|
JULY 21-27 |
MASTERS SERIES CANADA
SURFACE: HARD - DRAW: 56 |
POSTED APPROX. 2200 AEST (1200 GMT)
(STARTS 1100 TORONTO = 0100
AEST/1500 GMT) |
|
Date |
Match |
Rec Unit/Price |
Rec Bookie |
Bet to |
Result |
|
MASTERS SERIES CANADA |
| Jul 23 |
Haas to bt
Davydenko |
2 at 2.50 |
 |
2.30 |
? |
| Haas could hardly
have been more impressive against Moya in the opening round thought it must
be said that the Spaniard looked disinterested at times. But Haas has the
far better prep here. Davydenko will be well rested after a month off since
a first round Wimbledon exit, but first up here will surely be low on match
fitness. |
| Jul 23 |
Kiefer to bt
Youzhny |
3 at 2.15 |
 |
2.00 |
? |
| Kiefer has claimed
the last two meetings between the pair, the latest on grass last month. He
looks to be in slightly better form for mine and does better at the Masters
events. He is under the slightest of injury clouds with a foot issue, so I
will be sure to take at a "match complete" bookie. |
| Jul 22 |
Andreev to
bt Monfils |
2.5 at 2.20 |
 |
2.10 |
 +3 |
| Andreev is coming
off a clay final (his second in two weeks) on Sunday in Croatia so his prep
is a concern, but winning form is good form as far as I'm concerned in this
match-up. Monfils is returning from an injury layoff since Nottingham and
plays his first match in Canada. The slow-ish courts has to suit Andreev's
heavy topspin game. |
| Jul 22 |
Canas to bt
Soderling |
1.5 at 3.00 |
|
2.70 |
 -1.5 |
| Canas is another
player who has to be suited by the slow conditions. The Argentine picked up
his game a little over the past two weeks on the dirt and he has won this
tournament before in Toronto (back in '02). He'll can stay out there all day
and has the ability to force the Swede into error after error. Have to take
this price. |
| Jul 21 |
Ginepri to
bt Mathieu |
2 at 2.60 |
 |
2.40 |
+3.2 |
| Ginepri is at home
on these courts and he has had a week on the surface to prepare. I expect
him to put in a much better effort than last week in Indy. Mathieu is first
up on the surface and lost to Ginepri last time they met in these conditions
in North America. |
|
JULY 14-20 |
ATP
KITZBUHEL
SURFACE: CLAY - DRAW: 32 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1100 KITZ. = 1900
AEST/0900 GMT) |
ATP AMERSFOORT
SURFACE: CLAY - DRAW: 28 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1200 AMERS. = 2000
AEST/1000 GMT) |
ATP UMAG
SURFACE: CLAY - DRAW: 28 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1700 UMAG = 0100
AEST/1500 GMT) |
ATP INDIANAPOLIS
SURFACE: HARD - DRAW: 32 |
POSTED APPROX. 2200 AEST (1200 GMT)
(STARTS 1100 INDY = 0100
AEST/1500 GMT) |
|
Date |
Match |
Rec Unit/Price |
Rec Bookie |
Bet to |
Result |
|
AMERSFOORT |
| Jul 18 |
Montanes to
bt Acasuso |
3 at 2.10 |
 |
1.95 |
+3.3 |
| We were getting
2.60 about Montanes a few weeks ago in Stuttgart (where he went 2-0 vs the
Argentine on clay in '08) so one has to consider whether this is still
value, but it's fair to say that Acasuso was hardly tested in his only match
here against Vasselin. If Montanes can maintain a relatively error-free game
then he looks a solid choice against a player with little match fitness in
recent times. |
| Jul 17 |
Navarro to
bt G-Pujol |
2.5 at 2.40 |
 |
2.25 |
-2.5 |
| Navarro has been
jet setting around the world and is now on his third surface in as many
weeks. But he is in-form and now on his favoured clay. He has had time to
rest up from his opening match here. Gronollers-Pujol is 0-2 against his
countryman and is first-up since a terrible loss to Bjorkman last week in
Bastad. |
| Jul 16 |
de Bakker to
bt Gicquel |
2 at 2.75 |
 |
2.50 |
-2 |
| The number one
seed Gicquel comes in with a bye and it must be said that he was most
