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Yeah I'm defo swerving Shapovalov/Felix. There's just no scoreline that would shock me. 
Karatsev is quite solid, but he was expected to beat Gerasmirov comfortably. He's won a lot of matches, but these have mostly been at Challenger level. Not any ''big names'' in there. Schawartzmann is a different level and imo will come out on top here. 
Kudermetova should at least give Halep a good game. Haven't been impressed in the glimpses I've seen of Halep lately, but tbf I'm basing that mostly off of the 6-1 6-2 defeat to Alexandrova, in which she was dreadful. 
The bets I'm currently looking at for tonight are the in-form Cirstea (to beat Vondrousova), and possibly taking the overs line on Cirstea to break serve on 365 (vond doesn't have much of a serve), and Fiona Ferro (to beat Swiatek) - the latter as match winner and handicap. Thoughts on these, anyone?
 

Yeah I'm defo swerving Shapovalov/Felix. There's just no scoreline that would shock me. 
Karatsev is quite solid, but he was expected to beat Gerasmirov comfortably. He's won a lot of matches, but these have mostly been at Challenger level. Not any ''big names'' in there. Schawartzmann is a different level and imo will come out on top here. 
Kudermetova should at least give Halep a good game. Haven't been impressed in the glimpses I've seen of Halep lately, but tbf I'm basing that mostly off of the 6-1 6-2 defeat to Alexandrova, in which she was dreadful. 
The bets I'm currently looking at for tonight are the in-form Cirstea (to beat Vondrousova), and possibly taking the overs line on Cirstea to break serve on 365 (vond doesn't have much of a serve), and Fiona Ferro (to beat Swiatek) - the latter as match winner and handicap. Thoughts on these, anyone?
 

Muguruza vs Vondrousova
Certainly a clash of styles in prospect here which should lead to only one foreseeable outcome. Both have been in reasonable form coming into this semi, but it is the form of the spanish bully that stands out as most impressive. Though there is no head to head to follow, there are a few other indicators that point to where we should be putting our hard earned cash. Muguruza will be hoping for a third title on aussie soil having won 10 titles previously on hardcourts. I just do not think that Marketa will be afforded the room to manipulate the ball enough. Muguruza takes the ball on the rise almost every time and that will mean Vondrousova under constant pressure from the get go. I also would not expect this to go long as I see Marketa packing up quickly as the ball bashing gets more consistent. If there was a more compelling reason to fade Marketa, it will be due to the 6sets played between her last 2 opponents. She faces a real tall order here. Muguruza to win cosily.

Evans was excellent against Coric. 

Horanksy has been playing some great tennis. I took him at long odds vs Pouille, and was impressed with what I saw, and subsequently took him against Marterer and Zuk, and then again vs. Nakashima - although this one could've def gone either way. 
I do however think the hugely in-form Korda will be too much in the final. 

I'm a little confused by what I've seen of Kostyuk of late. I watched her previously last year vs Osaka, and was quite impressed - especially considering her young age.
Then I watched her vs. Hseih, and she stormed through the first set and then to a 5-1 lead... and then she served for the match, and lost. and again, and lost. and again, and lost. and managed 2 points across the whole 3 service games, going on to lose the tie break. 
And then in the third set she suddenly remembered how to serve again, and that she's A LOT better than Hseih at tennis. 
Likewise vs. Sorribes Tormo, dreadful first set, failed to hold serve, loses 6-0. Second set she's world class. How can you flick between playing appallingly to suddenly playing very very well? Does not compute.

I watched the whole match back vs Zidansek. She (Zidansek) played horribly throughout, thus the 6-1,6-1 drumming. I'm sure she's better than that isolated performance, but still, it isn't difficult to beat someone who's consistently hitting the ball out of play or into the net 9/10 times. My point is that this wasn't a Kostyuk masterclass by any means. 
also, Kostyuk REALLY struggled vs Hseih after going a set and 5-1 up. as in, she completely fell apart (broken 3 times on the bounce whilst serving for match) - and that's vs. Hseih, who has essentially no serve and plays almost casually. I think vs a player who makes very few mistakes and who a great defensive game, she may come unstuck, get frustrated, and perhaps forget how to serve for half the match (again). I'll probably bite at 2.75. 
 

