Indian Wells Tennis Day 12 Picks 2026 (Sunday 15th March)

It did prove to be a difficult tournament to turn around after the two ATP Semi Finals were split 1-1, but that does not mean we move past the last day of the Indian Wells Masters.

The two Finals are both scheduled to be played on the day and both look like they could be very enjoyable for the neutrals tuning in.

A repeat of the Women's Australian Open Final and a Men's Final featuring two of the very best hard court players in the world can only be a positive and my thoughts can be read below.

Aryna Sabalenka - 1.5 games v Elena Rybakina: A repeat of the Australian Open Final will be played in the Indian Wells Final and both Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina have put together strong runs here.

Out of the two players, Aryna Sabalenka has been producing the higher level of tennis, but she has also struggled to get the better of this opponent.

In the last nine hard court matches between the pair, it is Elena Rybakina who has won seven times including in Melbourne in January. They met three times on the hard courts in 2025 and Rybakina won two of those, while the sole meeting in Indian Wells was also won in the Final by the World Number 3 in 2023.

All of that will give her a lot of confidence, but Aryna Sabalenka will feel she was very unfortunate to lose the Australian Open Final and the performances so far in the Indian Wells conditions will give her confidence in turning that form around. She has found it very difficult to read the Rybakina serve, but it was the World Number 1 who had more Break Points in the defeat in Melbourne and that is another reason Sabalenka can believe she has the game to get the better of this rival.

Aryna Sabalenka has been the much stronger server so far this week and she can certainly contain much of the threat from the World Number 3, although there is always that mental pressure to deal with.

That comes from the fact she has lost so many recent matches against Elena Rybakina, but the latter has not been nearly as impressive as the top Seed. That is not to say that Elena Rybakina has played poorly, but the wins have been in more competitive matches, even if that can sometimes be a help rather than a hindrance.

Both players should produce some good tennis in this Final, but the narrow edge is rightly with Aryna Sabalenka and she may just pick up a big title that gives her momentum to carry into the clay court season after a stop in Miami later this month.

Jannik Sinner - 4.5 games v Daniil Medvedev: The win over Carlos Alcaraz will have given Daniil Medvedev a huge amount of confidence and has also maintained what has been a really strong run of form being produced by the World Number 11.

He now takes aim at winning back to back titles and arguably the biggest one anyone can win outside of the Grand Slams when competing for the Indian Wells trophy.

Daniil Medvedev served really well in the Semi Final win and he is going to have to do the same if he is going to put together a rare tournament in which a player beats the top two players in the world in back to back matches.

Beating Carlos Alcaraz means Daniil Medvedev is more than capable of winning this Final, but there will be a lot of respect for the way Jannik Sinner is playing and the World Number 2 produced a dominant win over Alexander Zverev in the Semi Final.

No one is going to be surprised to read that Jannik Sinner has been serving well, but it is the aggressive performance on the return that has proved to be the key to the Italian reaching his first Final of the 2026 season. This week Sinner has broken in almost 40% of return games played and dealing with the very solid Alexander Zverev serve will mean he is not intimidated by what Daniil Medvedev can produce.

Jannik Sinner began his career by losing the first six matches against Daniil Medvedev, but he has now won eight of the last nine matches, including the last three in a row.

Eight wins in a row have been produced on the hard courts and Jannik Sinner would have covered what looks like a big line in the last four hard court matches played in a best of three set format.

During this eight match winning run on the hard courts, Jannik Sinner has held 90% of his service games compared with Daniil Medvedev's 75% mark and that is a significant difference.

Respect has to be given to Daniil Medvedev for the current level being produced, but it is still a little short of the standard being set by Jannik Sinner and the latter can win the Indian Wells title with a solid looking success on the scoreboard.

MY PICKS: Aryna Sabalenka - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 William Hill (1 Unit)

Jannik Sinner - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 William Hill (1 Unit)

Indian Wells Update: 12-14, - 3.98 Units (26 Units Staked, - 15.31% Yield)

European 2 Tour- European Darts Trophy Day 3 Picks 2026 (Sunday 15th March)

The absence of the two big names on the Tour have hurt the European Darts Trophy, but not enough to suggest the Third Round does not look like a strong lineup regardless.

With the Rankings used for the European Tour, it is a shame that the likes of Danny Noppert and Gerwyn Price are playing in the Third Round, rather than further down the line towards the business end of the tournament.

