In a week that has been as strong as this one it can be difficult to be too down on any Tennis Picks made, but I was left a little frustrated on Thursday when both Kiki Bertens and Timea Babos got into a position to win and cover in their matches, but both failed to do that and actually exited the tournament in Linz.
Wins from those two Picks and this would have been an exceptional day rather than a very good one and there are more positive numbers to put down.
We now reach the Quarter Final matches at all of the events being played this week and I have a number of Tennis Picks from those matches in a bid to put an exclamation mark on the week. These matches will take place across the four events being played and over a huge amount of hours with the time differences at the tournaments meaning it is a long day of tennis for those fans who plan on watching all of the Quarter Final matches.
Alexander Zverev - 3.5 games v Kyle Edmund: The opening Quarter Final match in Shanghai is played between two of the younger players leading the way forward for the 'Next Generation' on the ATP Tour.
Both Alexander Zverev and Kyle Edmund have looked strong in their runs in Shanghai and I do think the two players will both be very confident in their ability to win this match. The mental edge may be with Zverev who has won all three previous matches against Edmund, but he won't be overlooking someone who reached the Semi Final at the Australian Open earlier in 2018.
The last match between Zverev and Edmund was also very close on the clay courts, although I do think that might be a surface that favours Edmund more than the faster hard courts. The performances in Shanghai have been very good from Edmund, but this is another step up in class for the British player who remains an outside shot to make the World Tour Finals with a strong end to the 2018 season.
It has been the return game that has really helped Edmund but he is going to be facing a Zverev serve that has proved to be very potent on this surface throughout 2018. I do think Zverev is going to have to serve very well to make sure he is in a position to make it through to the Semi Final after saving a number of break points in his first two matches in this tournament.
However Edmund has had to save plenty of break points of his own and I do think the Zverev return is the better of the two players on the court. He should be able to exert a little more pressure in the match and I think that will see Zverev continue his run and also confirm his place at the World Tour Finals with a Semi Final berth likely to be enough to do that here this week.
Roger Federer - 2.5 games v Kei Nishikori: Having not played any competitive tennis since the surprisingly early exit at the US Open may be having an effect on the Roger Federer performances so far in Shanghai this week. He has shown the battling qualities that have helped Federer have so much success in his career, but I am sure he also appreciates he has to be a lot better if he is going to win this match.
In this Quarter Final Federer takes on Kei Nishikori who reached the Final in Tokyo last week and who has backed that up with a good couple of wins here in Shanghai.
You have to like what Nishikori brings to the court against Federer with a strong return game likely to put some pressure on the Number 1 Seed. So far this week we have not seen the best of Federer when it comes to the serve and that is an area Nishikori will be looking to exploit with his ability to make enough balls and force Federer to go for closer and closer to the line.
The problem for Nishikori is going to be the same one he has whenever he faces one of the top players on the Tour and that is whether he can get enough out of his own serve to at least get through some games without stresses. It just isn't a weapon that will put fear into opponents and Federer has been very good at attacking the Nishikori serve when they have faced one another.
Nishikori hasn't really been tested on his serve this week and I do think Federer holds the edge in the match thanks to his own serve likely producing one or two 'easier' games compared with Nishikori. That should prove to be the difference on the day, but Federer has to raise his level after barely coming through the first couple of matches in Shanghai and needing three sets to overcome both Daniil Medvedev and Roberto Bautista Agut.
It should be a fun Quarter Final for the fans to enjoy, but I will be backing Roger Federer to come through with a win and a cover.
MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Roger Federer - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Aryna Sabalenka - 5.5 Games @ 1.91 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Caroline Garcia - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Shuai Zhang - 1.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Elina Svitolina - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Andrea Petkovic - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Shanghai Update: 17-7, + 16.18 Units (50 Units Staked, + 32.36% Yield)
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