[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Horrible from Melzer. Really bad all round from him.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Few shouts on today. Considered Baggy but not 100% over his fitness. Also looked into Llodra with the handicap but not entirely convinced with the Frenchman yet. James Blake vs Milos Raonic- Raonic -2.5 game handicap- 4/5 Bet365- (5/10) Slight bit of risk with this one as it's very much experience against power. Raonic has impressed me in both the AO and again yesterday against Malisse where he failed to drop serve. He hit the ball cleanly and his forehand was filled with immense power and I reckon Blake will struggle to keep up to pace with the youngster. The American's match against Levine was his first of the season so he will still be looking to get his eye back in but due to Raonic's sheer power, Blake won't be able settle or get any rhythm. At the back end of last year he lost to Nieminen and Kubot indoors and he failed to do much throughout the year. Raonic should be pretty confident here and even with one tight set, Raonic should be able to get a read on Blake's serve and break at least once bringing the handicap into play. Marin Cilic vs Jurgen Melzer- Melzer -1.5 game handicap- 10/11 Bet365- (5/10) Just been robbed in this one as someone must have lumped on Cilic as the outright for both is around the 1.9 mark and the handicap I've taken is above evens. Not sure why the shift in odds, haven't heard anything on this one. Cilic as Atko says has looked pretty average in his recent matches. Last week Mayer really dominated the match from start to finish with Marin hitting wild shots way off the court. Melzer is the kind of guy, being a left hander who will make Cilic run about and use the angles in his favour. With his wide kick serve, he should get a number of cheap points against Cilic who isn't the most mobile of guys. The Austrian has had good success indoors in the past and I feel he should beat Cilic here who at the minute isn't anywhere near his best. Richard Berankis vs Donald Young- Berankis -2.5 game handicap- 4/5 Bet365- (5/10) Not much to add that Czech and IAG haven't said already with this one. Young just about scraped through against Brown yesterday but an on song Berankis is a much better player. His all round game is quite solid and he beat Becker, who is also a better player than Young in straight sets yesterday which will give Berankis some confidence. He made the quarters here last tim round and fully expect him to at least get past the American here.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13

Taken one more for tonight on the women's side, God help me. Carla Suarez Navarro vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands- Mattek-Sands- 3.5 game handicap- 8/11 Bet365- (6/10) Was expecting a 4.5 handicap with this one so happy to take a fairly tame 3.5 in favour of the American. She's already been in one final this year and was impressive in parts against Clijsters, taking a set off the Belgian. In the indoor courts, she is usually fairly consistent and can hit with the top players in the WTA. Suarez Navarro plays her best tennis on the clay courts generally and sometimes she can spring a suprise on the outside hard courts, but she isn't entirely comfortable inside. Kanepi beat her just a few days back and Georges hammered her at the back end of last year. I consider Mattek Sands to be a better indoor player than those two and she'll play clever tennis and make the Spaniard work. They've played once before on clay where as you'd expect Suarez won but indoors it's completely different. Like the American here and a break in each set would see the handicap covered.

WIN Slight bit of clawback for me after the other two were lost. Didn't expect it to be such an easy win though. Overall from yesterday and today, down to a tiny loss with the outright still on. Great day for Czech, his good form continues ;)

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13

Taking two for now, haven't got much time so doing these write ups fairly quickly. Vesna Manasieva vs Petra Kvitova- Kvitova -5.5 handicap- 5/6 Bet365- (6/10) Taking the handicap with this one rather than the unders as it's at a slightly more attractive price. Already spoke alot about Kvitova with my outright pick and expect her to have a decent week in Paris and she should cruise through this one. She's in superb form, backed up by wins over Hantuchova and Cibulkova on the indoor courts, both players of a much higher standard than her opponent today. Manasieva struggled in qualification in Paris, needing at least one tie break in every match and 3 sets in her first qualifier. Granted in the AO she beat Bartoli but this was just a one off and she was brought back to earth when Sevastova hammered her. The only meeting between the two ocurred back in 08 in a challenger on hard, where Kvitova won 6-2 6-3. She's an even better player now and a similiar score is likely IMO. Milos Raonic vs Xavier Malisse- Over 22.5 games- 8/11 Bet365- (5/10) Not the most attractive odds in the world but agreeing with Atko when saying this is more than likely going to be extremely tight. Raonic's serve at times is simply unreturnable and when it does come back over the net, it's usually a smash winner for the Canadian due to the power he produces on that serve. Malisse is similiar, when on song, his serve is effective and powerful and from watching Raonic at the AO, his return game isn't the greatest in the world. Doubt there will be many opportunities for either player to break serve leading to tie breaks and a couple of those like in their last meeting would cover the overs here.

