[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Yeah, I don't really care much for outrights, I prefers matches, but good call. Boredo could certainly moonrollball his way to this title. Haha.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 I thought you were talking about the outright winner. lol

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 ^Agreed. His to lose now.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 lol This is a shambolic performance by Berlocq.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 He's basically a very poor version of Ryan and he's mentally even weaker.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 http://www.croatiaopen.hr/hrv/live-stream You watching, Berlocq with the slow start.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 http://www.croatiaopen.hr/hrv/live-stream Here.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Excellent call on the Brands Homu! :D

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Daniela Hauntova to beat Urszula Radwanska 1.95 888 (5/10 points) She's the better player and I don't understand why she isn't 1.5? This isn't clay? Worth the bet.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

I see abit of value in Berlocq winning ATP Umag. He should beat Zebellos today and then he would have Seppi most likely. We don't know what Seppi is going to turn up but even on a good day Berlocq can beat Seppi for me. He is in the better form too. In the Semi-final he would face Robredo/Dolgopolov/Troicki. If he made the final he would probably face Fognini/Montanes. 10/1 on him to win this tournament seems a good price. Him and Fognini are the form-dogs right now and it wouldn't surprise me to see them occupy the final. What's people's thoughts on Berlocqs chances? He must be tired along with Fognini but these 2 keep on pulling out results. I don't believe they are un-motivated. I think that's nonsense.

I agree on Berlocq, there's no one in the draw he potentially cannot beat "on his day". I wouldn't say Fognini is "unmotivated" per say, but certainly fatigued, keeping to that match intensity against decent claycourters match in match out will have taken it's tole on his mind and body. Concentration will probably decrease, even if he gets passed Klizan, it's likely to be quite difficult. I know a lot of fans are riding him cause he's won them a lot of money, but I think he has been sucked dry now and is ready to fade away. Ofcourse he'll be motivated to win, but do you really think he's going to go out there onto the court and be prepared to "draw blood" for his next victory after he's just won a 250 level and 500 level event? Anything now is merely a bonus, I'm sure. Same thing happened to Halep against Penneta and Mahut against Bester. Berlocq's probably more fresh than Fognini and yes for me, I see no one in the draw who he can't beat "on his day" as I said up above. It's a good shout. I think it's most likely the winner comes from Monfils/Montanes/Klizan(If he gets by Fognin) but Berlocq is definitely in there with a chance, agree with that.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Donskoy has actually drifted to 2.3 with Pinnacle :eek

Backing the name aren't they, American at home.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

That was some collpase from Del Bonis from 5-1 up in the second set, he's lost six games in a row to lose the set! Just goes to show you how fatigued he was, adrenalin will only carry you so far Very nearly cost me a packet too, thankfully i've been able to bet in running to limit my losses before Paddy Power saw what was happening and closed off betting (as they're wont to do just when you want to bet!) And then just to completely frazzle my nerves, Granoller almost threw away the final game!! Good Christ, I think I need to take a break from betting, way too much flakiness from players these days It used to be just the women, but some of the men could give them a run for their money in the flakiness stakes!

I usually have a rule in place to never back the player that's just won a tournament(Or had a good run in one) in the very next tournament against a grinder that gets a lot of balls back. Del Bonis isn't the most athletic player on tour either, he strikes the ball off both sides and I think he was always going to fade eventually. It's hard to pick yourself back up off the ground when you were so close away from a 500 level atp title. I actually faded Del Bonis today because of it Don't worry you'll survive, just watch for player's who might be depleted in all forms. Which brings me onto my next pick. Martin Klizan to beat Fabio Fognini 3.00 Betvictor (7/10 points) Watched Klizan against Mayer and although he blew a 4-1 lead and required a tie break in the third, I don't think Fognini will be able or be bothered with matching his intensity the way Mayer did. Klizan will have more drive to win and he's beaten Fognini on slow hardcourts at an ATP world tour final last year. With his forehand he can prove a tough task for anyone and Fognini's concentration is bound to be feigning now. If this was a week or so back I would have said Fognini but I think now is the moment where the winning run will come to a hault. If you're thinking of backing the Italian then all I'll say is get off the ride, you've been on it toomany times now kids, you're gonna fall sick.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Thanks odds were ridiculous! I like your Donskoy pick, surprised to see those odds! I would of had him at slight favourite, hes certainly playing well at the moment and improving alot! And you never know what you will get with Blake!

