Tennis Picks 2026 (Wednesday 11th February)

The middle of the week tends to be the busiest time for the tournaments that are played over seven days rather than the longer events that have begun to be scheduled for the Masters events which are played simultaneously by the men and women.

This week looks to be no different with a lot of matches set to be played in Doha, Dallas, Rotterdam and Buenos Aires and the Tennis Picks will be added to this thread.

For now the focus is on the WTA Doha Third Round matches and one of the remaining First Round matches in Dallas- any selections from the Second Round will be added once all of the matches are scheduled following Tuesday's night of play.

Mirra Andreeva - 2.5 games v Victoria Mboko: For the second time in 2026, two teenagers who are both Ranked inside the top 20 on the WTA Tour will face one another on the hard courts.

Last month Mirra Andreeva made relatively easy work of getting past Victoria Mboko in the Final in Adelaide, although it should be pointed out that the latter had some tough matches earlier in the tournament. That had seen her spend a lot more time on the court compared with Andreeva, which is something that you should factor into the outcome of the Final.

Despite that, Mirra Andreeva may feel she had room to spared in winning having broken five times compared to just the once for the Canadian. Mirra Andreeva dominated behind serve and won 56% of the return points played and that will give her confidence, as will the way she handled the Second Round win over Magda Linette when coming through some sticky moments to focus at key times.

Being a higher Seeded player means Mirra Andreeva has had to play one match to reach the Third Round, while Victoria Mboko has had to win two matches.

The latter has been solid in her two victories in the tournament and the consistency is something that has pushed Victoria Mboko close to breaking into the top ten of the World Rankings. She has not produced spectacular numbers, but sometimes players just have an 'x factor' that sees them knuckle down and win the big points and that is seemingly something that the 19 year old possesses.

Both players will be aware of the importance of the first serve and making plenty of those deliveries to get on top of the opponent.

The second serve numbers have been decent enough, but Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko will both believe they have the returning power to put the other on the back foot when getting looks at that second serve. Both have produced some very solid returning numbers and that should mean we are in for a closer match than the first meeting between the two.

In saying that, there is still a feeling that the younger player, Mirra Andreeva, is operating at a slightly higher level compared with the lower Ranked Victoria Mboko.

She has a slight edge on the first serve and on the return and that win in Adelaide will still give her a mental edge, even if Mboko feels that she had run out of energy.

All fans should have eyes on this Third Round match in Doha between two youngsters that have the potential to win multiple Grand Slam titles between them, but right now it feels Mirra Andreeva can frank the first victory over Victoria Mboko by producing another here.

Elina Svitolina - 3.5 games v Anna Kalinskaya: A run to the Semi Final at any Grand Slam event deserves plenty of respect and personal pride, but you do have to believe that Elina Svitolina will have been seriously disappointed with her effort in that match against Aryna Sabalenka last month at the Australian Open. It was a run that has taken her back inside the top ten of the World Ranking though and that has allowed Elina Svitolina to begin this tournament in the Second Round where she was a convincing winner of a compatriot.

As has been mentioned a few times in matches involving Elina Svitolina, there is no doubt that the World Number 9 has been highly motivated when playing opponents who are Russian or Belarusian nationals.

That may not have been enough to see her beat the World Number 1, but during that run in Australia, Elina Svitolina was able to beat both Diana Schnaider and Mirra Andreeva, two Russian players who are inside the top 23 of the World Rankings. The win over Andreeva was particularly impressive and Elina Svitolina will be very keen to get one over on Anna Kalinskaya in the Third Round in Doha.

Anna Kalinskaya was the World Number 11 in October 2024, but has not maintained that consistency even if she is still inside the top 30.

She has shown how competitive she can be when pushing Iga Swiatek in a three set loss at the Australian Open and Kalinskaya has won a couple of matches here in Doha. The Second Round win over Emma Navarro underlined the kind of character that Anna Kalinskaya has on the court and she has won a set in each of the three losses suffered on the hard courts this season.

The numbers have to be admired, but this has proven to be a tough match for the World Number 28.

These two players have met three times on the Tour and all since May 2024, while playing one another twice last year.

All of those matches have been won by Elina Svitolina in straight sets, while the Ukrainian beat Anna Kalinskaya on the hard courts of Dubai and Montreal in 2025. Those two wins have been very one-sided with Elina Svitolina keeping Anna Kalinskaya under pressure on the return and serving with effectiveness to contain any threat that the lower Ranked player has been able to put together.

It is almost impossible to ignore the fact that the four sets played between the players last year were won 6-1, 6-2, 6-1, 6-1 by Elina Svitolina.

You cannot really expect the World Number 9 to continue to beat a talented opponent as comfortably as that every time they meet, but Elina Svitolina's motivations are clear and she should have enough about her to cover this spread that has been set for the Third Round meeting in Doha.

MY PICKS: Mirra Andreeva - 2.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)
Elina Svitolina - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)
Maria Sakkari - 3.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Karolina Muchova - 5.5 Games @ 1.95 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

Tommy Paul - 3.5 Games @ 1.85 William Hill (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 5-3, + 1.77 Units (8 Units Staked, + 22.13% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2025 (Tuesday 11th February)

Big fields will head to the Middle East for WTA tournaments in Doha and Dubai and that has meant a really busy opening couple of days in Qatar where the first of back to back WTA 1000 events are being played.

The Saturday finish will see plenty of Singles matches scheduled every day and the big names are back after participating in the Australian Open.

It is a disappointment that Belinda Bencic was not given a Wild Card to play in Doha after winning the title in Abu Dhabi having only recently returned to the Tour- she would have been playing Qualifiers this weekend rather than winning the event in Abu Dhabi, but the organisers should have offered Bencic a place in the draw and hopefully Dubai will be able to do that.

The ATP Tour has three events being played this week, but they are at 250 level with one event taking place on the clay courts in the South American Golden Swing and the other two hard court events before the Tour will also make a move towards the Middle East.

Last week was another decent one for the Tennis Picks to open the season and it is important to keep the momentum ticking over.

There is plenty of tennis to be played this week and so opportunities will be presented to put some more wins on the board, although it is also important for these pages to continue the tight approach taken to putting those selections together.

Daria Kasatkina - 3.5 games v Elina Avanesyan: Twelve months ago Daria Kasatkina reached the Final of the tournament in Abu Dhabi, but an early defeat at that event will have disappointed the World Number 12.

Moving onto Doha, Daria Kasatkina crushed Lucky Loser Polina Kudermetova in the First Round and the double bagel will have given the former a huge boost in confidence. The tests are certainly going to get tougher for Daria Kasatkina compared with the First Round win, but she remains a solid hard court player and will believe she has the qualities to earn a revenge victory over Elina Avanesyan.

The Semi Final run in Hobart last month was a very solid start to the season for Avanesyan, but she has not really been able to back that up in a way that she would have hoped.

Elina Avanesyan was beaten early at the Australian Open and that was followed by a Second Round defeat in Linz a couple of weeks ago before the Armenian decided to head to Doha for this big event.