LOSS LOSS Kvitova had her chances but looked a little drained from the Fed Cup, hopefully she improves for the outright. Same for Malisse really, had his chances in the second set to break but didn't take them.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Taken one more for tonight on the women's side, God help me. Carla Suarez Navarro vs Bethanie Mattek-Sands- Mattek-Sands- 3.5 game handicap- 8/11 Bet365- (6/10) Was expecting a 4.5 handicap with this one so happy to take a fairly tame 3.5 in favour of the American. She's already been in one final this year and was impressive in parts against Clijsters, taking a set off the Belgian. In the indoor courts, she is usually fairly consistent and can hit with the top players in the WTA. Suarez Navarro plays her best tennis on the clay courts generally and sometimes she can spring a suprise on the outside hard courts, but she isn't entirely comfortable inside. Kanepi beat her just a few days back and Georges hammered her at the back end of last year. I consider Mattek Sands to be a better indoor player than those two and she'll play clever tennis and make the Spaniard work. They've played once before on clay where as you'd expect Suarez won but indoors it's completely different. Like the American here and a break in each set would see the handicap covered.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Haven't heard anything on that one. But who cares, your having a laugh with the bookies today so far. ;)

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 This girl Manasieva doesn't stop running. My outright on Kvitova is worrying let alone the handicap for today. :$

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Taking two for now, haven't got much time so doing these write ups fairly quickly. Vesna Manasieva vs Petra Kvitova- Kvitova -5.5 handicap- 5/6 Bet365- (6/10) Taking the handicap with this one rather than the unders as it's at a slightly more attractive price. Already spoke alot about Kvitova with my outright pick and expect her to have a decent week in Paris and she should cruise through this one. She's in superb form, backed up by wins over Hantuchova and Cibulkova on the indoor courts, both players of a much higher standard than her opponent today. Manasieva struggled in qualification in Paris, needing at least one tie break in every match and 3 sets in her first qualifier. Granted in the AO she beat Bartoli but this was just a one off and she was brought back to earth when Sevastova hammered her. The only meeting between the two ocurred back in 08 in a challenger on hard, where Kvitova won 6-2 6-3. She's an even better player now and a similiar score is likely IMO. Milos Raonic vs Xavier Malisse- Over 22.5 games- 8/11 Bet365- (5/10) Not the most attractive odds in the world but agreeing with Atko when saying this is more than likely going to be extremely tight. Raonic's serve at times is simply unreturnable and when it does come back over the net, it's usually a smash winner for the Canadian due to the power he produces on that serve. Malisse is similiar, when on song, his serve is effective and powerful and from watching Raonic at the AO, his return game isn't the greatest in the world. Doubt there will be many opportunities for either player to break serve leading to tie breaks and a couple of those like in their last meeting would cover the overs here.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13

One early one for me. Viktor Troicki vs Thomas Schoorel- Over 20.5 games- 10/11 Bet365- (5/10) Think the line is on the low side here. Troicki has been struggling with a stomach injury which forced him to retire in the AO last week so there are so definites over his fitness and he may just take a bit of time to settle and get his eye back in. Schoorel is an up and coming youngster who has already pushed Federer to a tie break this season. He's a big guy, well over 6ft with a big serve, meaning he will get plenty of cheap points on serve against the Serb. Troicki has already proven this year that the big servers can cause him problems as Mahut, a similiar type of player to Schoorel took a set of him in comfortable fashion. Playing in front of his home crowd will give him a boost also so one really tight set here should be okay for the overs.

