Tennis Picks 2014 (September 27th)

The WTA tournament in Wuhan was clearly one of the more important events left on the women's Tour this year and it would be fitting if another play could book their place at the end of year Finals in Singapore this week by winning that event.

While the majority of the big names took part in Wuhan, the ATP Tour had a quiet week which seems to have been taken advantage of by Kei Nishikori and Andy Murray. Both players are chasing a place at the ATP World Tour Finals in London and will be looking to win their respective events at Kuala Lumper and Shenzhen to add a few more points into the pot in the search for that goal.

It does surprise me that more of the players towards the bottom of the eight places chasing a place in London didn't decide to at least compete this week and add 'easy' points when you consider some of the fields that were seen.

There is the possibility that a long week will affect both Nishikori and Murray next week when there are more points to offer, but the latter is in the more difficult position of needing to make up a number of points and I think Murray's fitness can't really be questioned to that extent. Of course he would be keen to avoid a tough start to the draw, but the theory that players don't really push themselves to reach the World Tour Finals has been blown up for good.


Petra Kvitova - 3.5 games v Eugenie Bouchard: The Final in Wuhan is a repeat of the Wimbledon Final from earlier this season and I think we will have the same result, albeit not as easily as Petra Kvitova doubled her Grand Slam titles.

It was a crushing win for Kvitova who showed little nerves in that Final and she can win this tournament and book her place at Singapore. The big-serving Czech player can surpass the power that Eugenie Bouchard brings to the court and I think that makes it very tough for the younger player to win this match.

At the moment Bouchard, who has had a very strong 2014, relies on being able to out-hit her opponents and I don't think she has got the defensive side of the game up to that level. If she is unab;e to keep herself in rallies with little belief in her slice shots, the movement isn't really good enough to keep her in extended rallies against Kvitova.

The latter has been timing the ball so well this week and she has beaten Bouchard comfortably in the two previous matches between these players. Kvitova will have to serve well, but I can see her power worry Bouchard who may look to play first strike tennis, which could lead to more mistakes from the Canadian side of the court.

Like I siad earlier, I don't believe it will be as easy as the Wimbledon Final ended up being, but a 64, 64 win for Kvitova wouldn't surprise me.


Andy Murray - 5.5 games v Juan Monaco: Andy Murray is a strong favourite to win the tournament in Shenzhen, but he was not overly happy about his straight sets win in the Quarter Final and I would expect him to kick on over the last couple of days of the event.

Murray feels he gave away the chance to really stamp his authority on the Quarter Final win over Lukas Lacko and I don't think he will be as generous with Juan Monaco. The Argentinian player doesn't have a serve that will offer too many cheap points and that is where Murray will believe his superior hard court pedigree will really shine through.

The conditions should suit Murray better than Monaco, although he will be looking for a better serving day than he produced on Friday, and I can see him being too good when this match is all said and done.

2014 has shown that Monaco is on the way down in his career and he doesn't play much hard court tennis these days so I would fancy Murray to come through 63, 63.

MY PICKS: Petra Kvitova - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Andy Murray - 5.5 Games @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 6-6, - 1.86 Units (22 Units Staked, - 8.45% Yield)