A tough back and forth match in the First Round ended with Elina Avanesyan getting the better of a higher Ranked opponent, but she was a little fortunate and will have to bring a stronger effort to beat someone like Daria Kasatkina.

That was produced by Elina Avanesyan when she beat Daria Kasatkina on the grass courts of Berlin in June 2023, but she has struggled to compete with higher Ranked opponents on the hard courts over the last twelve months. Winning a match in such a circumstance in the First Round is important for Avanesyan, but her overall numbers suggest she could find herself on the wrong side of the result when facing the top 20 Ranked opponent across the net.

Elina Avanesyan did reach a career high World Ranking last month and at 22 years old there is plenty of improvement to come.

However, the level needed to beat Daria Kasatkina on the hard courts might not be quite there just yet and the higher Ranked player can finish on the right side of a match in which plenty of breaks of serve are going to be put on the board.

MY PICKS: Daria Kasatkina - 3.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (1 Unit)

2025 Season: 31-16, + 16.94 Units (85 Units Staked, + 19.93% Yield)

NFL Super Bowl LVIII Pick 2024 (February 12th)

Six months- it comes and goes really quickly, but it is going to feel like a considerable wait before the NFL season rolls around again.

Super Bowl LVIII is played in Las Vegas this weekend and it is a case of wondering if we will have 'repeat' or 'revenge' when the Kansas City Chiefs take on the San Francisco 49ers.

This should be a quality game between two of the top teams in the NFL, even if they have both not quite convinced through the post-season.

The defending Champions Kansas City have looked good, but the 49ers used up plenty of their fortune in their two PlayOff wins and the lines released by the oddsmakers suggests another close, competitive Super Bowl is ready to be played.

After a 1-1 run in the Divisional Round, there can be no complaints about the NFL Picks this season with a winning record secured.

Of course getting the Super Bowl Pick right is the ambition, but it was a very good season and gives us something to set the standard for the 2024 season later in the year.

Kansas City Chiefs vs San Francisco 49ers Pick: We have a repeat of Super Bowl LIV when the Kansas City Chiefs (14-6) take on the San Francisco 49ers (14-5) in Las Vegas this weekend.

The 49ers have long been favourites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, although it should be said they were pretty fortunate to get past both the Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions in the PlayOffs. A slight bounce of the ball going in a different direction, or a couple of passes from the opponent sticking, and the 49ers may have been upset at home.

Ultimately the key point is that they have not lost those games and the manner of the wins may give the players confidence and a feeling that 'this is their season' as the 49ers look to end a relatively long drought for a Championship.

Playing in the Super Bowl has become part and parcel of the Patrick Mahomes-Andy Reid era at the Kansas City Chiefs and this is the fourth time in five years that they are playing in the Championship Game. They have won two of the last three appearances, and are the defending Champions but the Chiefs have been playing with a chip on their shoulder having been set as the road underdog against the Buffalo Bills and Baltimore Ravens in the post-season.

You just know the Chiefs were well aware of that and they upset both the Number 1 and Number 2 Seed in the AFC.

It has been a year when the Offensive unit have not quite been on the same page for much of it, but the Kansas City Chiefs have been able to rely on an impressive Defensive unit and that is going to be very important for them in this game.

One of the weaknesses has been stopping the run- it was a real surprise to see the Ravens abandon that part of their Offense in a game that ended up being decided by just a Touchdown. That is not likely to be the case with this San Francisco 49ers team who have a star in the backfield, Christian McCaffrey, and an Offense that will have the likes of Deebo Samuel carry the ball as they look to keep opponents guessing.

This should be the approach for the 49ers, which is not a slight on Brock Purdy.

However, the Quarter Back has made some big mistakes in the PlayOffs and he could have easily cost the 49ers one of the two PlayOff games. There have been moments and drives where Purdy has impressed, but the 49ers will like to keep the ball out of his hands as much as possible and not have him throw into the Kansas City Secondary which has been playing at a high level all season.

Playing a clean game will be important for the 49ers Offense and they will feel confident enough if they can pound the rock on the ground. Third and manageable spots may give Brock Purdy an opportunity to make plays through the air, while the Quarter Back has shown he can also move out of a collapsing pocket and pick up First Downs with his legs.

Running the ball will also be an important part of the Kansas City Offense.

When you have a player of the qualities of Patrick Mahomes at Quarter Back, it can be easy to lean on him and ask him to make the plays with his arm, but the 49ers Defensive Line have struggled to contain the run in the post-season. Andy Reid has had plenty of time to prepare for this game and will have noted that so the expectation is that Isiah Pacheco will be getting plenty of carries and can be very effective.

Joe Thuney is trending towards missing out and will be a huge absence at Left Guard, but the Chiefs can still have success running the ball against this 49ers Defensive Line.

That should give Kansas City a slightly more balanced Offensive game-plan compared with the San Francisco 49ers. While the Chiefs have a Secondary that have been hard to throw the ball against, the San Francisco Secondary have allowed one or two holes to be exposed by Jordan Love and Jared Goff and it was only some big dropped passes from the Lions Receivers that cost Detroit the NFC Championship Game.

Drops have been a problem for the Kansas City Receiving corps this season, but Travis Kelce has picked up his level as we have entered the PlayOffs and he is likely going to have a big impact on the game. Patrick Mahomes will put the ball where it needs to be and he is another Quarter Back capable of scrambling for First Downs when the opportunity presents itself.

It is his passing capabilities against this Secondary compared with Brock Purdy's against the Kansas City Secondary which may end up being the most important factor of the Super Bowl.

Patrick Mahomes may not have the Receiving talent of the 49ers, but he does have a couple of solid players that will make plays for him, especially with Travis Kelce getting back up to his top level. There is little doubt that the Quarter Back will make all the throws needed, even when scrambling away from pressure, but the same cannot really be said for Brock Purdy who has been an inch away from making catastrophic mistakes.

A lucky bounce here and a massive drop there has prevented the Interceptions from racking up and this Chiefs Secondary are playing at a higher level than the teams that Brock Purdy has edged past.

The game should be competitive, and that should mean the 49ers can lean on the run, but if they fall behind in this one as they have done in the last two Rounds, you have to believe Brock Purdy will not be able to drag San Francisco out of the hole.

It really does have the makings of a very close contest- recent Super Bowls have been and even the one played between these two teams in February 2020 was very close until Kansas City broke away in the Fourth Quarter.

The expectation is that there really will not be much between the teams with both looking to control the clock on the ground, but the slight edge has to be given to the Kansas City Chiefs with their superior Quarter Back. Being in Sin City will mean every single player on the roster of the defending Champions will know they are still not being 'respected' as they have been set as the underdog for a third straight game, but Patrick Mahomes continues to not only cover, but win those games outright.

Patrick Mahomes is now 11-1-1 against the spread as an underdog, but he is also 10-3 outright in those games which is very impressive. He clearly is motivated by the spot and the expectation is we will get a very strong game out of the Quarter Back.

