Tennis - ATP Adelaide and Auckland

[Mr Intensity]

First play of the week: BLAKE v Gonzalez @ 2.05 WillHill 2pts H2H: 3-0

Blake 63 64 – Paris (2003) Blake 67 64 64 – Paris (2002) Blake 46 63 63 – Rome (2002)

I was very impressed with what I saw of Blake in the Hopman Cup. He looks to have put his problems of 2004 behind him and I believe he will have a great 2005. He is serving well and is very explosive from the back of the court. He likes the conditions and court used in this part of the season, last year he reached the 4^th round of the Australian Open easily before losing in 4 tights sets to Safin. As I have mentioned the match practice of the Hopman Cup will have him sharp and match ready for this encounter.

For Gonzalez this is the first match of the season. I don’t feel he will be in great shape, we have seen for the last two years that he does not enjoy this part of the season. Last year he lost in the fist round here and at the Aus Open, and in 2003 he reached the 2^nd round here and 2^nd round of the Aus Open. He also finished last year on a real downer; he didn’t win a match after the Olympics in the summer. I can’t see him having much confidence coming into this match and I can’t see him being able to stay with Blake at the back of the court.

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Tennis - ATP Adelaide and Auckland WillHill have cut the price to 1.95 but that is still good enough.