Tennis Picks February 18th

It was another mixed day as a couple of picks came in easy, while a couple others were close but not enough...

The good news so far is that my two outright picks this week are both through to the Semi Finals as Nicolas Almagro beat Carlos Berlocq and Tomas Berdych beat Andreas Seppi. I wish I had stuck with my Milos Raonic pick too as he looks to have a clear path to retaining his title now, but I would be happy enough if one of the two players I did pick come in.

As has been the case all week, I will post my picks from the tennis as the markets are put up by the layers, something they seem to have taken their time putting together all week.

Tomas Berdych - 2.5 games v Juan Martin Del Potro: The courts here in Rotterdam suit both of these players as they get the opportunity to really wind up on their groundstrokes and dominate rallies but something will have to give in the match between them.

I think the edge has to be given to Tomas Berdych due to the fact that his serve is a little more consistent and I think he is likely going to have a better time holding than Juan Martin Del Potro who can see his first serve percentage come down too low against the best players in the World.

I also think Berdych is in magnificent form at the moment, while Del Potro is still trying to find his best tennis since a wrist injury slowed down his career in 2010.

The key for both players will be to impose their own game on the match, but it could be the case of who manages to get the big strike in first in rallies that will determine the winner of points. I just think Berdych is a little too match hardened after his start to the 2012 season and that should see him through in two tough sets.


Marion Bartoli - 2.5 games v Sam Stosur: I was a little disappointed that Lucie Safarova could not stay within the handicap against Marion Bartoli in their Quarter Final match despite taking that to three sets, and I think that match will have given the French player a lot of confidence to reach the Final for the second time in consecutive tournaments.

Sam Stosur got through in three sets herself yesterday, but she was not that effective on serve and could face a couple of problems against Bartoli in this match if she does not make life easier for herself on that front.

These two players actually met twice last season and Bartoli won both meetings, including once on a hard court, without being broken once and only allowing 3 opportunities to Stosur in those matches.

Bartoli seems to have all the confidence following her run to the Paris Final last week and I think the fact she has handled Stosur comfortably in their last two meetings gives me more confidence that she can win this one.


MY PICKS: Tomas Berdych - 2.5 games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Marion Bartoli - 2.5 games @ 1.92 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Milos Raonic - 3.5 games @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Julien Benneteau - 2.5 games @ 2.18 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Roger Federer - 5.5 games @ 2.20 BoyleSports (2 Units)


Weekly Update: - 0.36 Units (40 Units Staked)