Having a full 3 points with the underdog would have been very appealing, but the Chiefs have every chance of winning this one outright and the strengths in the Secondary may just see the defending Champions lock down a dynasty.

Kyle Shanahan has shown he has plenty of qualities as a Head Coach, but Andy Reid is special and the extra preparation time certainly makes it hard to oppose the latter, giving the Chiefs another slight edge.

It does have me leaning, very slightly with the Kansas City Chiefs, and taking the points on offer looks the way to go. They have every chance of winning this one outright, but it would not be a surprise to see the Super Bowl go down to the wire and so the points may yet make a difference, even below a key number.

MY SUPER BOWL PICK: Kansas City Chiefs + 2.5 Points @ 1.91 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Championship Round: 1-1, - 0.09 Units (2 Units Staked, - 4.50% Yield)

Divisional Round: 3-1, + 1.66 Units (4 Units Staked, + 41.50% Yield)

Wild Card: 5-1, + 3.42 Units (6 Units Staked, + 57% Yield)

Week 18: 3-5, - 2.31 Units (8 Units Staked, - 28.88% Yield)

Week 17: 5-2, + 2.55 Units (7 Units Staked, + 36.43% Yield)

Week 16: 5-4, + 0.66 Units (9 Units Staked, + 7.33% Yield)

Week 15: 5-4, + 0.60 Units (9 Units Staked, + 6.67% Yield)

Week 14: 5-3, + 1.58 Units (8 Units Staked, + 19.75% Yield)

Week 13: 2-2, - 1.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 23.60% Yield)

Week 12: 6-1, + 5.23 Units (8 Units Staked, + 65.38% Yield)

Week 11: 5-2, + 2.54 Units (7 Units Staked, + 36.29% Yield)

Week 10: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 9: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)

Week 8: 2-2-1, - 0.18 Units (5 Units Staked, - 3.60% Yield)

Week 7: 3-2, + 0.82 Units (5 Units Staked, + 16.40% Yield)

Week 6: 4-3, + 0.56 Units (7 Units Staked, + 8% Yield)

Week 5: 4-3-1, + 2.46 Units (10 Units Staked, + 24.60% Yield)

Week 4: 3-5, - 2.35 Units (8 Units Staked, - 29.38% Yield)

Week 3: 4-4, + 0.43 Units (9 Units Staked, + 4.78% Yield)

Week 2: 3-4-2, - 1.36 Units (12 Units Staked, - 11.33% Yield)

Week 1: 5-2, + 2.51 Units (7 Units Staked, + 35.86% Yield)

2023 Season: 79-58-4, + 16.02 Units

Australian Open Tennis Day 4 Picks 2021 (February 11th)

It was an extremely disappointing day for the Tennis Picks on Day 3 at the Australian Open, even if a couple of late winners ended the slump.

This happens in a Grand Slam tournament, but the key is to bounce back effectively and to not get too down after a poor day in the office. It happens, but the process has to be trusted and that means avoiding some of the mistakes I did make on Day 3.

I will have to be better and that will begin from Day 4 as the Second Round is completed.

In the main the Outright Selections have progressed through the draw, but Petra Kvitova was the first to fall in an upset loss in the Second Round. That is a disappointment, but the progress made by Novak Djokovic and Dominic Thiem is encouraging and others will also be looking to move into the Third Round when playing their matches on Day 4.

It is a long tournament and one that will have twists and turns, but at this moment those Outright Picks that remain involved in Melbourne are showing encouraging signs.

On another note most sports fans will know how much the experience has changed for those viewing on television and those playing over the last several months. With no fans in attendance, sometimes you can feel that sports matches are lacking intensity at times and it has also meant some of the drama of a sporting event has been missing.

It is not the case at the Australian Open this year, and the limited fans in attendance made themselves heard loud and clear in the Night Session across Melbourne Park. It helped that two home players were involved in some outstanding matches, but the atmosphere for the Nick Kyrgios win over Ugo Humbert was absolutely amazing and really made me feel so much better about things.

They certainly dragged Krygios through the match when he might have otherwise not had the fight without anyone to entertain in the stands and I do think it will be encouraging to other tournaments and sports around the world. Right now we are in the midst of a dark period, but there is light through the vaccines being developed and the hope is that the atmosphere we have seen on Day 3 will become the norm again sooner rather than later across events around the world.

All credit to the players for engaging the crowd in the manner they did and for the first time in a long time I think it was a sporting event that I really enjoyed to the full extent I should do. Even the football being played in the Premier League has not felt the same without the atmosphere coming down from the stands and I can't wait for the day we are allowed back to enjoy all these sporting events like we were twelve months ago.

Rafael Nadal - 9.5 games v Michael Mmoh: There are some concerns about the Rafael Nadal back at the start of the first Grand Slam of the 2021 season and we are yet to really know how he is feeling. A comfortable win in the First Round will have given his fans encouragement, but Rafael Nadal will be the first to admit that his challengers will be much more difficult the deeper he gets into the Australian Open draw.

It has now been twelve years since Nadal won the title here in Melbourne, although he has had a number of good runs before coming up short. His overall hard court numbers remain really strong and the performance in the First Round will make the Spaniard a big favourite to earn his place in the Third Round without too many scares.

That isn't trying to disrespect Michael Mmoh, but the 23 year old has largely been operating at the Challenger level and he has dropped down to Number 177 in the World Rankings. His career. best Ranking is only Number 96 and Mmoh's two defeats at the Australian and US Opens last season came in relatively straight-forward fashion against a couple of top 30 Ranked players.

Three Qualifying wins will have given Michael Mmoh confidence, but this is a huge step up for a player who will be put under pressure in each and every service game played. The American does have a couple of wins over top 50 Ranked players on the hard courts and one of those was against an opponent Ranked inside the top 20, but the numbers show that Michael Mmoh holds less than 67% of his service games in those matches and struggles to break serve.

It is a poor combination to have against someone like Rafael Nadal who won't want to expend any extra energy to work his way through to the Third Round. That should mean a focused player on the court and Rafael Nadal has a perfect 12-0 record against players Ranked outside the top 100 when meeting them at the Australian Open.

The pressure is clearly on those opponents with Rafael Nadal holding 90% of his own service games and breaking in over 45% of return games played against those opponents.

I do have to note that Rafael Nadal would have covered this mark only seven times in those twelve wins over players Ranked outside the top 100 at the Aussie Open, but Michael Mmoh does look like he will be overmatched. The underdog has played four top 50 Ranked players on the hard courts at a Grand Slam level and he has completed fourteen sets in those matches- of those, Michael Mmoh has lost six by either a 6-1 or 6-2 score and I think doing that here will set Rafael Nadal well on the way to the cover.

Michael Mmoh has also failed to cover this mark in two of those four defeats and only avoided that being three out of four by taking the first set in his defeat to Roberto Bautista Agut last year at the Australian Open. That four set loss came by a nine game margin, but I don't expect Rafael Nadal to be as loose as his compatriot was to give up a set and he should find the breaks to cover and move into the Third Round again.