The winner of that match is going to be very difficult to beat later in the day, while there are plenty of other players still involved in the draw that will recognise the opportunity in front of them to pick up a big title with both Lukes and Michael van Gerwen out of the tournament. That does mean having to deal with a different kind of pressure with the expectations greater than they perhaps would be if the top two players in the world were also taking part, but it should also mean another good day of darts.

As is the case with the majority of the European Tour events, the Third Round is completed in the Day Session before the Quarter Finals, Semi Finals and Final are played in a busy Evening Session.

Any selections from the Quarter Final matches will be added to this thread on Sunday afternoon.

Jermaine Wattimena v Niels Zonneveld: Backing up a big win over Michael van Gerwen would be tough in most cases, but it is that much more difficult for Niels Zonneveld when facing an opponent who has gotten the better of him in recent matches.

Three matches in 2025 all ended in Jermaine Wattimena wins and this could be another that ends up trending towards the higher Ranked player.

Jermaine Wattimena has not been operating at the same level he ended 2025, but the close win in the Second Round will give him confidence.

A final Leg decider would not be a big surprise, but it is Wattimena who can do enough to reach a Quarter Final on Sunday.

Chris Dobey v Josh Rock: A solid win in the Second Round will have been a boost for Josh Rock, but this has been a tough match up for him.

The power scoring of Chris Dobey makes him very dangerous and there may be a point to be made about losing his Premier League place and having Rock join that elite competition instead.

Chris Dobey did not need that big time scoring to win in the Second Round, which likely means more is to come from him, and he can keep Josh Rock under pressure and test the doubling.

Again, this is likely to be a close match, but Chris Dobey can find a way to move past Josh Rock yet again.

Gian van Veen v Wessel Nijman: He has just hit a poor run of form, but the win in the Second Round and the manner in which Gian van Veen produced that will have done him the world of good.

Losses can feel like they are being strung together when playing in the Premier League, and so it will be important for van Veen to have produced a victory here in Germany.

He does have a tough Third Round match against Wessel Nijman, but there is a pecking order in Dutch darts and Gian van Veen has won the last five between these players.

That includes a win at European Tour 1 in Krakow last month, while Gian van Veen beat Wessel Nijman at the Grand Slam at the end of 2025.

Wessel Nijman is playing well and putting plenty of wins on the board, but he may have to overcome a mental obstacle in this one and that may see him come up short against the World Number 3.

Ross Smith & Dirk van Duijvenbode double: Neither of these players are going to have things all of their own way, but the scoring power of Ross Smith and Dirk van Duijvenbode could be the difference.

They do have challenges- Smith is playing a home player who will be receiving huge support, while van Duijvenbode has to be prepared for the pace, or lack of pace, that Mensur Suljovic will employ to disrupt opponents.

However, the Dutchman has a good recent record against Suljovic and can power past him.

Ross Smith will have plenty of respect for Nico Springer, but Smudger is playing well and can edge through to a Quarter Final here at the expense of the last German left in the tournament.

MY PICKS: Jermaine Wattimena @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Chris Dobey @ 1.91 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gian van Veen @ 1.72 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Ross Smith & Dirk van Duijvenbode Double @ 2.16 Bet365 (1 Unit)

European Darts Trophy: 2-4, - 2.37 Units (6 Units Staked, - 39.50% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2025- Nick Ball vs TJ Doheny (Saturday 15th March)

Over the last couple of weeks, news broke through that Dana White would be leading TKO into the world of Boxing and they were going to be partnered by power-broker Turki Alalshikh.

While the promoters that had been working with the Saudi businessman were not openly speaking with any kind of concern, and the Boxing organisations were doing the same, most fans of the sport could have seen something like this developing from a mile away.

We have already seen with the LIV and PGA split in the world of Golf that a power grab of a sport is something that the Saudi authorities are keen on doing, no matter what anyone else thinks. They might be willing to share for a while, but ultimately they want to run things their own way and the likes of Eddie Hearn, Oscar De La Hoya and Frank Warren mean little, even if they helped usher in this new era.

There is still some time before TKO can really make the plays they want to make, but all signs point to Canelo vs Terence Crawford being under their promotional banner and this is not the best of news for the others.

Turki Alalshikh has made his feelings known by talking about 'crushing' others and it may be the time when the promoters working with him look to try and see if they can begin to get back to organising fights between themselves.

Of course the problem is that Alalshikh and the Saudis have shown how much money can be made by working with them and not going back to the way Boxing was before and the next couple of years are going to be very interesting to see how this sport looks and is being operated.

