It has been a pretty tough week for the picks, but I haven't been helped much with the little strokes of luck you need to get over the line and put some winners up. However, both Marin Cilic and John Isner have moved through to the Semi Finals of their respective tournaments in Umag and Atlanta and can hopefully ensure there isn't a significant hit to the season totals.
Of the two players, Marin Cilic has certainly looked the more comfortable on the court, although I have to say that a player like Lukas Rosol, who possesses a huge serve, shouldn't lose as many 6-0 sets as he does.
It was still an impressive win for Cilic who will feel he is the best player left in the draw in Umag, although he has to prove that against Tommy Robredo in the Semi Final.
Fernando Verdasco - 2.5 games v Pablo Andujar: If the long Friday has taken its toll on Fernando Verdasco, then it will be very difficult for him to get up for this Semi Final against his compatriot Pablo Andujar.
On Friday, Verdasco had to complete his Second Round win over Jan-Lennard Struff which had to be postponed a day earlier in the final set decider which was poised at 1-1 at close. Verdasco then needed a tie-break to win that match, but only expended more energy later in the day when he beat Victor Troicki in three sets after somehow blowing the second set in the tie-break.
He is also going against a tough opponent in Andujar who has been in decent form over the last three weeks and who will believe he can level the head to head with his compatriot.
Verdasco certainly has the power on his side of the court, but it is all about harnessing that properly and recovering from Friday's exploits. He did mention how good he felt for the majority of his Quarter Final win over Troicki and I like Verdasco to find a 63, 46, 64 win in this one.
John Isner - 2.5 games v Jack Sock: There were more negative signs at the beginning of John Isner's Quarter Final win over Marinko Matosevic with another early break of serve given away, but he fought back and got through in two tough sets.
That should have given him a shot in the arm, especially as the serve improved as the match went on, very much in the same manner as in his Second Round win over Robby Ginepri. However, his opponent Jack Sock will also feel confident he can reach the Final here having beaten Isner in Newport in two sets to snap his three match losing run to the highest Ranked American.
After winning the Doubles event at Wimbledon, Sock would love to get to his first main Tour Final by winning this match, but that would put some pressure on him too. He knows what is at stake and I think Isner can use that to his advantage in this Semi Final.
A couple of years ago, Isner beat Sock 76, 64 in the Quarter Final here and I do think he is capable of at least replicating that score.
Benjamin Becker - 1.5 games v Dudi Sela: It is Dudi Sela 3, me 0 this week, but his win over Vasek Pospisil last night was the most disappointing for the picks considering the latter won 8 of 9 games and was a break up in the final set before inexplicably falling apart.
Sela reached his first Semi Final on the main Tour for two years but he now faces Benjamin Becker who has won all four previous matches between the players. Becker has taken advantage of what has been a kind draw to this point, beating the likes of Yen-Hsun Lu (coming off a long week where he won a Challenger title) and Thiemo de Bakker (who had surprised Kevin Anderson).
As well as Sela has played at times to this point, he still gives up chances to break his serve and Becker himself has a decent serve that can set up the easy points.
With the head to head as it is and Sela perhaps riding his luck to this point of the tournament, I will back Becker to reach the Final with a three set win.
MY PICKS: Fernando Verdasco - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
John Isner - 2.5 Games @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Benjamin Becker - 1.5 Games @ 1.92 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Weekly Update: 11-13, - 5.36 Units (48 Units Staked, - 11.17% Yield)
No comments:
Post a Comment