WIN Thought the bet was gone after that first set but thankfully the Dutchman held his serve in that second set. Think that's the first time Bet365 has payed dividends for me.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Bet365 are so lazy not bothering with handicaps, so frustrating when I look at what Pinnacle are offering. Anyways, finally taken one outright this week. Petra Kvitova to win Paris each way- 7/1 Bet365- (2/10) Only worth looking at the bottom half of the draw in this one as Clijsters is in the top half and is an almost guarantee to make the final, but she's around the 2.5 mark which is crazy for an outright. Therefore see some value in Petra here who is more than capable of putting a run together to continue her good form at the start of this year. She already won the title in Brisbane a few weeks back, and despite pulling out of the following tournament in Sydney, she was impressive in the AO open before falling to Zvonareva in the quarters. However there is nobody in her half of the draw who she can't and perhaps shouldn't beat. The seeds of Sharapova, Wickmayer and Petkovic are in the bottom half but she'll only have to beat 2 of them and perhaps only one. She shouldn't be tested until at least the quarters here. She's got a qualifier in the first round, which would set up a second round meeting with either Pironkova or Strycova who Kvitova has a 100% record against both. She should cruise through that hopefully and then she'll probably have Wickmayer in the quarters. That could be her toughest test but think she should take that one. Despite Wickmayer's 3-1 H2H record, she's lost to the likes of Arn and Sevastova this year who aren't the best of players and the Belgian can often become stuck on the indoor courts so would fancy Kvitova to edge that one. If all goes to plan then and she gets through to the semis, have her down to play Petkovic, who I see winning that quarter over Sharapova who is dreadful at the minute. Kvitova's already beaten the German this year to claim her title and has won all 3 meetings on the hard/indoor hard courts. Would expect her by this time to be playing with some freedom and confidence and with that psycholgical advantage which Petkovic struggles with, to make it 4/4 on the hard courts and face Clijsters in the final. A final place would give a decent profit and as we all know, a one-off match can always throw up the odd suprise as we saw last week.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13

Btw' date=' I would really appreciate your opinion on that Hajek game. Is it just me or does it look too low?[/quote'] Line is so low due to Hajek's poor form I guess. He rolled over to Roddick then Petzschner beat him comfortably last week. Not the best player away from clay so a defo no bet for me but if he picks his form up a bit, he could trouble Kei a bit. Would expect Kei to win this handsomly though.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Damn Atko got in their first with that one. Need to be on my toes more. ;)

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 One early one for me. Viktor Troicki vs Thomas Schoorel- Over 20.5 games- 10/11 Bet365- (5/10) Think the line is on the low side here. Troicki has been struggling with a stomach injury which forced him to retire in the AO last week so there are so definites over his fitness and he may just take a bit of time to settle and get his eye back in. Schoorel is an up and coming youngster who has already pushed Federer to a tie break this season. He's a big guy, well over 6ft with a big serve, meaning he will get plenty of cheap points on serve against the Serb. Troicki has already proven this year that the big servers can cause him problems as Mahut, a similiar type of player to Schoorel took a set of him in comfortable fashion. Playing in front of his home crowd will give him a boost also so one really tight set here should be okay for the overs.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 Despite the final result, still a good return and an even better shout with Giraldo from Atko. Think we'd all agree that Mannarino Devvarman would have been a better final though. ;) Bring on sane tennis again this week.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 Just realised I put my last post in this forum rather than next week's one. Any chance of it being moved Atko. It's not entirely relevant or have any great interest to read but should be in next week's. This Robredo Giraldo match just sums up this week. Twists and turns when you least expect it.

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 No takers on a certain Rajeev Ram to win in San Jose. 150/1 for Mr Navratilova? Final decision is not to take any outrights. Like Atko have Monfils for at least the final, which in truth he should win but for a player for would rather play tennis whilst juggling and feeding the lions, it's too skinny. GL on Dolgopolov guys, decent price but there's so many guys in that one who can beat eachother it's a no bet for me.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 True lumping on him for sure ;). Sure he'd fancy his chances against Melzer, Cilic, Ferrer, Soderling and Murray. After all he did beat Tipsarevic.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 Ferrer reaches a hard court semi, Dodig wins Zagreb, Devvarman almost wins an ATP final. Just waiting on Safina to win Wimbledon, Davydenko to win the French and Del Potro to climb over 400 places by the end of the year to win the World Tour Finals at the end of the year. :rollin

[Tennis - February 7-13]

Re: Tennis - February 7-13 Should be a more predictable week coming up compared to the circus in Zagreb and Johburg this week. Quick look at the outrights. Looking at the draws was planning on taking Murray, Monfils and Del Porto but the odds are too short for all 3 IMO. Del Porto thought would be higher around the double figure mark but he's not and Murray and Monfils although they should make an impression, are only around the 3s/4s. Wanted at least 5s. Will look into this further to see if it's worth it.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6

Hi mate do not mean to give you a told you so but I would have laid it off to lock in a profit - especially when he went a set up his odds would have dropped like a stone - unlucky mate you did get value for money though backing an 11/1 that got beat in the semis.

