Merida Open Akron - Merida

A WTA 250 on outdoor hard in Merida, before Austin and Indian Wells. This is one of the slowest courts on tour: holds fall to 53%, aces barely exist and tiebreaks are close to extinct because the break always comes first. Counterpunchers and returners profit. Even so, three quarters of matches end in straights, so the favourite closes it out the hard way. Bucsa and Navarro have both won it.