Alex De Minaur - 7.5 games v Pablo Cuevas: For many players that have been stuck in hard quarantine it has been a difficult time as they have struggled to prepare for the first Grand Slam of the season. It isn't just an excuse, but I do think the mental pressures have been difficult to deal with and in the early Rounds it may just be a battle to stick around in the tournament.

Some players have tried to thrive in the unfortunate conditions they have been dealing with and that is by raising their social profile by offering an insight into how they were trying to keep themselves occupied while waiting for clearance to leave their hotels. One of those was Pablo Cuevas and it may have led to a new set of fans ready to back the Uruguayan.

However that is not likely to be the case in the Second Round after seeing off veteran Andreas Seppi on Tuesday. Pablo Cuevas didn't do anything wrong in the four set win, but the home crowd will be firmly behind Australian Alex De Minaur who was a comfortable winner over a former two time Australian Open Quarter Finalist Tennys Sandgren.

The result was an impressive one, although Sandgren did mention that he felt his preparation was not the best having been in a tough quarantine and having limited time to get ready for the opening match. Ultimately that is not the fault of Alex De Minuar who has improved to 8-1 in his career when playing an opponent Ranked outside the top 50 in a hard court Grand Slam with the victory in the First Round.

He has already won a title in 2021 and Alex De Minuar will look at the two defeats at the ATP Cup and acknowledge those have come against top players on the Tour. In matches against those lower down the the World Rankings Alex De Minaur has tended to show off his strong returning skills and that backs up what is a decent enough serve to get into a position to win those matches.

In general the Alex De Minaur serve is solid and he should be too good for Pablo Cuevas, although this veteran has to be respected at all times. The best performances do tend to come on the clay courts though and Pablo Cuevas wins under 40% of his hard court matches against top 50 Ranked players.

It has been a real problem for Pablo Cuevas in the Australian and US Opens and he is just 1-11 against top 50 Ranked opponents in those Grand Slams through his career. His serve becomes vulnerable as Cuevas struggles with his return in those matches and I do think that is going to be a real issue for him in this Second Round match with the way he looks to be lining up against Alex De Minaur.

I would not be surprised if at least one or two sets are competitive, but at some point I would expect Alex De Minuar to go on a run of games which gives him every chance of covering this Second Round handicap.

Ekaterina Alexandrova - 3.5 games v Barbora Krejcikova: We are beginning to see some of the best tennis of her career and Ekaterina Alexandrova has been rewarded by being Seeded for the Australian Open. The Covid-19 outbreak would have slowed down some of the momentum of a player who reached her peak career World Ranking just a month before the Tour was postponed and hastily re-arranged, but the Russian has played well in the early part of 2021.

Ekaterina Alexandrova is a pretty good all court player, but the hard courts might be her favourite and she will be looking to match her Third Round run at the Australian Open in 2020. A relatively straight-forward win in the First Round will have given Alexandrova some confidence that she can have a strong run in Melbourne, but the competition ramps up rapidly in the next couple of days.

Assuming she can get through this match, Ekaterina Alexandrova looks to be on a collision course with Number 1 Seed and home favourite Ashleigh Barty, but she can't afford to look too far ahead. A strong first serve should at least make things a touch easier for Alexandrova in this match, while she has a steady return which will give her a chance to get her teeth into those games too and the Russian is rightly favoured.

In saying that she has to be careful of Barbora Krejcikova who has long been one of the stronger Doubles players on the Tour, but who has hit a new career high Singles World Ranking before the start of the Australian Open. 2020 was a strong year for the player from the Czech Republic who will be inspired by the other talented players that perform for that nation and the numbers were actually very similar to the ones that Ekaterina Alexandrova produced.

That is namely a strong first serve and a decent 43% of points won on the return, although it should be noted that those have largely come against lower quality players than the one she is going to be seeing in the Second Round. Barbora Krejcikova is just 2-8 on the hard courts when facing a top 50 Ranked player in her career and the numbers slip across the board to underline the record.

Both wins have actually come in 2021 and that includes her three set First Round win in this tournament, but it will be a difficult test in trying to get the better of Ekaterina Alexandrova. Thirteen months ago it was the latter who beat Krejcikova in the Second Round in Melbourne and it came in a dominant performance for Alexandrova who held a big edge in the second serve percentage points won that day.

In recent years Ekaterina Alexandrova has dominated matches in which she has faced players outside of the top 50 of the World Rankings on the hard courts. That includes a 4-1 record in that situation in 2021 and Alexandrova has tended to find the breaks of serve which will get her in a position to cover this handicap even if the match goes into a third set.

There is a very slight edge in favour of Alexandrova in the return department in this match and I think that is important to frank the win from last year and see her move into the Third Round again at the expense of Barbora Krejcikova.

Anett Kontaveit - 5.5 games v Heather Watson: She came through for us a couple of days ago, but there were still some concerning quotes coming from Heather Watson who admitted she came close to missing out on the tournament. A leg spasm would have been the cause for that and Watson has admitted that hard quarantine has also taken a toll on her, but the battling quality to get past Kristyna Pliskova will stand her in good stead.

The last remaining British player in the Women's draw will need to raise her level again if she is going to progress in Melbourne to the Third Round for only the second time at the Australian Open and the first time since 2013. Heather Watson does have some solid hard court numbers in her career, but there is a real drop off when she faces top 50 Ranked opponents on the surface and it has particularly been the case in Grand Slam events in Melbourne and New York City.

Those Grand Slams played on the hard courts have seen Heather Watson produce a 1-11 record when playing top 50 Ranked opponents and her second serve has been attacked in those matches. Add in the poor returning numbers and you can begin to see why Watson has been beaten so comfortably in her last three matches in this spot.

The feeling is that Anett Kontaveit is going to one of those players that has a bit too much for Heather Watson despite the narrow 3-2 lead the Estonian holds in their career meetings. That record becomes 2-1 in favour of Kontaveit on the hard courts, while the last two matches have seen Anett Kontaveit dominate the matches.

Over the years it does have to be said that Anett Kontaveit has flattered to deceive at times, but her solid First Round win over Aliaksandra Sasnovich will be encouraging. Her sole Grand Slam Quarter Final appearance did come at the Australian Open in 2020 and over the last couple of years Anett Kontaveit has shown she is a solid hard court player with good numbers both behind the serve and return.

Since January 2019, Anett Kontaveit has a perfect 8-0 record against players Ranked outside the top 50 in the hard court Grand Slam matches she has played. The number that has been particularly impressive is the 52% of return points won and Kontaveit would have covered this margin of handicap in seven of those wins.

In the same period Kontaveit is 25-1 against players outside the top 50 on the hard courts and I do think the Estonian is going to get the better of this match. In the head to head with Heather Watson we have seen that Anett Kontaveit has been able to control the tempo with the strong serving she has produced and that does put pressure on the British player to respond.

This is a big mark, but Anett Kontaveit can find the breaks of serve to cover.