I watched the whole match back vs Zidansek. She (Zidansek) played horribly throughout, thus the 6-1,6-1 drumming. I'm sure she's better than that isolated performance, but still, it isn't difficult to beat someone who's consistently hitting the ball out of play or into the net 9/10 times. My point is that this wasn't a Kostyuk masterclass by any means. 
also, Kostyuk REALLY struggled vs Hseih after going a set and 5-1 up. as in, she completely fell apart (broken 3 times on the bounce whilst serving for match) - and that's vs. Hseih, who has essentially no serve and plays almost casually. I think vs a player who makes very few mistakes and who a great defensive game, she may come unstuck, get frustrated, and perhaps forget how to serve for half the match (again). I'll probably bite at 2.75. 
 

I watched the whole match back vs Zidansek. She (Zidansek) played horribly throughout, thus the 6-1,6-1 drumming. I'm sure she's better than that isolated performance, but still, it isn't difficult to beat someone who's consistently hitting the ball out of play or into the net 9/10 times. My point is that this wasn't a Kostyuk masterclass by any means. 
also, Kostyuk REALLY struggled vs Hseih after going a set and 5-1 up. as in, she completely fell apart (broken 3 times on the bounce whilst serving for match) - and that's vs. Hseih, who has essentially no serve and plays almost casually. I think vs a player who makes very few mistakes and who a great defensive game, she may come unstuck, get frustrated, and perhaps forget how to serve for half the match (again). I'll probably bite at 2.75. 
 

Whilst I agree that Sorribes is a very different opponent, and annoying to play against, and that KP didn't play her ''A game'', Pera did hit about 100 unforced errors, and about 14 DFs, and Sorribes still only made it through due to some kids screaming randomly during a key service game for Pera. Gasanova paints lines for fun, and got a bit unlucky not to take the first set. If you're watching this like I am, you'll probably agree that she's adjusted very well to a different style of player, despite her age and ''greenness''. 

Whilst I agree that Sorribes is a very different opponent, and annoying to play against, and that KP didn't play her ''A game'', Pera did hit about 100 unforced errors, and about 14 DFs, and Sorribes still only made it through due to some kids screaming randomly during a key service game for Pera. Gasanova paints lines for fun, and got a bit unlucky not to take the first set. If you're watching this like I am, you'll probably agree that she's adjusted very well to a different style of player, despite her age and ''greenness''. 

so... Anastasia Gasanova is 3.75 on Bet 365 to beat Serribes Tormo tomorrow morning, and considering I recently backed an injured Pera - who is significantly worse at tennis than Gasanova seems to be btw - at worse odds, vs. S.T, and also considering that Gasanova just defeated Karolina Pliskova in straight sets, I guess it's rude not to take those odds!
Gasanova 3.75 vs. Serribes Tormo with Bet365
oh, and the match handicap (+4.5) is 2.0 ?

and she wins in straight sets. ? faces Sorribes Tormo next round

I don't think I've ever seen any player misshit the ball this many times in one match as Pera has. As in, it's a key point - and she's serving, and the ball just, well...leaves the arena. How Sorribes Tormo didn't take that first set is beyond me. 

Has Pera bottled enough BPs?

I'm considering taking Korda's side of tonight's APT match vs. Kwon. I'm a fan of Kwon - love his energy and forehead tapping between points, but the truth is that he hasn't really played competitively since September, whereas Korda has been playing - and winning. Korda is around 1.8 on Betfair. Thoughts, guys?

