Tennis Picks (January 3rd)

It was another decent day yesterday with 2 of the 3 picks coming in as winners, and hopefully that will continue this week. This is the time when the top players start entering the tournaments and Andy Murray will play his first match of the 2013 season when he takes on John Millman in Brisane- I think it could be a big season for Murray and definitely think he is a big contender to win back to back Grand Slams when the Australian Open begins in under two weeks time.

As I mentioned yesterday, the picks from the tournaments in the Pacific and the one in Doha have to be split when the layers get their markets up.


Jurgen Melzer v David Goffin: I am expecting these two players to be exchanging places in the Rankings with David Goffin to finish 2013 higher than Jurgen Melzer, but I still think Melzer shouldn't be the underdog in this contest just yet.

Melzer beat Goffin in a close contest a couple of months ago as a big favourite and I think his game is still big enough for him to take this win, although it could require three sets to do so.

I wouldn't be overly confident on the Austrian that seems to lose focus more often these days, but a small interest on the dog has to be taken on.


Agnieszka Radwanska - 5.5 games v Elena Vesnina: Agnieszka Radwanska is one of the most consistent players on the Tour and she rarely makes tough work of opponents she should be beating- Elena Vesnina counts as one of those players and she has barely got close to making it a match the last three times she has played Radwanska.

In fact, Vesnina has won a total of 4 games in the last 3 sets these two have competed against one another. The Russian has struggled against the best players on the WTA Tour over the last season and I think it could be more of the same in this one.

I can see Radwanska winning this, likely with a 6-3, 6-2 scoreline.


Gael Monfils - 3.5 games v Daniel Brands: While Gael Monfils is on the comeback trail, I like the way he has performed so far this week and I think he will be too strong for Daniel Brands.

As long as the week isn't catching up with Monfils, he should be able to beat a player whose best results have come on the clay courts. Brands has done well to get to this Quarter Final, but beating Jeremy Chardy and Mohamed Safwat isn't enough to convince me that he can beat a player that could easily finish in the top ten.

I'd expect a break more for the Frenchman in each set and a 6-4, 6-4 win looks on the cards.


Nikolay Davydenko - 4.5 games v Simone Bolelli: This is a bit of a risky pick as Nikolay Davydenko is certainly not the player of even a couple of seasons ago, but he should be too consistent for Simone Bolelli.

Bolelli has probably under-achieved in his career, but he has fought through two rounds this week to reach this Quarter Final, his best showing on a hard court in his career (at this level). That strengthens my belief that Davydenko will be too good for the Italian as he is far by and away the best player he would have faced this week.

Davydenko has performed well to knock of Mikhail Youzhny as easily as he did and he has also dominated the three previous meetings with Bolelli.

He should be able to win this 6-3, 6-4


MY PICKS: Jurgen Melzer @ 2.33 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Agnieszka Radwanska - 5.5 Games @ 1.85 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Gael Monfils - 3.5 Games @ 1.73 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Nikolay Davydenko - 4.5 Games @ 1.92 Pinnacle (2 Units)


Weekly Update: 4-2, + 4.30 (10 Units Staked, + 43% Yield)