four-leaf

Thanks for kicking this off. Certainly a bit of a novelty event but everyone will be gunning for the half-a-million dollar 167 break prize! It all looked a bit bleak this afternoon when all the players were introduced as there were about 10 people in the crowd but apparently, the prelim rounds were very last minute so the real crowd will be in this evening for the proper start of the tournament. The golden ball is going to be in the most difficult position so it would be highly unlikely to see anyone win the bonus but it adds a little spice to the event.

🤑 "With such good money on offer in Riyadh, where the final must surely be the most valuable best-of-nine frames snooker match ever played, expect Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump to be back on song and chomping at the bit.
 
"It's clear the players are really keen to embrace this new investment in the sport, which to be frank, is needed. Next week will offer big money to the biggest stars who are probably doing very well anyway, but when next season comes around and we have a 128-man ranking event which we are expecting to have another big purse, that’s when some of those trying to make the game pay lower down the rankings will have a real chance to earn that big pay day. I know those players are relieved to have that opportunity.
 
"Snooker’s first ever 167 maximum break could be made, if the stars align and the new Golden Ball is potted at the end of any maximum.
 
"It might seem like a gimmick at this stage, and I’m not sure if it will catch on, but by all accounts we are expecting a very big prize to be offered for anyone able to do it. We’ve had instances in the past where Ronnie has turned down making a maximum break in protest at what he has seen as poor reward – that most certainly won’t be the case next week."
 
Neal Foulds on next week's lucrative Riyadh Masters.

🤑 "With such good money on offer in Riyadh, where the final must surely be the most valuable best-of-nine frames snooker match ever played, expect Ronnie O'Sullivan and Judd Trump to be back on song and chomping at the bit.
 
"It's clear the players are really keen to embrace this new investment in the sport, which to be frank, is needed. Next week will offer big money to the biggest stars who are probably doing very well anyway, but when next season comes around and we have a 128-man ranking event which we are expecting to have another big purse, that’s when some of those trying to make the game pay lower down the rankings will have a real chance to earn that big pay day. I know those players are relieved to have that opportunity.
 
"Snooker’s first ever 167 maximum break could be made, if the stars align and the new Golden Ball is potted at the end of any maximum.
 
"It might seem like a gimmick at this stage, and I’m not sure if it will catch on, but by all accounts we are expecting a very big prize to be offered for anyone able to do it. We’ve had instances in the past where Ronnie has turned down making a maximum break in protest at what he has seen as poor reward – that most certainly won’t be the case next week."
 
Neal Foulds on next week's lucrative Riyadh Masters.

Alexander Bublik (+1.5 sets) to beat Ugo Humbert at 1.63 with Unibet
Well done Humbert for the week so far, but Bublik hasn't been fooling around that much either, and there are bound to be some nerves here, which should favor Bublik a bit I'd say. Big serves don't usually bother him that much, and he can more than match Humbert off the ground.

Anhelina Kalinina to beat Diane Parry at 1.62 with William Hill
I've always seen Parry as a somewhat overrated player, and Kalinina seems to be on the up right now, having beaten two tricky opponents in Bejlek and Osorio. The conditions seem to be a good fit for her, and Parry shouldn't be able to deal with her heavier shots.

Haddad Maia to beat Boulter - 1.75 with Betfair
Boulter, discounting the United Cup friendly matches in December, has only won twice as underdog in almost two years apart from a few matches playing on grass last year. 

Xinyu Wang to beat Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova at 2.63 with Unibet
I really liked Xinyu Wang against Tauson, she was moving really well and reading Tauson's serves like a book. With Pavlyuchenkova not playing for a while, I don't think she deserves to be such a favorite in this one, she can be streaky.

Anastasija Sevastova to beat Julia Riera at 1.60 with Unibet
Sevastova seems to be picking her spots well, and I do fancy her against Riera, who hasn't played much since the Aussie Open, and who had some luck against Li a week ago, as the latter was physically limited.