Yeah did seriously consider laying him after the first set but the momentum he should have gained from coming back from the break and then winning the tie break should have seen him through that second set. Easy to say now after the match that I should have layed the bet but that's hindsight. Hoping that the luck of the outrights will turn in my favour soon to balance the last couple. You not have any bets this week after your success last week?

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6

Was waiting for the overs price in that one but of course haven't got a Pinny account so still waiting to see what I can get. In the meantime taken one outright, and might take Tipsarevic with the outright later on. Adrian Mannarino to win SA Open- 11/1 Bet365- (2/10- E/W) The young Frenchman has shown some promise at the start of this season, already beating the likes of Clement, Monaco and Harrison, whilst troubling Gasquet and Almagro at stages in their respective matches. Last season he played the majority of his matches on the hard surfaces, and this is indeed where he had his best results, making 4 finals, and even winning 2 of these. Although these were only challenger events, as a youngster, this is extremely impressive and he managed to qualify for the US open main draw, and even managed a first round win against Riba. Many are tipping this guy as the new French superstar and this could be the year where he matures and comes on. If we look at the draw he faces, he's in the same half as Lopez. Schuettler and Anderson, hence the big odds. But in reality, chances are if all goes as expected, he'll play the Spaniard in the quarters, then one of the other two in the semis, with a chance of playing Tipsarevic most probably in the final. If he does indeed play Lopez in the quarters, he will certainly have a chance there. Lopez's form at the back end of last season and the start of this has been poor. Lost to Tomic last week in the Aussie Open and was also beaten by Anderson easily this year. With regards to Anderson and Rainer, Mannarino beat Anderson in their last meeting and would expect him to beat Schuettler these days. Think Adrian will look at his draw and know he can do some damage here. Think it's worth a punt at those odds though.

LOSS Thought he'd kick on after winning that first set but wasn't to be. Had a chance in the final set to break back but his forehand let him down. Quite annoyed really as this backs up my outright in the US last year where I had Wozniacki at a similiar price only to get beaten in the semis in a match where I could and maybe should have layed her off to guarantee profit. Frustrating but it happens I guess. Looks like Atko has got a winner in the bag though as can't see Devvarman beating Anderson, nor could I have seen him beating Mannarino in truth. Just a final point. Seen this week that most of the calls from the lines have been wrong ones and most challenges are right. Poorest one I saw came a few minutes ago where Anderson was serving for the match. First serve hit the net and the ball landed closer to the baseline rather than the service line. Really poor calls. That's my rant over though :lol

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 Considered laying Mannarino after that tie break but didn't. Wish I had now...

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6 Really tentative start from Mannarino, looks nervous out there.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6

Yeah I thought Fognini was going to bottle it too. Bellucci just isn't playing well at the minute - far too patchy. Thought he'd do well here but wasn't to be. To be honest' date=' I've had a poor week and if I hadn't followed a few of the other tips here, I'd be in a bit of a hole. If Giraldo and Anderson get to the final of their respective tournaments then I'm in with a chance. Nasty week this, big thumbs-up to those who have done well :ok[/quote'] Feel partially responsible for your Giraldo outright mate as I've backed him and done a few write ups on him this year and looks like his good form is being carried on. Sure that heavily influenced your outright so if he does pull through just buy me a pint or something :tongue2. In all seriousness though reckon your in with a shot with that one. Looks like this year so far, could be where a few players like Giraldo climb the rankings big style. GL :ok.

[Tennis - January 31 - February 6]

Re: Tennis - January 31 - February 6

I thought Dancevic would squeak it today too. Mannarino looked knackered against Gremelmayr but he played some really good stuff against the Canadian. I would have Anderson as favourite too but if Mannarino can live with his serve' date=' it'll be very close. Home advantage could play a part too, it's a sell-out tomorrow on centre-court. At least one of us will be taking some sort of profit away from an outright in this god-foresaken week![/quote'] Home support could be important but saying that Mannarino has been quite popular with the crowds in his matches. Not sure why really but they seem to have taken a liking to him. Think it will come down to as you say the strength of Kev's serve on the day, and also how he copes with Mannarino's slow shots and angles. Should be a good one though. Unlucky on Bellucci btw, thought Crapnini had blown it when he chocked serving for the set.