unimpressive losing to O Rochus in his only clay lead-up match at Bastad
last week. The young Dutchman De Bakker plays very well at home. He took a
set off Gicquel here a few years ago and looks to have improved immeasurably
since. |
|
KITZBUHEL |
| Jul 15 |
Devilder to
bt Seppi |
2 at 2.83 |
|
2.50 |
Void |
| Devilder has been
absolutely flying at challenger level over the past four weeks with two
wins, a final and semi out of four starts. Winning form is good form and
when you put that up against Seppi's only clay lead-up - a loss to Meffert
in Gstaad last week - it looks impressive. |
| Jul 15 |
A Beck to bt
Schuettler |
2 at 2.72 |
|
2.50 |
-2 |
| This match would
just about have to be take your pick had Schuettler not made the Wimbledon
semis and while he will have some newfound confidence, this is on a totally
different surface. Beck showed enough in Stuttgart last week to suggest that
he will be right in this. |
|
UMAG |
| Jul 15 |
Berlocq to
bt Daniel |
2 at 2.61 |
|
2.40 |
-2 |
| Berlocq has
struggled to perform at ATP-level in recent times, but he looks well suited
here in an event where he made the quarter finals last year. Daniel has lost
four in a row and lost his Bundesliga match (Vanek) on the weekend so he
cant be too confident. Have to oppose him in his first match in Umag at
these prices. |
|
INDIANAPOLIS |
| NO PLAYS FOR THIS
TOURNAMENT |
|
JULY 7-13 |
ATP STUTTGART
SURFACE: CLAY - DRAW: 28 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1100 STUTTGART = 1900
AEST/0900 GMT) |
ATP GSTAAD
SURFACE: CLAY - DRAW: 28 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1100 GSTAAD = 1900
AEST/0900 GMT) |
ATP BASTAD
SURFACE: CLAY - DRAW: 28 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1200 BASTAD = 2000
AEST/1000 GMT) |
ATP NEWPORT
SURFACE: GRASS - DRAW: 28 |
POSTED APPROX. 1800 AEST (0800 GMT)
(STARTS 1100 NEWPORT = 0100
AEST/1500 GMT) |
|
Date |
Match |
Rec Unit/Price |
Rec Bookie |
Bet to |
Result |
|
GSTAAD |
| Jul 11 |
Cilic to bt
Andreev |
2.5 at 2.50 |
 |
2.30 |
-2.5 |
| The big servers
continue to prosper at altitude in Gstaad with conditions lending themselves
more to a slow hardcourt. Cilic has the booming service advantage on his
side. Andreev also goes very well here, but surely there wont be too much in
it at the end of the day so the underdog looks worthy of support. |
| Jul 9 |
Cilic to bt
Mathieu |
2 at 2.63 |
 |
2.30 |
+3.26 |
| Cilic has been a
hard one for me to get right, but he looks a huge chance today with a match
under the belt. Mathieu is first up since Wimbledon and while he is the
defending champ, Cilic did make the semi's here in '06 and looks suited at
altitude. He also beat Mathieu twice (albeit on grass) last month, so must
come in with some confidence. |
| Jul 9 |
Serra to bt
Andreev |
1.5 at 3.70 |
|
3.20 |
-1.5 |
| Andreev has a good
record at this venue but I'm going to need some convincing to justify his
short price today. Serra beat him in their only prior meeting on dirt and
put in a solid enough performance in the first round here. Andreev is far
too inconsistent to warrant this price, and on his first round form (Daniel
failed to take his chances), will need to lift. |
| Jul 8 |
Hanescu to
bt Patience |
4 at 1.83 |
|
1.75 |
+3.32 |
| Patience has
started to find a little bit of form in his last two clay challengers, but
he faces somewhat of a rise in class here (although he did beat Canas last
week). Hanescu will appreciate the slightly faster conditions at altitude
and has the clear edge in the service department. |
| Jul 8 |
Chardy to bt
Horna |
2.5 at 2.26 |
|
2.20 |
+3.15 |
| Horna is backing
up after a busy week last week which saw him qualify to win the Lugano
challenger. Wont be easy regrouping for this one in slightly different
