Tennis Picks 2015 (February 3rd)

There are three ATP tournaments taking place this week and I have got a couple of outright picks, although both of come from the same event in Zagreb. Those picks can be read here.


Any picks from the tournament in Quito will be added once the schedule of play is released.


Marsel Ilhan + 2.5 games v Kenny de Schepper: The opening match on Tuesday in Montpellier is between two players who will hope their serves are going to be magnified by the indoor hard court conditions.

Neither player is one that is going to be challenging for Grand Slam titles, and both are now ranked outside of the top 100 in the World Rankings. That makes this match extra important for both Kenny de Schepper and Marsel Ilhan as a couple of wins here may at least give them the chance to avoid having to play qualifiers for main Tour events going forward.

In the early stages of the season, it is de Schepper who has shown the better form of the two, although he is limited as a player. He has a huge serve, but doesn't really back that up that effectively and I do think he looks a short favourite in this one.

Ilhan will have to serve well and play the big points better than he did when these players met on the clay courts of Barcelona last season. It does feel a match that is going to be decided by a tie-breaker in the final set and I think the Turkish player can do enough to stay within these games as he has every chance of winning the match outright.


Andreas Seppi - 3.5 games v Robin Haase: Moving to Zagreb and I like Andreas Seppi to beat Robin Haase in the last match scheduled to be played on the main court at that event.

The Italian showed some good form at the Australian Open where he finally beat Roger Federer, although Seppi might be disappointed that he couldn't convert his opportunities to beat Nick Kyrgios in the Fourth Round. Seppi had match points in that Fourth Round match and I think he will have the confidence to see off Haase in this one.

It is important for Seppi to make the best of the positive form he is showing to try and get back into the top 32 in the World Rankings which means he would be Seeded at future Grand Slam events. His serve can be something of a weakness at times, but he was using that to good effect in Australia and now faces an out of form Haase who is dangerously close to slipping out of the top 100 of the World Rankings.

Haase has been losing a lot of matches since the end of July and has yet to win a match in 2015, while he seems to be a player that can lose focus at times. There is every chance he can throw in a sloppy couple of service games in each set and I just feel Seppi will be too consistent for him.

I'd be expecting Seppi to earn a break more in each set to come through with a 64, 64 win.

MY PICKS: Marsel Ilhan + 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Andreas Seppi - 3.5 Games @ 1.73 Bet Fred (2 Units)