Tennis Picks 2013 (April 22nd)

There is no doubt that it was the worst week of the season so far last week in regards to the picks as most of the top players struggled to get to grips with the change in surface. That led to a few surprise results and also some tight matches throughout the tournament at Monte Carlo, but now most players have had some time on the clay, I would expect the next two Masters tournaments in Madrid and Rome to be less erratic.

This week we have four tournaments, but I have only made the one outright pick which can be seen here


Monday is usually the quietest time on the Tour in non-Grand Slam/Masters weeks as most of the qualifiers are concluded on this day. It isn't totally the case this week as we also have a 500 Tournament in Barcelona on the ATP Tour and that is where I have a couple of picks from today.


Robin Haase v Pablo Carreno-Busta: Robin Haase is not exactly the most trust-worthy player on the Tour as his play is usually so up and down that his opponent's will always have a chance to seize control of the match. However, the clay courts certainly look the surface where is most comfortable these days and I expect his experience to be too much for the young Spaniard Pablo Carreno-Busta.

Carreno-Busta is just trying to find his feet on the ATP Tour and he could just be a little green at the moment to beat Haase, even though he did record a win over Pablo Andujar a couple of weeks ago in Casablanca.

There is little doubt that Carreno-Busta will be comfortable on the clay courts, as all of the Spanish players would be, but he is playing someone who is capable themselves on the surface and should be able to move through as long as he can hold things together mentally.


Pablo Andujar - 2.5 games v Grega Zemlja: In the early Rounds of tournaments, there are always erratic players going along, mainly because their inconsistencies have them ranked too low to receive byes in the First Round. Pablo Andujar is one such player that has won a title on the clay courts last season, but it also capable of throwing in absolutely shocking match which sees him struggle or beaten by an opponent he should really be dealing with.

That is hopefully not going to be the case as he meets Grega Zemlja in the First Round in Barcelona, where the Spaniard should get plenty of home support to motivate him further.

I do believe that Zemlja is a good First Round opponent for Andujar as he is not the best on the clay courts, even with a Challenger title to his name from last season and I expect the lower ranked player to be too strong on this day. Don't be surprised if this perhaps goes to three sets though, although I expect Andujar can come through 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.


MY PICKS: Robin Haase @ 1.80 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Pablo Andujar - 2.5 Games @ 1.73 Pinnacle (2 Units)