Danielle Collins-Karolina Pliskova over 21.5 games: One of the best looking matches in the Second Round at the Australian Open features two big hitting players that are Ranked inside the top 40 and who have plenty of successes on the hard courts. It will be the second time in the Australian summer that Danielle Collins and Karolina Pliskova are playing one another and the feeling is that this one will just as close as the 7-6, 7-6 win the American underdog secured over Pliskova earlier this month.

On that day both Collins and Pliskova put together a strong serving day, although the latter will feel she had the better opportunities to break serve and was a little unfortunate on the day. Ultimately Danielle Collins played the bigger points better than Karolina Pliskova, but this match should be just as tight and competitive and I think it could be one that is decided by the smallest of margins.

I know she is not everybody's cup of tea, but I really like Danielle Collins and her attitude is not one that grates on me as it has sometimes seemingly done on other people. She has a big game and if she is serving well she will be tough to beat, and a tight defeat to Serena Williams shows that Collins is rarely overawed.

Further evidence to that is the fact that Danielle Collins has a solid 5-7 record against top 10 players on the hard courts in her career and she is a former Australian Open Semi Finalist. Her numbers have been decent enough in those top 10 battles and Collins will feel she can challenge Karolina Pliskova who can sometimes struggle with her return of serve.

Karolina Pliskova was a dominant First Round winner, but this is a player who is heavily reliant on her serve and using that to build the pressure on opponents. I do think that has proven to be a solid advantage for Pliskova down the years, but the limited return game is the main reason she has yet to secure a Grand Slam title and it is one that will give Danielle Collins an opportunity for a second upset over this top 10 player in the space of a few days.

In something of a surprise, Karolina Pliskova only holds a 15-12 record in hard court Grand Slam matches against players Ranked inside the top 50, but she still wins a huge amount of first serve points. This feels like it could be a serve orientated match and one that may easily need three sets to separate them on the day and I think backing the two players to put enough strong serving together to cover the total games mark is the play.

Yulia Putintseva - 4.5 games v Alison Van Uytvanck: On the face of things you would think someone like Yulia Putintseva would not be the most effective hard court player, but you should not judge a book by its cover. The Kazakhstan World Number 28 is ready to reach a new career high and the performances have been underlined by strong movement and an ability to turn defence into attack very quickly while using the pace that comes through the court on the hard court surface.

Her numbers have been pretty decent and Yulia Putintseva gets more out of her serve than you may expect, although she is one of the players that were involved in the hard quarantine which has played havoc with some of the preparation for the first Grand Slam of the season. The come from behind win over a former Grand Slam Champion Sloane Stephens in the First Round will be a big help to Putintseva with the additional time spent on the court and she is facing an opponent in the Second Round that she has dominated in their previous pro Tour meetings.

Alison Van Uytvanck has a decent record on the hard courts which will have to be respected, but she can struggle for consistency and the step up in level of opponent has proven tough for the Belgian to deal with. While the overall hard court numbers are decent, Van Uytvanck is only 15-39 when it comes to facing top 50 Ranked opponents on this surface in her career.

That becomes 0-5 in the hard court Grand Slams in Melbourne and New York City and Alison Van Uytvanck has been unable to defend her second serve while producing really poor returning in those matches. Winning less than 30% of return points across those five matches makes it very difficult to win matches against the better players on the Tour, although I do think it should be noted that four of those five matches have come against top 20 Ranked players.

Yulia Putintseva may not be at that level, but in their three head to head matches she has dominated the return of serve to produce three pretty comfortable wins. The serve will give Alison Van Uytvanck a chance if she is willing to try and take an aggressive approach, but the Belgian has not really been able to get into the Putintseva first serve in those previous matches and I think the favourite is going to have too much for her in the Second Round here.

At times there will be switches in momentum which is the worry about backing Yulia Putintseva to cover relatively big marks as a favourite, but I think she will be the one who has the most success when it comes to the return of serve. That should lead to the breaks needed to get past this mark and I think Putintseva will be a tough out for any player she faces in Melbourne.

MY PICKS: Rafael Nadal - 9.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Alex De Minaur - 7.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Ekaterina Alexandrova - 3.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Anett Kontaveit - 5.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Danille Collins-Karolina Pliskova Over 21.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Yulia Putintseva - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Lloyd Harris - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Fabio Fognini - 1.5 Sets @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Sofia Kenin @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Cori Gauff + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Australian Open Update: 16-17, - 5.48 Units (66 Units Staked, - 8.30% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2020 (February 11th)

There are a lot of First Round matches scheduled for Tuesday at the five tournaments being played this week as those events really begin to get going.

In this thread I am going to place the selections from the Tuesday matches, but I will have to update the totals from the Monday matches as soon as the late ones from New York have been completed.

It is likely to be the case for the majority of the week with the tournaments in North and South America scheduling some late starts, but at least I can place the full Tuesday selections in this thread having had the order of play from all five events already being released.


Andrey Rublev - 3.5 games v Nikoloz Basilashvili: Winning back to back tournaments in January followed by a run through to the Fourth Round at the Australian Open has helped Andrey Rublev reach a career best Number 15 in the World Rankings. At 22 years old the Russian is not expecting this to be the peak of his career though as he continues to show improvement on the Tour and that is especially the case on the hard courts.

This is a big tournament in Rotterdam this week so there are no easy matches from the off and that is proven by Rublev being paired with Nikoloz Basilashvili in the First Round. The Georgian is still inside the top thirty in the World Rankings and was as high as Number 16 just last year, although it has been a more difficult start to the 2020 season for him than it has for Andrey Rublev.

Nikoloz Basilashvili was beaten in the Second Round at the Australian Open and he is just 2-3 on the hard courts to open 2020. He has finished with a winning record in each of the last three seasons on this surface, but Basilashvili has always produced average numbers which suggests there isn't much margin for error to prevent him from hitting a really poor run.

Draws will make a difference, but this looks to be a very difficult one for Basilashvili who was beaten by Andrey Rublev when these players last met back in August. Nikoloz Basilashvili was 2-0 in the head to head before losing to the Russian in Cincinnati, and that result also means they are now 1-1 on the hard courts against each other, although Rublev looks to have a real advantage when it comes to the return of serve.

Both might have ended up with similar percentages when it comes to the break of serve on the hard courts, but Rublev has won more return points and I think he is the superior returner. In their matches against each other on the hard courts, Rublev has broken in 20% of return games played compared with Basilashvili's 17% mark.

It might not look a lot, but it can make all the difference and the early season form certainly suggests Andrey Rublev's move up the World Rankings has yet to come to an end. The Russian has been winning a vastly higher percentage of service points compared with Basilashvili to open the 2020 season and he has also been stronger on the return which will have me backing him to cover the number in this one.


Hubert Hurkacz-Stefanos Tsitipas over 22.5 games: This is another First Round match in Rotterdam which underlines the status of the tournament as an ATP 500 event. Both Hubert Hurkacz and Stefanos Tsitsipas are inside the top thirty in the World Rankings, although both are also returning to competitive tennis for the first time since disappointing Australian Open showings.