It is not Riyadh Season organising the cards this weekend, but Queensberry are in the final couple of shows under their old broadcasting contract before becoming the latest to move to DAZN.

There is also a Matchroom card headlined by a fighter looking to get back towards World honours having had a setback in 2024.

Nick Ball vs TJ Doheny

After impressing on a couple of shows in Saudi Arabia, Nick Ball has to be thinking that a 'monster' fight with Naoya Inoue is set to be in his future.

However, it would be a mistake to focus a career on a Super Fight that may or may not ever happen and any defeat now could make it very difficult for Nick Ball to be in a position to welcome Inoue to the Featherweight Division.

He doesn't look like someone who will look too far ahead and the WBA World Champion looks like he is only focused on doing a job on TJ Doheny.

Four losses in six fights looked to be seeing TJ Doheny's career wind down, but he decided to head to Japan and rejuvenated his career by upsetting three home fighters in a row.

This actually gave Doheny the opportunity to get in the ring with Naoya Inoue and a back injury forced a withdrawal in the Seventh Round, although the momentum of the fight was firmly in the direction of the unbeaten pound for pound superstar.

Moving up in weight and having another World Title shot is a huge bonus for TJ Doheny, but this does feel like a fight that has been made to have Nick Ball try and 'beat' Inoue by finishing off the veteran a little more quickly.

In saying that, it won't be easy to do that against a grizzled veteran who will use all of his know-how to get through the Rounds and patience may be the key to the night.

TJ Doheny has offered a back injury as the reason he was Stopped for the first time in that bout with Inoue at Super-Bantamweight, and so you have to think he can at least stay out of danger for a while.

Ultimately Nick Ball has shown his power carries and he may begin to break down and wear down this opponent and the likelihood is he can secure a 'proper' Stoppage in the second half of this contest.

Another home hope is looking to move past a veteran and just show off his potential on the undercard in Liverpool when Andrew Cain takes on Charlie Edwards.

An injury was blamed for Cain's only defeat, but he has bounced back with three wins in a row and all before the Sixth Round.

The hope is that Charlie Edwards will offer more resistance, although his career stalled after the No Contest against Julio Cesar Martinez back in 2019.

Charlie Edwards did win the European Bantamweight Title in his last outing, but Andrew Cain looks a considerable step up from Thomas Essomba and the feeling is that Liverpudlian can break down Edwards and force a second half Stoppage of his own.

There are a number of fighters looking to earn a spark in their careers fighting in Orlando and the majority are pretty happy to do that.

One who is perhaps less than impressed is Edgar Berlanga who feels he should have been headlining, but who is in his final fight under the Matchroom promotional banner.

Eddie Hearn has made it clear that his priority is not for a fighter who is not extending with him, even after arranging the Canelo Alvarez fight, and that is fair enough.

Edgar Berlanga came in over weight, which is not a good look, but he should have far too much for his compatriot Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz.

The latter is unbeaten and earned a couple of Stoppage wins in 2024, but he had not fought for ten years before that and was down in the First Round in his last bout in June.

Fighting at this kind of level feels a step too far for Jonathan Gonzalez-Ortiz as long as Edgar Berlanga is showing any kind of focus.

It might not be the fight he wanted or expected, but it is an opportunity for Edgar Berlanga to impress and earn a second Stoppage in eight fights. There have been times when Berlanga feels like he is going through the motions and he is not nearly as good as he thinks he is, but Gonzalez-Ortiz is there to be beaten and beaten well and that is what the outcome should be.

MY PICKS: Nick Ball to Win Between 7-12 @ 2.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Andrew Cain to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Edgar Berlanga to Win Between 1-5 @ 1.80 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2025: 9-29, - 18.61 Units (46 Units Staked, - 40.46% Yield)

Indian Wells Tennis Picks 2025 (Saturday 15th March)

The two WTA Semi Finals were scheduled for Friday, but they feature what many may feel are the current top four players in the world and neither match has been very easy to call.

Mirra Andreeva will be looking to really start making her mark against the top players by beating Iga Swiatek on the hard courts again, while Aryna Sabalenka vs Madison Keys is a repeat of the Australian Open Final and with both playing well enough in Indian Wells to want to take a watching interest.

Saturday will feature the two ATP Semi Finals and selections can be read below.

