Hailey Baptiste vs Ena Shibahara Prediction, Picks, Odds, H2H, Stats - 3/3/25

Hailey Baptiste will face Ena Shibahara out of the Twelfth Qualifier bracket at the PNB Paribas Open as qualifying for the main draw continues into Monday. 

The American native arrives as the favorite to advance to the finals against her Japanese counterpart with odds at -175, but our resident WTA expert will challenge that line. 

EJ Garr’s prediction for Hailey Baptiste vs. Ena Shibahara has odds of +130, which you can find below.

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Hailey Baptiste vs Ena Shibahara WTA Indian Wells Prediction: American Favored To Advance

• Prediction: Ena Shibahara To Win
• Best Odds: +130
• Bookmaker: Pinnacle
• Stakes: 3/10

Odds as of 7:00 am UK Time on March 3, 2025. Odds may now differ.

I have no idea why Hailey Baptiste is getting so much respect from the line setters, but the American is not getting the same from me.

I was originally going to settle for the -115 on the +3 handicap on Shibahara, and then it hit me.

Why settle? Do you know me as a settler? 

We’re not doing anything but cashing a +130 on the Japanese native to reach the final in this twelfth qualifying bracket. You have to be playing well to deserve to be favored, especially at odds of -175, and Baptiste hasn’t earned that respect.

Baptiste has lost her last 6 outings and the American is about to drop out of the top 100 WTA Rankings. Ranked 97th, Baptiste will drop another few spots after the loss today, and 148th-ranked Shibahara will get closer to the top 100 with the win.

Shibahara went 4 – 0 at the ATX Open in Austin last week, but couldn’t get past Ajla Tomljanovic in the quarterfinals. The Japanese native took the match to three sets before bowing out of the tournament, and that gives me the confidence to suggest Shibahara can take Baptiste out of this event.

Remember, being favored doesn’t mean you are the better tennis player. If you like upsets, you have been making tons of cash over the last month betting on underdogs in the WTA. Here’s our next chance to cash in on another underdog at +130.

HAILEY BAPTISTE RECENT FORM

Hailey Baptiste is 3 – 5 in 2025 and carries a 3-game losing streak into Indian Wells. 

The 23-year-old reached a career-high 92nd ranking last season but has slipped back five spots after the rough start to the campaign.

Baptists were 43 – 27 last season and completed a third straight year with a winning record.

ENA SHIBAHARA RECENT FORM

Ena Shibahara reached 137th in the WTA Rankings last year, and is currently ranked 148th with a 5 – 5 record in 2025.

The 27-year-old Japanese native went 42 – 17 last year, and played her first full-time campaign since turning pro in 2024.

BAPTISTE VS SHIBAHARA HTH –  STAT OF THE MATCH

This will be the first time that Hailey Baptiste and Ena Shibahara meet on the WTA Tour.

The winner of this match will face Leolia Jeanjean in the final round of the Twelfth qualifier bracket, and an appearance in the main draw of the BNP Paribas Open will be in the balance.

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