Yup, he was a bully on the challenger tour and he's as time passes on getting a grip of the atp main tour at this 250 level. He's a future top 30 player IMO.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Excellent pick Banner, logical reasons and not forced at all. I followed in. Keep them coming. :ok

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Evgeny Donskoy to beat James Blake 2.00 Ladbrokes (6/10 points) Although Blake won last night I wasn't convinced at all, he made a very distincly average player in Smyczek cause him to sweat. Blake was very static on return of serve and not moving his feet at all, just simply swiping at the on every return, he was the same during rallies and if Smyczek had been a bit less passive he may have stood a chance as Blake was netting everything he had to hit on the run. Blake wasn't as good as he was earlier in the year playing in America. I hate to imagine how he'd cope against a player with a much better serve, consistent kick serve and an ability to make him move a lot more. He actually looked to be hobbling towards the end but thankfully enough for me, his low percentage game went right for him just at the right time. It'll be interesting to see how Blake returns the kick serve outwide to his single handed backhand on the advantage court as I feel he's probably prone to losing control of it.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Yawn

Sorry that was too thought provoking for meatheads not to switch off, should have known.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Good hit on Dodig fader, game handicaps are better than 2-0's most of the time IMO.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Wawrinka was 7-5 4-0 up and serving for 5-0. If he goes on (as you'd expect) then you keep this one to yourself Rule. He wasn't rusty atall he just did what he needed to' date=' to win. He wasn't thinking about a handicap.[/quote'] No he was thinking; "man, I'm rusty, gonna hit the practise court hard after I squeeze through this one."

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

James Blake to beat Tim Smychek 1.80 Pinnacle (8/10 points) As good a mover as Smychek is I don';t think he quite as the serve available to compete at a high level on these courts against big servers and big shot makers. Blake had a tough battle with Isner last year (the eventual winner) and he looked pretty impressive. Smychek's loss in form recently also fuels me into believing he won't be able to reset the rally enough against Blake's power. He's been losing to big servers, Klhan an amateaur rookie also recently. Blake brings out the fireworks in America, expecting more of the same here.

:ok

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Well I find your analysis can be sometimes reasoned at why not to go for a player as opposed to why we should. Like I said' date=' read your review of the Beck match and knew you were on the money cause of the insight.[/quote'] lol I see. Well somebody asked me on Fognini and I think the guy is fade material, it just so happens De Bakker is a choking, headcase journeyman and couldn't finish him off. Fognini is due a tank, only Ferrer takes every single tournament seriously, even if he wins two in a row, Fognini has had enouh and that's why I was warning people away from him. I'm pretty sure Klizan will deal with him tomorrow. Thanks, I just know when not to back players, like Karlovic today, he was bound to be tired. He played newport and then won 5 matches to win bogota where most sets were decided in tie breaks, think about how draining that is on the mind and soul. Also Wawrinka. There's knowing about player's strengths and weaknesses and how they matchup against each other and there's knowing when to back them. Like Wawrinka, the man was obviously going to be rusty, he wasn't going to play amazing tennis consistently and that proved so. Anyway, thanks for the appreciation. :)

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Beck vs Stebe' date=' Rule this is a good analysis. Normally you are quite negative with your predictions. This was well thought out and I played it because of it. More of this rather than the negative stuff. Well done :clap[/quote'] No worries bro. What do you find negative about my other predictions btw man? I am very cynical of player's because play and sometimes coach.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 That is how you close a set out from 6-2 up in the breaker Williams, you muppet. Well done James, get in!

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 Now blake blows a set point to Smychek. What a joke this is turning out to be.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28 LOL! Best tip ever and it loses coz he choked, this guy is a moron.

[July 22 - July 28]

Re: July 22 - July 28

Andreas Beck to beat Cedrik Stebe 1.95 William Hill (8/10 points) Andreas Beck was a fully fledged member of the top 100 and then injury struck, since his comeback he's been doing relatively fine in tournamnets from recieving a few wild cards and what not. He is grinding his way back up the rankings. He's been able to play on all surfaces, including clay because of his kicking serve. He's very aggressively mobile and produces big serves, forehands at key moments in matches. In 2011 he was here making a run to the final. Final - Lost to (3)Daniel Brands (GER) 6-4 7-6(3) SemiFinal - Def. (7)Nikola Ciric (SRB) 7-6(5) 7-6(0) Quarter Final - Def. Jorge Aguilar (CHI) 6-4 6-3 Round of 16 - Def. Marius Copil (ROU) 7-5 6-4 Round of 32 - Def. Evgeny Donskoy (RUS) 6-4 6-4 2011 here, he beat some talented players across the way before eventually falling to Brands in the final. He was never able to defend his title in 2012 due to that severe injury but here he is now up against a young prospect with a bright future but going through a shambolic phase in his career. From watching Stebe it seems he's too prone to making very amateur mistakes recently, he's doing it at the key times and it's costing him. He is an even more aggressively mobile than Beck as a player but he's not producing in tight match situations. I believe there will be a lot of tight match situations here, with loads of deuce games and such. The clay is quick here in Obserstaufen and the past winners of the tournament prove so. Beck playing well and coming up with the serve and big followup forehand in key situations and Stebe making basic errors off either wing in key situations will prove the difference here today.

:ok