carries the 1-seed in the top-half of the main draw in Section 1.

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