Daniil Medvedev - 2.5 games v Holger Rune: Conditions in Indian Wells can become very difficult and that may have contributed to Daniil Medvedev's mid-match slump in his eventual Quarter Final win over Arthur Fils. He was the deserved winner on the day, but Medvedev will also be happy to hear that the conditions at the tournament are set to be warmer and a lot less windy over the final couple of days.

That will also suit Holger Rune, who needed three sets for the second time in four matches to win his own Quarter Final.

An inconsistent opening to 2025 will have felt like a disappointment for Holger Rune who had a 6-5 record on the hard courts before entering Indian Wells. Four wins in a row will have given him confidence, especially when you consider how well Rune has played in those matches, and he will certainly feel he can offer plenty in this Semi Final against the World Number 6.

He will need to produce some quality tennis if he is going to beat Daniil Medvedev, who has only needed to win three matches to earn his own spot in the Semi Final having been the beneficiary of a Third Round match that lasted just two games.

However, the level of tennis being produced by Daniil Medvedev has to be very encouraging, even after that dip against Arthur Fils in the Quarter Final, and the conditions should have eased to help the Russian with his serve and style of play.

Both players will be pretty happy with the returning numbers and will believe they can maintain those levels, but Daniil Medvedev may believe he is the one that has more to come behind the serve.

Holger Rune has been producing really well behind that shot at this tournament, but he has not been at his best on the serve in 2025, whereas Daniil Medvedev has not quite matched his overall season numbers. This is a factor that could easily swing back towards Medvedev within this match, especially having won the last two meetings against Holger Rune, including here in Indian Wells twelve months ago.

Both have slipped from the World Ranking mark they held going into the 2024 tournament, but Daniil Medvedev is still operating at a level where he will believe he can frank that victory with another at the same tournament.

In that Quarter Final match, it was Daniil Medvedev who showed off the stronger returning play and he had Holger Rune under the cosh in plenty of his service games. The two sets played were competitive thanks to Rune's own ability to get stuck into the return, but Daniil Medvedev was the right winner and has produced more so far this season to believe he edges past the Dane again.

Carlos Alcaraz - 3.5 games v Jack Draper: Some have accused Jack Draper of 'quitting' in matches against Carlos Alcaraz, but that will be put to the test when they meet in the Semi Final in Indian Wells.

The British player beat Carlos Alcaraz on the grass of Queen's Club last year, which is a huge win for Jack Draper considering Alcaraz is now a two time Wimbledon Champion. However, either side of that victory, Draper has been forced to pull out mid-match against Carlos Alcaraz both here in Indian Wells in 2023 and at the Australian Open earlier this year.

In both of those matches, Jack Draper was well on the way to defeat and it is those moments that many feel is something that can be used to beat him with.

No excuses will be made for the World Number 14 this week and the performances in winning four matches at the tournament will have given Jack Draper a lot of confidence. He has won all eight sets played and the strong lefty serve has allowed him to play with some freedom on the return, which has ultimately led to some dominant victories.

Three American players have been beaten so Jack Draper should be accustomed to his opponent earning the majority of the support from the stands, and he has to be given credit for the way he has played the big points.

Doing that again will be key for Jack Draper as he prepares to face the World Number 3 and a player who has opened 2025 in very strong form, even after the disappointing Quarter Final exit at the Australian Open.

Carlos Alcaraz has produced some special numbers, but is somehow exceeding those in Indian Wells having also won all four matches in straight sets.

The Quarter Final win was the toughest with the second set needing a tie-breaker, but five of the eight sets have been won with the loss of three or fewer games and two others had seen the opponent win just four games as Carlos Alcaraz has shown his comfort in playing through windy conditions.

Serving well has been huge for both Carlos Alcaraz and Jack Draper and both have won at least 70% of points played behind that shot, but it is Alcaraz who has shown the stronger returning ability.

That is not only through the tournament, but in general on the hard courts and Carlos Alcaraz' returning numbers are right in line with the way 2025 has opened up for him. On the other side of the court, Jack Draper is returning better here than he had been before Indian Wells and so it may be tougher for the lower Ranked player to keep finding that level, especially against some with the obvious qualities of the Spaniard across the net.

In their previous four pro meetings, Carlos Alcaraz has shown he can get his teeth into the Jack Draper serve and the expectation is of more of the same in this Semi Final.

Covering the handicap will be far from easy if Jack Draper is concentrating fully on his serving, but the feeling is that the scoreboard pressure will tell at key times and that should see Carlos Alcaraz through to another Masters Final with a solid victory under his belt.