Both Hurkacz at 22 years old and Tsitsipas at 21 years old are hoping to be part of the 'Next Gen' group of players that are hoping to challenge the Big Three that have long dominated the ATP Tour. However the Polish player was beaten in the Second Round and Stefanos Tsitsipas was unable to defend the Semi Final points he earned from the tournament twelve months earlier as he was defeated in the Third Round.

That makes this a very important tournament for the two players who will open the evening session in Rotterdam and it is Stefanos Tsitsipas who has the edge having won four of their previous five matches since turning professional. All of those have been on the hard courts, but the last two have been split and Hubert Hurkacz will feel he should have won both of those.

In actual fact the last three have all gone the distance between these players and I don't think it can be ruled out that this match will go the same way. Stefanos Tsitipas has held 90% of his service games played in the last three matches between these players while Hubert Hurkacz has held 87% of his own service games and both players have won over 70% of the points played behind serve which underlines how tough it can be to earn the breaks of serve against each other.

The serve is a huge weapon for both of these players, and, while Stefanos Tsitsipas has a slight advantage on that front, it is Hubert Hurkacz that has the slightly better return numbers. It is no surprise that matches have been as competitive as they have been between these players because neither is a really strong returner and they can serve their way through games to keep themselves in with a chance of winning.

On an indoor hard court I would think Hurkacz and Tsitsipas are able to get through service games efficiently, although the courts here in Rotterdam might not be playing as fast as some others on the Tour. There have been a lot of breaks in the early matches played in Rotterdam, but this is a match up that looks like it could produce a relatively long match.

The last three have all gone that way and I think there is every chance this one will too and so backing the players to combine for more than the total games line set looks to be the play.

MY PICKS: Andrey Rublev - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)
Hubert Hurkacz-Stefanos Tsitsipas Over 22.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)
Dominik Koepfer - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Laslo Djere - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Juan Ignacio Londero - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Petra Martic - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 5-1, + 7.06 Units (12 Units Staked, + 58.33% Yield)

Weekend Football Picks 2018 (February 10-12)

The Champions League and Europa League Knock Out Rounds begin this week and that means this is the time of the season when you have to begin considering the amount of rotation managers will decide on to keep players fresh for plenty of big games ahead.

At the moment you would think all of the top managers involved in both domestic and European matters are not going to look too far ahead, but it does pose the question as matches come thick and fast with the FA Cup next weekend and plenty of football to cram in before the final international break of the season in around five weeks time.

Keep an eye on press conferences and try and read between the lines about what managers are saying in the lead up to the weekend games, while team news will also be important when making your selections.

I don't have the luxury of waiting for team news for the picks on the thread and this is my selections for the weekend games to be played in the Premier League from Saturday through to Monday evening.

On Monday I should have the Champions League selections ready for the four ties to be played this week and I will add any Europa League Picks on Tuesday and Wednesday.


Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal Pick: The North London derby opens the Premier League weekend fixtures from Wembley Stadium on Saturday lunchtime.

It is a big game between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal with the battle for the top four places in the Premier League heating up. Both teams earned positive results last weekend against Merseyside opposition as Arsenal hammered Everton at the Emirates Stadium before Tottenham Hotspur earned a solid 2-2 draw at Anfield on Sunday.

That means it is Tottenham Hotspur who are 4 points clear of Arsenal going into the final North London derby of the season. A win for the home team will almost certainly mean Arsenal have to pay full attention to the Europa League if they want to get back into the Champions League, but a win for Arsenal will open a big chance to reclaim their place in the top four of the Premier League having slipped out for the first time in a generation last season.

There is plenty of talent going out onto the field on Saturday and I think it will be a fascinating watch with both Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal having a lot of attacking threats to pose against the other.

I do want to give the edge to Tottenham Hotspur in this fixture as they are playing in more familiar surroundings, although Arsenal have experienced a lot of success at Wembley Stadium in recent years to feel comfortable enough too. However I think the Tottenham Hotspur defensive shape is better than Arsenal's which should mean the Tottenham Hotspur attackers find a little more room for success in the final third.

Arsenal's away form has been very poor this season considering the standards the top teams in England have been setting. That is the main reason they are 5 points off the top four, and Arsenal have lost to both Liverpool and Manchester City away from home in the Premier League this season.

They did earn a draw at Chelsea in both the Premier League and League Cup, but Arsenal have been in poor form recently which has seen them lose at Bournemouth and Swansea City. Compare that to Tottenham Hotspur who have won 5 of their last 6 home Premier League games and have beaten Manchester United in their last League game here.

Tottenham Hotspur have also won 2 of their last 3 home League games against Arsenal and they led in the other game which was drawn 2-2. The Tottenham Hotspur players look to be playing with a little confidence in their last couple of games against teams in the top four and I think they can underline their status as the current top team in North London with a win over Arsenal at odds against.


Stoke City v Brighton Pick: Any Premier League game between teams in the bottom half of the table have huge ramifications at the moment with very little separating 12th placed West Ham United and 19th placed Huddersfield Town.

Both Brighton and Stoke City are occupying one of those places between The Hammers and The Terriers and both Chris Hughton and Paul Lambert will recognise the importance of the fixture.

There have been positive signs for both clubs over the last couple of weeks and even the 2-1 loss at Bournemouth last week for Stoke City came in a game where they had the chances to win the points. Now they return home where they have had back to back clean sheets under Lambert and picked up 4 points from a possible 6.

That will give Stoke City confidence to earn the points on offer on Saturday as Brighton have continued to struggle for goals away from the Amex Stadium. On the other hand, Brighton remain strong defensively for the most part and they will look to make life difficult for Stoke City, while recent draws at Newcastle United and Southampton show that Brighton can earn a positive result here.

I don't think there will be much between the teams, but I do think Stoke City have a little more in the final third which could prove critical to the outcome of the fixture. Brighton have to be respected having shown toughness away from home all season and so I will back the home team, but on the Asian Handicap which returns half the stake in the event of a draw.

I just feel Stoke City have gone back to basics defensively which can at least limit what Brighton are able to do, but it will come down to whether the home team have the confidence in the final third to take their own opportunities. Stoke City have been creating chances in their 3 games under Paul Lambert which will offer some encouragement to their fans and I think the home team will secure a narrow victory.


West Ham United v Watford Pick: It looks like the West Ham United injury list is beginning to clear up a little bit at the same time as Watford have to continue playing with limited resources after a deep injury list shows little sign of improving.

However Watford had a huge confidence boosting win over Chelsea on Monday night and that will give the players a shot in the arm after they had shown signs of slipping back into a relegation battle.

Losing Troy Deeney to a suspension would be tough to take, but Watford will feel they can play with a little more freedom at the London Stadium now they have put a little more distance between themselves and the bottom three.

That could make Watford dangerous even though they have struggled mightily on their travels in the last couple of months. Goals have been an issue for them after a fast start away from home, but Watford will feel they can create chances on Saturday against a West Ham United team who have been having some difficulties defensively.

