[French Open 2013]

Re: French Open 2013 Ive already got one active bet on the go with Harrison against Isner but thankfully the big money was landed a shade easier with Benoit Paire today then the day before with Benneateau Milos Raonic to beat Kevin Anderson (4/7 Bet365) *Struggle to see why all the money has come for Anderson (15/8 into 5/4) when to me he looks likely to be biting of more then he can chew against Top serving Raonic. Raonic was a comfortable 3-1 winner over Xavier Malisse in Round One, and he won by the same scoreline in impressive fashion against hometown boy Michael Llodra in Round 2 which would of been no easy task with the crowd all for Llodra. Anderson has also endured a fairly comfortable passage through to Round 3 with a straight sets win over Ilya Marchenko in Round One followed by a 3-1 victory over Evgeny Donskoy in Round 2 (never lost serve once). Anderson has definitely had the easier run through out of the 2 thus far and in the only previous encounter between the 2 players, Raonic won 2 tight sets in a 2012 quarter in San Jose. Raonic won 88% of first serve points, not even facing a break point in the game. Raonic never lost a set at San Jose in 3 years, so maybe that game is a bit misleading going into this and This game is on a different surface, but i just find it hard to see Anderson taking 3 sets off his Canadian opponent despite his decent form so far in the Clay Court season. Raonic is very bullish about his game at the minute, and hopefully his big serve will stand him in good stead.. 4/7 is definitely backable compared to the 2/9 he opened at. Over 30.5 games.. BENNETEAU V FEDERER Evens (bet 365) Benneteau has given Fed a few scares in their 6 clashes and notably it was the Frenchman who won their last encounter with a straight sets win in Rotterdam earlier in the season. Benneteau did the job for me in the last round when he grimly fended off a brave comeback by Kamke, and but for the crowd there, I doubt he would be playing Fed tomorrow. Federer has been impressive in winning his opening 2 games, albeit against weak opposition, but I believe Benneteau might push him all the way. Worth noting last game in a slam between these 2, was at Wimbledon last year, where Benneteau had a 2-0 lead over Fed only for Fed to come back and snatch it 3-2 which proved a decisive win as he went on to win that title. Infact, these 2 players have met here in 2008 in the fourth round where Fed was a 3-0 winner albeit in 3 tight sets (32 games played). Just think that evens about more then 30.5 is very generous.

[French Open 2013]

Re: French Open 2013 Think there is very little value around tomorrow, lots of ridiculous prices around, but I don't really see a major upset anywhere.. I'll be having the 2 bets: Ryan Harrison vs John Isner * Two American's duel for a place in the 3rd round, and I just feel that Harrison has been priced up rather large at 11/4. Only 21, he is regarded as one of the brighter prospects of the game, and he comes here on the back off a superb straight set victory over Andrey Kuznetsov. John Isner, did me a big favour the other day when he was also impressive in ousting thriving Argie Carlos Berlocq, and with his serve, he is a dangerous opponent. That said, if you look at the last 15 games he was favourite to win, he has only won 8, in contrast to the last 15 games where he was underdog where he has won 10 (3 of 5 losses were in Davis Cup rubbers). Isner has a 3-1 record in his favour against Harrison, but all 4 games have been closely contested, and I just feel that if Harrison can produce his A game, he could rustle Isner's feathers. Harrison can be inconsistent, but as long as he gets off to a good start again Isner, he could take some pulling back. 11/4 is too big in my opinion. Benoit Paire v Lukas Kubot (Not for value seekers) Benoit Paire at 2/9 is the best bet of the day, he is an improving player, who reached the semi's in Rome before this tournament, and he has won 10 of his last 12 games on French ground. Paire played superbly to beat Baghdatis in Round One, who is no easy opponent, and he should have a much more comfortable afternoon against Polish player Kubot, who he has a 3-0 record against including a win 3 months ago in Indian Wells (2 sets to 1)..Kubot was unimpressive in a win against French qualifer Maxime Teixeira (hopeless player- watched him on Challenger Tour), and now taking on a player with more class, he is definitely biting off more then he can chew.. will put the big money on this one today.. My big money was on Benneteau today, what a game, nearly had a heart attack after the brave comeback by Kamke but thankfully Benneteau prevailed.. If your one for stats, Janowicz has won 11 of his last 12 games against Dutch players which stands him in good stead for his 2nd round match against Robin Haase.. Good luck all ;)

[French Open 2013]

Re: French Open 2013 First post, but have a few fancies tomorrow: Gael Monfils v Ernests Gulbis * This has the makings of a really good match-up, Monfils is in the form of his life at the minute after a wonderful victory against 5th seed Tomas Berdych. He won a challenger in Bordeaux and got to the final of the ATP Nice tournament where he lost to Albert Montanes. Monfils is a player with so much talent and but for injuries he probably would be a top 10 player, and with the crowd on side in this game, it could be a daunting task for Latvian Gulbis. That said, I have been very impressed by Gulbis of late, and unlike Monfils who had a tough game in the first round, he won very comfortably in straight sets against Rogerio Dutro-silva. Monfils also played doubles today with Josselin Ouanna so Gulbis will be the more fresh of the pair. Gulbis has the all round game, and if he plays like he did in Rome against Nadal, it could be curtains for Monfils. This will be a great game, but I think Gulbis will take it. 4/7