conditions. Chardy has had two matches here to acclimatise and will be
looking to reproduce the stellar French Open form from last month. |
|
STUTTGART |
| Jul 11 |
Del Potro to
bt Kohl. |
2 at 2.55 |
|
2.40 |
+3.1 |
| Del Potro hasn't
done much wrong with wins over Korolev and the in-form Bolelli so he looks
to be running into some form. Kohlschreiber usually goes okay at home and
while he has one of the sweetest backhands on the tour, he can go missing at
times, so the value is with the Argentine here. |
| Jul 8 |
Melzer to bt
Calleri |
2 at 2.65 |
|
2.40 |
-2 |
| Really cant see
much in this one. Both players had a stint in the German Bundesliga on the
weekend so they will have had their feet on the dirt post-Wimbledon. Melzer
will mix it up and wont give Calleri the pace he likes. Have to be on the
dog at this price. |
| Jul 7 |
Prodon to bt
Berrer |
3 at 2.10 |
|
2.00 |
-3 |
| Prodon is no
spring chicken, but he played three very solid matches in a clay challenger
last week. Berrer is 0-5 at his home tourney and is currently on a six match
losing streak. Clay is certainly not his favoured surface while Prodon
boasts a terrific record against left handers. |
| Jul 7 |
Giraldo to
bt Cuevas |
3 at 2.10 |
|
2.00 |
-3 |
| Couldn't see too
much between these two under normal circumstances - indeed they fought out a
five setter in a Davis Cup tie earlier in the year - but Giraldo looks to
have the superior preparation this time. He has had time to acclimatise with
2x qualifying matches here while Cuevas cant be too confident after two
Bundesliga losses on the weekend before travelling to this tourney. |
|
BASTAD |
| Jul 11 |
Soderling to
bt Ferrer |
2 at 2.78 |
|
2.50 |
-2 |
| Soderling boasts a
4-1 head-to-head advantage (1-1 clay) and he took a set 6-1 in his only loss
on the slow clay in Hamburg last year. He looks confident at home and came
through against Ollie Rochus after a struggle in the opening round. Ferrer
is defending champ and hasn't lost too many matches on dirt this year, but
the match-up is obviously an issue. |
| Jul 8 |
Starace to
bt Moya |
2.5 at 2.40 |
|
2.30 |
+3.5 |
| Moya is first up
since the French Open. While he appears to be coming in fit and does play
well here, he would have to be a little low on match fitness. Starace played
the Swiss challenger last week and looks better prepared. He boasts a 2-1
head-to-head record against the Spaniard when he was playing his best
tennis. Cant see much in it. |
| Jul 8 |
M Lopez to
bt Safin |
1.5 at 3.97 |
|
3.50 |
-1.5 |
| Safin is backing
up from his shock semi-final appearance in Wimbledon. Cant be easy for him
to mentally prepare for such a small event - indeed Lopez beat him at a
similar event (Sopot) a few years ago. Lopez quallied in straight sets and
if he can maintain a relatively error-free game, should go very close. |
|
NEWPORT |
| Jul 9 |
Ledovskikh
to bt Kunit. |
1.5 at 3.10 |
|
2.60 |
-1.5 |
| Mikhail Ledovskikh
battled past Pless in the opening round here and while the stats (broken 7
times) don't make for great reading, he should be better for the run,
particularly up against a player first up since the opening round of
Wimbledon. Kunitsyn is just a solid player so if Mikhail can find a few
winners he looks a very decent show at odds. |
| Jul 7 |
Evans to bt
Capdeville |
3 at 2.25 |
|
2.00 |
+3.75 |
| Brendan Evans
looks a decent chance to overturn his head-to-head record against Capdeville
today. He has two qualifying matches under the belt and went okay at last
weeks challenger. Capdeville hasn't played at ATP level since failing at
Wimbledon quallies so his prep might come up a little short today. |
| Jul 7 |
Jun to bt
Young |
2 at 2.80 |
|
2.00 |
-2 |
| Young might have
started to win a few ATP matches, but my word he has come up short today.