On the other hand West Ham United have also shown they can continue to create chances even without the likes of Marko Arnautovic and Manuel Lanzini pulling the strings for their team. The last 8 West Ham United games in the Premier League have seen both teams score and that is something that could easily continue this weekend with the way they have struggled defensively and now facing a Watford team who don't do a lot of clean sheets.

While a point will keep things ticking over for West Ham United, I doubt that is something David Moyes will settle for considering the fixtures still to come for The Hammers. Both teams should be able to produce chances in this fixture and the last couple of games between West Ham United and Watford in East London have produced fireworks.

My concern for Watford is they have not scored in 4 of their last 5 away games in all competitions and potentially have Deeney ruled out on Saturday. However the performance against Chelsea on Monday night should have given them a huge boost and I will look for at least three goals to be shared out by these teams this weekend.


Manchester City v Leicester City Pick: There won't be a lot of love lost between Manchester City and Leicester City on Saturday when they meet in the Premier League. Manchester City have to be frustrated that they were not able to sign Riyad Mahrez, but the Leicester City decision to reject the bid has basically seen Mahrez go on strike.

That means neither team will have his services on Saturday in the Premier League but I imagine the Leicester City players will be highly motivated to show they can compete with Manchester City and show Mahrez what he is missing.

However Leicester City have not played well without one of their key players and have lost at Everton and drawn with Swansea City since Mahrez has walked away from his team-mates. There is still some pace which can cause Manchester City problems and Leicester City will look to counter attack against a team who can show defensive vulnerabilities at times.

Recently Leicester City played really well at Stamford Bridge in a goalless draw and they also led at Anfield before losing 2-1 to Liverpool, but this may be an even bigger test for them. Manchester City have looked very good in recent weeks and 11 straight home wins means they come into this one with plenty of confidence even after drawing 1-1 at Burnley last weekend.

The side dominated that game and it is hard to think Manchester City will be as complacent in front of goal as they were that day. At the Etihad Stadium Manchester City do take their chances and they have scored three or more goals in 6 of their last 7 here in all competitions.

The layers have got the Asian Handicap right on the money for this one and I do respect Leicester City for their performances at the big clubs so far this season. Claude Puel has made Leicester City tough to beat, and I do think they can frustrate Manchester City for some time but eventually the pressure is likely to tell.

Backing Manchester City to win by either two or three goals looks at odds against looks a decent price to me. Only 1 of their last 14 games at home have been won by more than a three goal margin, while 4 of their last 5 home Premier League games have been won by two or three goal margins.

With Leicester City showing some toughness away from home, I would be surprised if they are completely overrun by a Manchester City team missing the likes of Leroy Sane and Gabriel Jesus. However I do think Leicester City will have some difficulties containing the home team and I will look for Manchester City to win by one of those margins at odds against.


Huddersfield Town v Bournemouth Pick: There is a triple header of live games from the Premier League on Sunday and both Huddersfield Town and Bournemouth may have circled this fixture as one they can win.

Out of the two teams, Bournemouth have really picked up their form in recent weeks which has moved them into the top half of the Premier League table. Back to back wins over Chelsea and Stoke City will have given Bournemouth a lot of confidence and they head to a Huddersfield Town team who have lost 5 straight Premier League games as they have slipped into the bottom three.

There have been some problems for Huddersfield Town defensively which have put the team under more pressure, but they have also shown they can be more effective going forward against those teams in and around them. That may not be where Bournemouth stand now, but David Wagner is likely to have a very positive approach to this fixture especially if he really believes Huddersfield Town can survive in the top flight.

Huddersfield Town will feel they can get after a Bournemouth team who have looked vulnerable defensively, but they will also be put under pressure by a team who have shown attacking intent.

Bournemouth have scored at least twice in 6 of their last 7 games in the Premier League, while they have only kept a single clean sheet in their last 13 League games. Recent Huddersfield Town games have also produced goals and 3 of their last 5 at home have featured three or more goals and I think the layers could be caught out with their odds against quotes for at least three goals to be scored on Sunday morning.

You have to think Bournemouth will play the same way they always do under Eddie Howe while I believe Huddersfield Town will take a few more risks in this one with a vital three points on the line. If it is 1-1 late in the game then I wouldn't be surprised if both teams settle for a point, but I think there is enough reason to back at least three goals to be scored at a big, appealing price in this one.


Newcastle United v Manchester United Pick: The second of the live games in the Premier League comes at the end of an emotional week for Manchester United fans around the globe.

The 60th Anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster was remembered on Tuesday, but the players have had plenty of time to recharge the batteries with seven days off between Premier League games.

The fixture at St James' Park is a big one for Manchester United who have been set the goal of finishing 2nd in the League table by manager Jose Mourinho. The top four battle looks like one that could go down to the wire so Manchester United can't afford too many slips with the resumption of the Champions League meaning games will be coming thick and fast in the weeks ahead.

This week is a better one for Manchester United as they won't be back in action until next Saturday in the FA Cup and they have been playing very well away from home which is why they come in as strong favourites. 5 wins from 6 away Premier League games is a very good return, but Manchester United saw that run snapped last time out as they were beaten comfortably at Tottenham Hotspur.

Manchester United will feel they can get back to winning ways when visiting a Newcastle United team who have struggled to turn draws into wins in recent weeks. They have led against Burnley and Crystal Palace but barely held on for draws, while Newcastle United have not won any of 8 home games in the Premier League.

The pressure could be on if two of Stoke City, Swansea City or Huddersfield Town have won home League games played before this one kicks off as that would mean the fans are behind a team inside the relegation zone. It could easily see them turn on Mike Ashley again, while the players have struggled to create a lot of chances in games which is going to be underlined in a fixture like this one.

Rafa Benitez will look to make Newcastle United tough to beat and well organised which could be a problem for Manchester United. However special players like Alexis Sanchez and Anthony Martial can break down those teams as shown when Manchester United won 0-1 at Burnley and a strong defensive shape of their own should give Manchester United the edge.

Newcastle United have hosted Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League and lost a couple of those games. They weren't blown away in any of those games with Benitez making sure Newcastle United were tough to beat and I can see another tight defeat here.

Manchester United haven't been scoring a lot of goals in recent weeks so I can't imagine them winning by three or more goals. You can back Manchester United to win by one or two goal margins which come together to give you an odds against quote and I do like Manchester United to do that here.

I considered backing Manchester United to win to nil at a very big price, but Newcastle United can be dangerous going forward from set pieces and so simply looking for Manchester United to record a narrow win at odds against is appealing.

Only 1 away League win has come by more than a two goal margin, so I will dutch one and two goal margins of victory for an odds against quote on the Manchester United win here.


Southampton v Liverpool Pick: The last of the triple header live games from the Premier League comes from St Mary's as both Southampton and Liverpool search for key points at the bottom and top of the Premier League respectively.