MY PICKS: Daniil Medvedev - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Carlos Alcaraz - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Indian Wells Update: 5-6, - 1.93 Units (11 Units Staked, - 17.55% Yield)

Indian Wells Tennis Picks 2023 (March 15th)

There are four good looking Quarter Final matches to be played on Wednesday at Indian Wells, but they will be all the better for simply viewing rather than making a selection from any of those from the day.

My reasonings are pretty simple and I will lay some of those down in this thread before updating the totals for the tournament after a 2-3 finish on Tuesday.

The Daniil Medvedev injury picked up in his win over Alexander Zverev will have had twenty-four hours to settle down and I just don't know what shape he will be in. He has a strong match up against Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, but Medvedev has not enjoyed this time in Indian Wells and may well feel he can rest his ankle for a week before he is likely to be scheduled for a match at the Miami Masters.

If he does go, injuries do have a funny way of clearing up and I think there is too much uncertainty to make a pick either way.

In the first ATP Quarter Final, I really like the way both Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe are playing and it has all of the makings of a titanic struggle. My narrow lean is with the American and the start on the handicap, but Norrie's dominant win over Andrey Rublev has maintained the momentum behind his strong start to 2023 and this could be really close, as the handicap line suggests.

With the two WTA Quarter Finals, the first one between Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka could be fascinating to watch when you think of the 2023 form both have had on the hard courts. I am not surprised that Sabalenka is the favourite, but Gauff has won three of the previous four matches against her and is playing at a very high level herself.

Once again, the line is one that is right where it should be and I can see the match going either way, although, again, I would lean with the American as a narrow underdog.

Finally we will get down to Maria Sakkari and Petra Kvitova- both have spent a lot of time on the court to win Fourth Round matches, but Sakkari may hold the mental edge and did crush Kvitova here last season. This feels like a match that should favour the Greek player, but the two plus hours spent on court in each of her three wins here could have built up enough fatigue for Kvitova to take advantage.

I will hopefully have selections rom the remaining Quarter Finals to be played on Thursday, but I will sit on my hands on Wednesday.

Indian Wells Update: 21-13, + 9.97 Units (69 Units Staked, + 14.45% Yield)

Indian Wells Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (March 15th)

I have a busier day than expected on Tuesday and that means there is only one match that I have had time to write up, with the remaining selections below.

Simona Halep - 4.5 games v Sorana Cirstea: A little over a year separates these two players in age and it is something of a surprise that Simona Halep and Sorana Cirstea have not met more than three times on the pro Tour in their long careers. The two Romanian players will be very familiar with one another as they prepare to face off for the first time in over a decade when both Halep and Cirstea were still looking to make an impact on the Tour.

The last time these players met one another was in the Canadian Masters in 2010 and at the time Simona Halep was Ranked 96 and Sorana Cirstea Ranked 74. They are both inside the top 30 of the World Rankings these days, although it is Simona Halep who has had the stronger career and who is looking to reach the very top of the WTA Tour once again.

In saying that, Simona Halep will be the first to point out the improved tennis being produced by Sorana Cirstea over the last eighteen months which has rejuvenated a career that looked to have seen its best days. Sorana Cirstea has proved herself to be a tough out on the hard courts in 2022 and her numbers are solid behind serve, while the 46% of points won on the return makes her a very capable player.

The return numbers have taken a significant dent when Sorana Cirstea has played opponents Ranked inside the top 50 on this surface and that is really evident when looking at a twelve month sample of her results. However, the Simona Halep serve can be a little inconsistent and it should mean there is a chance for Cirstea to at least push her compatriot all the way.

Simona Halep is a very strong hard court player though and I think the conditions in Indian Wells should suit her game all the more than some of the other hard courts used on the Tour. It is a slower surface and Halep is a very strong clay court player too so I expect her timing to be unaffected here.

She has been serving well in 2022, although a couple of really poor matches have also been played, while Simona Halep has won 50% of points played on return. It should give her an edge in this match and help her move into a position to cover what is a big spread on first glance.

Sorana Cirstea has been a tough out for opponents and that is a concern ahead of this match, but I think Simona Halep has been able to win by comfortable margins in matches when she has gotten on a roll. There have been some poor defeats on the record in 2022, but Halep has won a lot of matches and I think she has enough in her tennis to be in a position to cover this mark.

