Tennis Picks 2013 (April 23rd)

Tomas Berdych - 3.5 games v Nikolay Davydenko: It was a poor performance by Tomas Berdych that cost him his match with Fabio Fognini last week in Monte Carlo and he does have to overcome a 10-2 head to head record against Nikolay Davydenko. However, he has won 2 of the last 3 matches between the players and it has to be remembered that their meetings actually came at a time when Davydenko was one of the more solid and better players on Tour, especially compared with Berdych.

While Davydenko is still capable to give some of the best players a run, his consistency and stamina is not at the same level of a couple of seasons ago and I do think Berdych can exert enough pressure in this one to record a 6-3, 7-6 win and move onto the Third Round.

Philipp Kohlschreiber - 2.5 games v Andrey Kuznetsov: Philipp Kohlschreiber can be very up and down with his performances and that would be a concern when it comes to covering spreads as shown last week when he lost a set of tennis to Pablo Andujar 6-2. However, the experience of being back on the clay courts at Monte Carlo should put the German in better stead in this one and I do like his chances to progress.

I don't want to disregard Andrey Kuznetsov as he is clearly a player getting more comfortable in being in the same draw as some of the better professionals on the Tour. However, he has struggled to take his Challenger form into the Main Tour events and that is what could let him down again.

The Russian may have enough to take a set, but I do think Kohlschreiber will be a little too tough at the moment and will record a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 win.

Victor Hanescu - 2.5 games v Matthias Bachinger: These two players met last week in the qualifiers for Monte Carlo and it was Victor Hanescu who sneaked through as he took the chances that came his way, while Matthias Bachinger couldn't convert his own.

It was a tight match that could have gone either way really, despite the straight sets win for Hanescu, but I do think the Romanian can back up that win by getting another in front of his own fans in this one. If he can serve slightly better, I think he will get chances on the Bachinger serve and he can make it two out of two against him in a little over a week between matches.

However, it has to be remembered that Bachinger was a Semi Finalist here last year so won't be overawed by the surroundings, although he may have to settle for a 6-4, 6-7, 6-4 loss.

Ana Ivanovic - 3.5 games v Andrea Petkovic: Ana Ivanovic is a former French Open Champion, but she has never really found the consistency to get back to that level and even improving her World Ranking from the 17 she is at has been an issue. There is no doubt that someone like Ivanovic would have a lot of interests outside of tennis with her looks, but I do think she wants to be known as a tennis player, unlike Anna Kournikova, but has struggled to maintain her level, even within matches.

Her serve can be a big liability, especially against the best players, while she can be erratic and wild with her groundies and that makes it tough to believe she will win another Grand Slam.

However, I think she will likely be too strong for Andrea Petkovic who continues to struggle with a calf injury, but is surely going to want to compete as much as she can in front of her home supporters. It has been a terrible twelve months of injuries for Petkovic who was really making some contributions to the WTA Tour, but she may just be found wanting in this match.

Ivanovic has enough in her locker to win this one in straight sets, perhaps recording a 6-4, 6-3 win.

MY PICKS: Tomas Berdych - 3.5 Games @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Philipp Kohlschreiber - 2.5 Games @ 1.92 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Victor Hanescu - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Ana Ivanovic - 3.5 Games @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 1-1, - 0.54 Units (4 Units Staked, - 13.5% Yield)