Jun breezed through quallies here and was very competitive in his grass
matches at Queens and Wimbledon quallies. Young can play on grass but is on
an 0-5 run so I have to oppose him when he is going to be so low on
confidence. |
|
JUNE 23 - JULY 6 |
WIMBLEDON 2008
SURFACE: GRASS - DRAW: 128 |
POSTED APPROX. 1900 AEST (0900 GMT)
(STARTS 1200 LONDON = 2100
AEST/1100 GMT) |
|
Date |
Match |
Rec Unit/Price |
Rec Bookie |
Bet to |
Result |
|
WIMBLEDON |
| Jul 6 |
NO PLAY |
| Jul 2 |
Schuettler
to bt Clement |
3 at 2.07 |
|
2.00 |
+3.21 |
| I cant say I
thought I'd be backing Rainer Schuettler on making the semi finals at the
start of the tournament, but that's exactly what I'm doing today. The German
is playing very confident tennis and boasts a significant 4-1 head-to-head
advantage over Clement. I can just see him wearing down the Frenchman. |
| Jul 2 |
Lopez to bt
Safin |
2.5 at 2.39 |
|
2.20 |
-2.5 |
| Lopez was forced
to dig deep against Baghdatis but he starts fresh today and looks to have a
good match-up. He wont give Safin the rhythm off the back that he enjoys -
as a 4-1 head-to-head advantage (inc. straight sets win here in '05)
indicates. When the pressure is on I want to be with the bigger and more
reliable swinging lefty Lopez serve. |
| Jun 28 |
Tursunov to
bt Tipsar. |
3 at 2.31 |
|
2.10 |
-3 |
| Big ask for
Tipsarevic to back-up after his huge win over Roddick. While he played a
great game, Roddick certainly was a long way off his best there. Tursunov
figures to be able to get a bit more on the ball and put the hard running
Serb on the back foot more often. I like Tursunov's chances should it go the
distance which is a good possibility. |
| Jun 28 |
Haas to bt
Murray |
1.5 at 3.14 |
|
2.80 |
-1.5 |
| Murray came in
under somewhat of an injury cloud and hadn't shown much in the grass lead-up
but he hasnt done much wrong getting past Santoro and Malisse. This is a big
step up however. Haas looks to be running into some very solid form and his
big-time experience wont go astray. Murray can easily fall back into his
ultra-defensive game and that will spell trouble. |
| Jun 27 |
Verdasco to
bt Berdych |
3 at 2.09 |
|
2.00 |
+3.27 |
| These two always
play out tight encounters and while another one is on the cards today, the
form line has to go with the lefty Verdasco. The pretty boy can go missing
but conditions here look very suitable. Berdych has had what can only be
described as a disappointing year. He didn't get a lot of lead-up on the
grass and hasn't been all that convincing in his two matches here. |
| Jun 27 |
Ferrer to bt
Ancic |
4 at 1.83 |
|
1.80 |
-4 |
| The value in this
one is fast disappearing, but I still like Ferrer as a slight favourite
today. The unrelenting Spaniard beat Ancic on the way to the Dutch grass
title last week and on seven-match winning streak on the surface, comes in
with great confidence. Ancic is always a danger with his booming serve, but
you can mark Ferrer down for winning the majority of the rallies. |
| Jun 27 |
Seppi to bt
Safin |
1.5 at 3.25 |
|
2.90 |
-1.5 |
| Safin has to deal
with all the emotion that came with knocking out Djokovic in the last round.
If we ignore that match its not hard to make a case for this match being
pick-em. Safin remains very inconsistent and up a against a solid flat
hitter in Seppi, he will need to play as well as he did on Wednesday. The
Italian is in unchartered waters at this stage of a Slam, but he has shown
enough on grass to suggest that he will be right in this. |
| Jun 26 |
Malisse to bt Murray |
1 at
6.30 |
|
5.00 |
-1 |
| A bit
like Safin yesterday, Malisse will appreciate the big stage and has
absolutely nothing to lose. Murray never does it too easy on the centre
court and if nerves push him back into defensive mode Malisse has the tools
to pounce. The Belgian hasn't played a lot in recent times but he going
around at a very big price today. |
| Jun 26 |
Nieminen to bt Cilic |
2 at
2.78 |
|
2.60 |
-2 |
|
Nieminen hasn't had the best of seasons to date, but he looks a very decent
chance to absorb everything the big serving Croatian can throw his way
today. The Finn has a wealth of Grand Slam experience to fall back on and
has a far superior record in best-of-five set matches. Can easily see this
going the distance - I want to be on the dog. |
| Jun 26 |
G-Lopez to bt Almagro |
2 at
3.00 |
|
2.50 |
+4 |
|
Almagro got past my man Granollers in four but I'm opposing him again today
with a more experienced back court Spaniard. Garcia-Lopez suffers from
inconsistency but if he can serve well and play solid from the back today I
like his chances of inducing plenty of errors off the Almagro racquet. |
| Jun 25 |
Del Potro to bt Wawrin. |
2.5
at 2.51 |
|
2.20 |
-2.5 |
|
Wawrinka did what he had to in getting past Daniel in the opening round but
in just his second match since the French Open, this will be a lot tougher.