MY PICKS: Simona Halep - 4.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Petra Martic + 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Iga Swiatek - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Botic Van De Zandschlup - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Andrey Rublev - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Grigor Dimitrov @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Indian Wells Update: 15-15, - 6.24 Units (60 Units Staked, - 10.40% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2021 (March 15th)

The tournament in Dubai may have begun on Sunday, but the 'opening' of the week for most main draws in the events being played each week tend to be on a Monday. That is the situation at WTA St Petersburg, and the two events being played in Mexico, but there are plenty of First Round matches set in Dubai where the Qualifiers will join the main draw.

Some of the big names that were due to play in Dubai have withdrawn on the eve of the event, and that means a tournament that is usually one of the big ones between the end of the Australian Open and the start of the Masters events is lacking some of the star power that we have become accustomed to seeing.

Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are faces that are seen in Dubai but none of the trio are playing this week, while Rafael Nadal turned down the offer of a Wild Card as he continues resting his back issue that prevented any Tennis being played before Melbourne last month. I am not surprised that Nadal is keeping himself ready to compete for the clay court season and I would not be shocked to see him withdraw from the Miami Masters which begins at the end of the month.

Again I say it means the tournament is lacking some star power in Dubai this week and a late decision was made to expand the field.

This should still be an important week with some key Ranking points available on both the ATP and WTA Tours and that brings plenty of motivation to the court. The Miami Masters will then conclude the early hard court season and it will be on to the clay court preparation as we head towards Roland Garros, a tournament back in its usual May/June slot.

After the first winning week of the season I do feel there is something to build on this week and it also justifies my feelings that the selection method wasn't the problem, but that I had been lacking a touch of luck to open the season.

Make no mistake, Tennis is a sport of fine margins that can see a player quickly gain or lose momentum within a match and if those are constantly going against you it is almost impossible to win out. With that in mind every Tennis Pick I make needs some sprinkling of luck to fall in the favour of the selection despite the research being put into those Picks.

Sunday opened up the 'new game' with a positive start thanks to Aslan Karatsev and Alexander Bublik both producing winners, but I should really have had the clean sweep. Jeremy Chardy was up a set and a break when he fell apart in the second set and barely recovered at the end of the match to move through, but any winning day is to be appreciated.

If there are any selections from the ATP Acapulco First Round matches that are scheduled to be played on Monday I will add them here, but for now the sole selection for the day comes from the ATP Dubai tournament.

Marton Fucsovics - 2.5 games v Vasek Pospisil: You do have to wonder about the back injury that forced Marton Fucsovics to pull out of his Doha Quarter Final against Andrey Rublev last week, but I think it is likely to have as much to do with fatigue as it has with any lingering issue. He had reached the Final of the tournament in Rotterdam just a couple of days before winning two more matches in Doha, but the last win needed over two hours on the court and ultimately I think the rest will have done him good.

A strong start to 2021 has Marton Fucsovics edging back towards a career best Ranking and he would to be Seeded when the Grand Slam events roll around through the remainder of the season. Having a strong week in Dubai and then Miami would really help the Hungarian towards that aim and his performances in 2021 suggest he is going to be tough to beat.

Throughout his career, Marton Fucsovics has been a decent return player, but it is the serve that is proving to be the foundation on which his early successes have been built this season. He is well on the way to the most hard court wins in a single season since 2018 and the almost 85% mark of service games held is the best number Marton Fucsovics has had since 2017 on this surface.

The numbers are certainly looking like they will be strong enough to give Vasek Pospisil some issues if he is not serving at his very best. The Canadian has not spent a lot of time on the courts in 2021 with a 1-2 record behind him on the way to Dubai and it is hard to make a sweeping statement from a small sample of matches, but Pospisil would likely be the first to admit he needs to be better.

No one will doubt that there is a strong server inside Vasek Pospisil which could make him very dangerous on his best day, but the return game will always make it difficult to sustain runs at this level. You have to wonder if Vasek Pospisil will be able to stay with Marton Fucsovics in this First Round match in Dubai if the latter is serving as he has been, especially as the Hungarian looks to have a clear edge when it comes to the return.

Marton Fucsovics is 2-0 against Vasek Pospisil and the last of those wins came in Paris on an indoor hard court at the end of the 2020 season. There has been a significant edge for Fucsovics in those head to head as he has found a way to get into the Vasek Pospisil service games and I think that may be the case in Dubai on Monday too.

A tie-breaker may be the key to the outcome of the match as it was when they met in Paris- Marton Fucsovics has won both breakers played against this opponent and I think he will likely find a break or two more than Vasek Pospisil over the course of the match which sees him win and cover this mark.