Cornet to beat Osorio - 2.75 with Bet365
Osorio has lost 3 of her last 4 matches and lost her last two matches when favourite. She's not having a great start to the year, dropped to her lowest ranking for a while and Cornet can take advantage.

Peyton is an interesting player and I fancy her on the bigger handicap -5.5 at aound 3.25 with most bookies

Folks please don't bet against Errani. She's been on a serious comeback trail for a long time. No player in her age has as high a gear as Sara right now and it's bound to continue for a whole lot of years especially in doubles and she's given Jasmine Paolini a lot of inspiration to reach new heights both in singles and doubles. Whom ever Sara will face she will keep it tight or cruise to victory like she did when teaching Tatjana Maria another lesson recently.

Peyton is an interesting player and I fancy her on the bigger handicap -5.5 at aound 3.25 with most bookies

Peyton Stearns (-3.5) to beat Anna Karolina Schmiedlova at 1.91 with Bet365
AKS was awful in her last match against Vickery, and Stearns will surely be looking to do well back on home soil after what was a rather disappointing start to the season. She's more talented and the better player already, so I quite fancy her in this spot.

Cirstea to beat Kudermetova - 2.00 with Bet365
Kudermertova has been in poor form for a while and I'm not fazed by a win over Yastremska. Cirstea has the edge for me so evens is value. 

Jelena Ostapenko (-4.5) to beat Xiyu Wang at 1.89 with Unibet
Ostapenko is 14-3 this season, and all 3 defeats came against Azarenka, which is crazy. She's not playing Azarenka in this match, though, and Xiyu Wang has been a bit below par so far this year.

Pera to beat Fernandez - 3.35 with Pinnacle
Pera has a few wins as underdog in recent weeks, beating SST, Putintseva, Siegemund, and has two wins already here coming back from a set down both times which will no doubt give her some confidence. 
Fernandez still the favourite but I think 1.35 is a bit short. 

Azarenka to beat Ostapenko - 2.52 on Betfair
4-0 head to head including two wins this year. Penko's last two defeats have been against Azarenka. If Penko is firing she can beat anyone but she's also a hand grenade at times and losing the last two against Viki might make her explode. 
I see some value at this price. 

Pavlyuchenkova to beat Kostyuk - 1.91  with Bet365
 
Kostyuk struggles mentally against Russians unless she's a strong fave. She beat two at the AO yes, but as a strong fave. As soon as she's in a battle her mental strength can cause problems, and Pav is a fighter who won't make this easy. 
 

Leylah Fernandez to beat Paula Badosa at 1.74 with Unibet
Badosa somehow made it through R1, but she seems to have constant back issues nowadays, and Fernandez has what it takes to make this physically demanding. Taking this with a one-set bookie, as I can see Badosa retiring as in Hua Hin.

Beatriz Haddad Maia to beat Xinyu Wang at 1.40 with Bet365
Wang has been in an awful form so far this season, while Haddad Maia hasn't done much wrong, and their last weeks went in the opposite directions as well. Hard to see Wang changing the course in such a short period of time.

Jaume Munar to beat (-1.5 set) Facundo Bagnis at 2.375 with Mrgreen
Seems like Jaume could be the player to beat this week. I expect him to cruise past Bagnis. 

I'm going to put something on Siegemund in the Doha qualis @ around 3.15... Collins has played yesterday in Abu Dhabi 2:20 hours vs. Rybakina and today struggled a lot in the first round vs. Birrell, a player that normally would have trashed, prevailing in a 3 hours 3setter. It was also the last match of the day. Siegemund too played 2:30 hours but even if older no doubt that she is better athlete here. Of course if Collins isn't running on fumes she's going to win. But it's worth a try imo.

Sara Errani to beat Karolina Pliskova at 3.90 with Mrgreen
I belive in Sara again, Pliskova is struggling.

Jaume Munar to beat (-1.5 set) Facundo Bagnis at 2.375 with Mrgreen
Seems like Jaume could be the player to beat this week. I expect him to cruise past Bagnis. 

Sara Errani to beat Karolina Pliskova at 3.90 with Mrgreen
I belive in Sara again, Pliskova is struggling.