The Swiss is just 3-8 on grass and obviously doesn't feel that confident on
the surface. Del Potro looks to be over his injury problems and comes in
with four solid matches at last weeks Dutch tourney. Should be too solid. |
| Jun 24 |
Pashanski to bt Eaton |
2 at
2.72 |
|
2.50 |
-2 |
| Chris
Eaton could well be the new hero of British tennis after today but there is
no way I could have him a favourite here. Pashanski is 0-4 on grass but is
far from hopeless on faster surfaces. He boasts a big class gap and has
experience at this level to back him up. I just have to oppose Eaton playing
his first ATP-level match. |
| Jun 24 |
Granollers to bt Almagro |
1.5
at 3.40 |
|
3.00 |
-1.5 |
|
Almagro steps back on the match court for the first time since his 1/1/1
thrashing from Nadal at Roland Garros. Not having any competitive matches on
grass prior to this is a big minus. Granollers is a big improver and was
very competitive against Clement in the Dutch grass lead-up. Can see him
making life very tough for his fellow Spaniard today. |
| Jun 24 |
Melzer to bt Ljubicic |
2 at
2.63 |
|
2.40 |
+3.26 |
|
Ljubicic never excelled at this tournament in his prime and now that his
career is reaching the crossroads, he figures to struggle even more. Not
that I'm writing the the Croatian off as he has been playing okay of late -
but Melzer has to be right in this. If he can stay mentally stable - and
that is a big 'if' unfortunately, then he should be able to repeat his win
over Ljubicic here from back in '05. |
| Jun 24 |
Tursunov to bt Mahut |
4 at
1.95 |
|
1.85 |
+3.8 |
|
Tursunov's form here for the past four years reads 3rd, 4th, 4th and 3rd
rounds so he likes the conditions. He boasts a significantly better five set
record over his opponent today so if it goes the distance I like his chances
even more. Mahut has been having a decent year, but a loss to the big
serving Reynolds last week doesn't read too good and he does not perform all
that well at the slams. |
| Jun 23 |
Spadea to bt Johansson |
2.5
at 2.48 |
|
2.20 |
-2.5 |
| These
two veterans go a long way back - their first ATP meeting was here 10 years
ago. Spadea comes in with the better form having quallied at Nottingham
before a competitive quarter final loss to Monfils. Johansson was smashed by
Cilic at the same event. A long dour struggle is on the cards but I've got
to side with the better form. |
| Jun 23 |
Verdasco to bt Kohl. |
3 at
2.20 |
|
2.00 |
+3.6 |
| Both
players coming of final appearances in their respective grass lead-ups.
Verdasco has been in great form this year and has only lost in the first
round in one of his last 17 Grand Slam appearances. He plays with great
confidence here with his tidy lefty serve. Kohlschreiber hasn't notched up a
big win at this tourney and he does have a tendency to feel the pressure in
the tight situations. |
| Jun 23 |
Ferrero to bt Querrey |
4 at
1.95 |
|
1.90 |
+3.8 |
|
Ferrero has a very good record here as opposed to Querrey who has
underperformed on grass. The Spaniard hasn't played since the French Open
when he pulled out with a leg injury. There are some thoughts that he may
have an ab injury now, so I will take with a match complete bookie. I
certainly think he will be far too solid for Querrey if he is fit. |
| Jun 23 |
Guccione to bt Monfils |
1.5
at 3.20 |
|
3.00 |
Void |
|
Monfils edged a tight encounter at Nottingham in the first meeting between
these two last week. If Guccione had taken any of the four break points on
offer there the result and price today may have been dramatically different.
Monfils is a little unreliable over five sets and he did do some damage to
his shoulder in his last round at Nottingham. I'm taking with a minimum
two-set complete bookie in case of retirement. |
| Jun 23 |
Peya to bt Zverev |
2 at
2.65 |
|
2.40 |
-2 |
| Peya
has been around for a while with very little success at the slams but he has
had three solid qualifying matches under the belt. Experience should count
for a lot today. Zverev is still improving but he has only won one of his
last eight matches dating back to Rome quallies so he cant be playing with
much confidence. |
PREMIER
LEAGUE 09