It should be a decent game of football with both teams arguably better going forward than they have shown defensively. Southampton have both scored and conceded in their last 7 home Premier League games and they will feel their best chance of upsetting Liverpool is to get after a vulnerable defence that has conceded plenty of goals on their travels.

The key will be finding the balance between attack and defence as Southampton won't want to leave too many spaces for a pacy Liverpool front line to exploit. That has been tough for Southampton at times, but they have drawn with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur at St Mary's in recent weeks to suggest they can challenge Liverpool.

I also do have to wonder if Liverpool are hitting a poor patch of form like they did twelve months ago around this time of the season. They have had 1 win from their last 4 games in all competitions and looked outclassed by Tottenham Hotspur in a 2-2 draw at Anfield last Sunday.

However they continue to pose some danger going forward and Liverpool are a side who have scored plenty of away goals throughout this season. I think they will still have a little too much for Southampton in this Premier League game with the way the home team have been playing recently although I can see a few goals being shared out too.

8 of the last 9 Liverpool away games have featured at least three goals shared out and they have been on the winning side more often than not. With Southampton both scoring and conceding in a number of League games in a row at St Mary's, I do think backing Liverpool to win a game featuring at least three goals is a big price.


Chelsea v West Brom Pick: The last time Chelsea played West Brom resulted in a comfortable win for Chelsea at The Hawthorns and saw West Brom decide to sack manager Tony Pulis.

With the pressure on Antonio Conte, there is a feeling that a West Brom win on Monday night in the Premier League may see Chelsea decide to sack their own manager and make Conte the third straight manager to win the Premier League title and be sacked before the end of the next season.

Recent Chelsea managers have also seen West Brom accountable for them losing their job at Stamford Bridge, but I would expect to see a reaction from the Chelsea players on Monday. While it feels as though they have given up on their manager like they did to Jose Mourinho, generally they have been tougher at Stamford Bridge and Chelsea should be well rested for this game having been given a few days to rest by the manager.

Chelsea had a long unbeaten record at Stamford Bridge come to an end in the 0-3 defeat to Bournemouth last time out here, but they are facing a West Brom team who have hit a couple of bad results. West Brom are also under immense pressure with a 4 point gap to safety at the start of the weekend and that could easily look a lot worse by the time this game kicks off.

That will mean the away team are also under a scrutiny to perform and that makes this a tougher game to get a read on.

The Asian Handicap looks right on the mark with a case that can be made for both teams, although I did consider taking West Brom with the start knowing the way Alan Pardew will have them lined up.

However the better option may be backing both teams to score- West Brom have shown a little more in the final third in recent games under Pardew and they will believe they can create chances against a Chelsea team who have conceded seven goals in 2 Premier League games.

Chelsea will also have their chances as they are likely to have Olivier Giroud leading the line in a system that suits their players a little more than when Eden Hazard is in a false nine position. As positive as some of the West Brom attacking play has been, this is a team who have conceded plenty of goals under Pardew and backing both teams to score at odds against looks a very appealing price.

MY PICKS: Tottenham Hotspur @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Stoke City - 0.25 Asian Handicap @ 1.87 Bet365 (2 Units)
West Ham United-Watford Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester City to Win by 2 or 3 Goals @ 2.22 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Huddersfield Town-Bournemouth Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.30 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Manchester United to Win by 1 or 2 Goals @ 2.02 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Liverpool to Win & Over 2.5 Goals @ 2.60 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Chelsea-West Brom Both Teams to Score @ 2.05 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)

Tennis Picks 2017 (February 13th)

The Davis Cup and Fed Cup First Round ties have meant at least one of the ATP or WTA Tours has been missing any action for a week since the Australian Open. That isn't the case this week as we start hitting some of the third tier events that contribute plenty of Ranking points to a player's haul over the course of twelve months.

The ATP Rotterdam tournament and the WTA Doha tournament are the two big events of the week, but there is also the next clay court event in the South American Golden Swing and the first event in the United States in Memphis too.


Last week was a very strong one for the tennis picks with plenty of winners pushing the season back into the black after a disappointing time the week after the Australian Open. With four tournaments scheduled for the week, hopefully there will be enough good angles to produce another solid week and get the season moving in the direction I want.


Shuai Zhang - 1.5 games v Timea Babos: A long losing run for Timea Babos came to an end over the last few days as she won a couple of Rubbers for Hungary in the Fed Cup. Babos had lost seven matches in a row prior to those wins, although I do think it has to be noted that both wins came against players Babos was fully expected to beat and the challenges in Doha will be much tougher.

She is facing a rested Shuai Zhang in the First Round on Monday and this has all the makings of a tight and competitive match. 2017 has started slowly for Zhang compared with 2016 when she made her breakthrough on the Tour at the Australian Open, but her three losses have come against difficult opponents and Zhang hasn't been playing badly.

These two players met at the end of the 2016 season in a match that was dominated by Zhang even if that was not reflected in the final score. A lot will depend on which of these players is able to produce the stronger serving on the day and I do think there will be little between them.

However I think Zhang might be the player with the stronger mental resolve in this one as Babos tries to find her game against the better players on the Tour. Having a slight lack of belief at the big moments can be a killer for a tennis player and I think that might be the case for Babos in this one even if I am anticipating the match to go into a final set decider.

I am expecting Zhang to come through with a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 win to move through to the Second Round in Doha.


Feliciano Lopez - 2.5 games v Pierre-Hugues Herbert: The tournament in Rotterdam might be played on an indoor hard court, but the conditions are not as fast as some may expect. That is an issue for the likes of Feliciano Lopez and Pierre-Hugues Herbert who are very reliant on their first serve and also try to get to the net to put some pressure on their opponents.

Herbert should be confident having won two Qualifiers in Rotterdam already this week, but the level of opponent is raised in this one. The only concern I would have is that Lopez has not been playing that well to open 2017 and that could even things up between these players on the Singles court to make it a more competitive match than it perhaps should be.

The layers tend to agree with a small spread in this one, but I do think Lopez can get over the number. He beat Herbert four months ago when they met at the Paris Masters on an indoor hard court and it was the Lopez superior return game that paved the way for that success.

I do think he remains the better returner, but Lopez needs to serve better than he did in the loss to Benoit Paire in Montpellier last week. I do think it will be the Spaniard who earns the majority of break points in this one and I would not be surprised if we see a similar 7-6, 6-4 kind of win for Lopez as he had when he beat Herbert in Paris at the end of the 2016 season.

MY PICKS: Shuai Zhang - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Feliciano Lopez - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Season 2017: + 8.02 Units (346 Units Staked, + 2.32% Yield)

Season 2016: - 5.64 Units (2013 Units Staked, - 0.00% Yield)

Season 2015: - 21.81 Units (1812 Units Staked, - 1% Yield)
Season 2014: + 45.05 Units (1586.5 Units Staked, + 2.84% Yield)

Season 2013: + 21.74 Units (1251.5 Units Staked, + 1.73% Yield)

Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, + 5.76% Yield)

Season 2011: + 82.02 Units