MY PICKS: Marton Fucsovics - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 2-1, + 1.26 Units (6 Units Staked, + 21% Yield)

Season 2021: - 11.98 Units (345.5 Units Staked, - 3.47% Yield)

Indian Wells Masters Day 10 Tennis Picks 2019 (March 15th)

The business end of the Indian Wells tournament has been reached as we are down to the Semi Finals in the Premier Event being played by the girls and we complete the Semi Final line up for the boys.

Two of the biggest names in the history of Tennis take to the court in the Masters event being played as both Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are scheduled to go on Friday. Both are considered strong favourites to progress to a potential Semi Final meeting against each other on Saturday and that has to be the match the fans will be desperate to see.

While the majority of players may already have moved across to the East Coast in preparation for the tournament in Miami beginning in a few days time, I am concentrating on finishing this tournament off with a flourish and you can read the Friday selections below.


Bianca Andreescu v Elina Svitolina: The first of the WTA Semi Finals that have been put together features two players who have been in strong form in 2019 meeting.

The performances being produced by Elina Svitolina won't be a huge surprise considering she has been one of the top players on the WTA Tour for a couple of seasons now. Two Semi Final losses and one Quarter Final defeat would be considered strong returns by most players on the Tour, but for some Svitolina might still be considered an underachiever as she plays in her third Semi Final of 2019 on the hard courts and bids for her first Final of the season.

While any player that can put the wins together to reach the Semi Final has to be respected, Svitolina has not had an easy path through the draw. She has shown considerable resilience in winning three of her four matches in three sets and Svitolina has come from a set down in two of those wins which has to give her real confidence.

However the numbers have been far from dominating and the Svitolina serve has been attacked with some success by opponents. The Ukrainian has allowed at least nine break points in each of her matches so far at Indian Wells and the time she has spent on court in the last two Rounds has to be a concern even with the Thursday break from being on the court.

Now she faces the promising youngster Bianca Andreescu who at 18 years old is making hay on the main Tour in 2019. The Canadian turns 19 later this year, but she has showed plenty of maturity in her wins so far at Indian Wells including a stunning 52 minute win over Garbine Muguruza in the Quarter Final.

Strong performances behind the first serve and a successful return have propelled Andreescu through the draw and it will be hard to stop her if she can maintain the standards set. I do think she can drag Elina Svitolina into another battle and at that point Andreescu is going to go into this match with the superior fitness that can be relied upon down the stretch.

It is a big match for the youngster and that could lead to a tense performance, but she has shown plenty of belief in her own game. As long as Bianca Andreescu can stay in the moment, I think she may have a little more in the tank to beat Elina Svitolina in a tight match and backing her as the underdog is the pick here.


Rafael Nadal - 4.5 games v Karen Khachanov: I haven't backed Rafael Nadal so far this week, but that is going to change in the Quarter Final despite the Spaniard being asked to cover a big number against talented Karen Khachanov.

I've long felt the conditions in Indian Wells would the most perfect of the hard courts for Rafael Nadal and he is going for his fourth title here over the next few days. It is one of the slower hard courts on the Tour and Nadal does appreciate the bounce he gets off it and also the spin he can generate to put opponents in a tough position.

This match will be a test of the Nadal game as he has previously had a couple of tough matches against Karen Khachanov on the hard courts over the last nine months. One of those matches came at the Canadian Masters and the other at the US Open in 2018 and while Nadal has had strong serving numbers, he has not been able to get on top of the Khachanov serve as he would have liked.

In both matches Khachanov was able to play the big points very well which kept him competitive against Nadal and he is going to have to need to do the same in this Quarter Final on Friday. The 2019 performances have been decent from Khachanov, but he has been in stronger form here in Indian Wells and that has seen him improve his numbers both on the serve and return.

All of those aspects of the Khachanov game are going to be tested by Rafael Nadal who has been in elite form on the hard courts in 2019. He has been loving his time in Indian Wells where he has broken in 50% of return games played and Nadal's new service action has continued to be remarkably successful for the Spaniard.

It will be interesting to see how long Nadal can keep up the service numbers he is producing on this surface, but it certainly gives him a chance to win tournaments on the hard courts. He should believe the serve can give him a real chance to beat out Karen Khachanov who has struggled in his career when it comes to the return of serve against top 20 Ranked opponents on this surface, especially if Nadal is returning as effectively as he is.