When Mark Petchey was asked today who he would prefer in the final, he said that from a sponsor's perspective a Nadal /Djokovic final would be most ideal judging from the sort of money such a final would generate. He then said for the benefit of tennis he would preferably love to see Tsitsipas play any of the top 2 in the final. Most people on this forum at least the veterans, live on the inside of the game and are quite knowledgeable about who is who even at the basement of the game. Your original statement of expressing disappointment at the WTA for failing to maintain consistency in a tournament of this nature would have been more apt for anyone outside the scope of our involvement with this game. Those kind of people that you refer to that may not watch a game from not recognizing certain players are certainly not avid members of this forum. On here, we are like researchers. We track, follow, investigate and watch most of these players frequently. When you follow the game the way I do, you slowly get used to using your own mental provisional ranking for them as opposed to what the actual record says. The fact is that most sports have opened up so much in modern times and things have really gotten so competitive on a grand scale. The grand slams have now become similar to musical chairs.

So, you simply want to see the same 7-8 names make the last 4 in each GS, year on year? To me that's kind of dull. Every player has their own individual story. To me, upsets and rags-to-riches stories make the WTA way more exciting than the ATP. 
A little ridiculous that it's acceptable for 1/4 of the semi finalists to be ranked out the top 100, but 2/4 = ''A randomness problem'', somehow.
It's just variance that comes as a result of 3 set matches. If all matches were best of 5 you'd likely see higher ranked players flourish, and weaker players would rarely get deep. 

So, you simply want to see the same 7-8 names make the last 4 in each GS, year on year? To me that's kind of dull. Every player has their own individual story. To me, upsets and rags-to-riches stories make the WTA way more exciting than the ATP. 
A little ridiculous that it's acceptable for 1/4 of the semi finalists to be ranked out the top 100, but 2/4 = ''A randomness problem'', somehow.
It's just variance that comes as a result of 3 set matches. If all matches were best of 5 you'd likely see higher ranked players flourish, and weaker players would rarely get deep. 

Fairly obvious reasons for why this is, but:
- Best of 3 sets rather than best of 5 = way higher variance for ''better players'' in women's tournament. 
- Weather: French Open being played in the wind/rain/cold of September/October rather than in Spring = players not being used to conditions. 
- Some players lacking competitive match fitness due to ongoing pandemic, and others (Fiona Ferro for one) having played several clay tournaments and being super sharp. 
- Lack of full arenas
 
 

Fairly obvious reasons for why this is, but:
- Best of 3 sets rather than best of 5 = way higher variance for ''better players'' in women's tournament. 
- Weather: French Open being played in the wind/rain/cold of September/October rather than in Spring = players not being used to conditions. 
- Some players lacking competitive match fitness due to ongoing pandemic, and others (Fiona Ferro for one) having played several clay tournaments and being super sharp. 
- Lack of full arenas
 
 

Penko

Fair points.
I haven't followed Stan's career that much so unaware if he makes a habit of dips in performance in non-GSs. I will say that Musetti's match vs Nishikori is well worth a watch if you didn't catch the highlights - some absolutely unreal rallies.
I expect his match vs Koepfer to be a bit closer (really rate Dominic) but can't see past a Musetti win again. Looking forward to a Musetti vs. Novak QF. 

Hi all. First time poster, long(ish) time lurker - especially for the tennis tips and discussion. 
I just wanted to chime in regarding the Stan vs Musetti discussion. if you guys didn't watch the Wawrinka vs. Musetti match, how can you decide based on a scoreline alone that he 'tanked' a match or didn't bother cos Rome isn't a grand slam?
I watched the whole match. Sure, Musetti is only 18 and was an unknown prior to the event. He was also outstanding. Imagine Federer and Djokovic having a tall Italian love-child and you wouldn't be far off.
In the second set Stan battled and had chances to get back into it but lost tie break. Throughout he looked fired up and wanted to win. Maybe he lacked fitness and/or was carrying an injury, idk, but imo Musetti was just way too good. It's for this reason that he beat Nishikori in straight sets. Absolute wonderkid!
Over to the women's tournament and a bet I quite like is Ka. Pliskova to win her Q @2.37 on 365. She faces Blinkova next where she's a huge favorite after looking super comfortable against Strycova, and will face either (most likely) Mertens - who is not in the best form of late, or Kovinic - who is playing solid, but wasn't really tested vs Bencic or Goerges (both so poor). Mertens let alone Pliskova will almost certainly be too much for her.