There is no doubt this is a big number considering how close their two matches on the hard courts were last summer. However I think Nadal is playing at a very good level at the moment and his return can cause Khachanov enough problems to break down the youngster and move through to the Semi Final.


Belinda Bencic v Angelique Kerber: A tough Quarter Final match could have potentially taken something out of the legs for Belinda Bencic who had to battle hard physically and mentally to see off Karolina Pliskova. On another day it would have been a lot more comfortable, but Bencic was guilty of missing a host of break point chances in the second and third set which left the match on a knife edge until the very end.

Ultimately the 'Swiss Miss' continued her roll to move to 12-0 since the start of February and the confidence is flowing as she is could finish close to the top 10 in the World Rankings if she is able to add the Indian Wells tournament to the one she won in Dubai. It would be a deserved Ranking as Pliskova became the latest player currently in the top 10 of the World Rankings to be beaten by Bencic in the last month and now she has a chance to add yet another from that list to her vanquished list on Friday.

This time Bencic has to take on Angelique Kerber who saw off veteran Venus Williams in straight sets in her own Quarter Final on Thursday. It was another solid win for Kerber, although she may have to step up her game another level when taking on Bencic having had to dig in deep to come through a couple of tough matches already at the event.

The Kerber serve has been working well so far in the tournament which may be a surprise considering the slower conditions. However it is an important part of her game and gives the German confidence to go on the offensive on the return and winning just under 50% of return points will give you the chance to win most matches when serving competently.

I do think it is a different test for Kerber against Bencic though who has been returning wonderfully so far in the tournament. She has won a slightly higher percentage of return points at 51% and the Bencic first serve has been a key weapon for her.

A couple of disadvantages have to be overcome by Bencic and the main one is the time she spent on court on Thursday compared with Kerber. However in general she has not been leaving too much energy out there and I do think she is a worthy favourite in this match and one I am happy to back for a third time this week having gone 2-0 in Bencic matches so far.

I have a lot of time for Kerber too who beat Bencic at Wimbledon last year on her way to winning another Grand Slam, but playing top 50 Ranked players on the hard courts has been a challenge for her over the last twelve months. The three wins here have taken her above 0.500 for those matches at 14-13 in win-loss terms, but Kerber is now playing against someone in great form and she has not really been as dominant in these types of matches as she would like.

Belinda Bencic can be backed to win, although again I will go with a straight win and not worry too much about the manner of her win.

MY PICKS: Bianca Andreescu @ 2.05 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Rafael Nadal - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Belinda Bencic @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Indian Wells Update: 24-19, + 7.10 Units (86 Units Staked, + 8.26% Yield)

Indian Wells Tennis Picks 2017 (March 15th)

The tournament continues to produce frustrating results with another day in which one player has won more points, but somehow lost the match, while another was in a strong position before their opponent retired.

Put together it means what could have been a winning day becomes one with a loss and I have to say I am wondering whether someone has cursed me with the luck that has swung the other way so often.

Even the Novak Djokovic cover should never have occurred and given me the win with Juan Martin Del Potro. Instead my player loses serve when about to win a set with a double break, and the other player remains more focused to come through with the double break which allows them to cover.

It's a little irritating to say the least, but some late wins with Caroline Wozniacki and Kristina Mladenovic at least prevented it being a totally crap day.


Stan Wawrinka - 4.5 games v Yoshihito Nishioka: It has been a difficult few days with one of the players who has somehow recovered to cost me a pick being Yoshihito Nishioka. This was a player who was under the cosh against Tomas Berdych two days ago as he trailed 6-1, 5-1, but somehow the Czech former top 10 player collapsed both mentally and physically in the defeat.

It is going to take something similar from Stan Wawrinka to prevent him moving through to the Quarter Final, but he has looked good during the first couple of matches in Indian Wells. Wawrinka came into the tournament with some questions to answer, but his two wins have both been relatively comfortable ones and he will bring the firepower into this match.

The importance for Wawrinka is to not get to mentally concerned by Nishioka's ability to make balls as the latter is a pretty good mover around the court. That also increases the importance into serving well on the day, but he has been doing that so far this week and that should mean Wawrinka is able to dictate the rallies and force Nishioka to run around the court.

The Nishioka serve is not a big weapon so you have to think Wawrinka will have the majority of chances to break serve and that can see him come through this match. The cover is a big one, but he can win this match 6-3, 6-4 and just stay focused more than Berdych who let Nishioka off a big hook last time out.


Dominic Thiem v Gael Monfils: I backed Gael Monfils to beat John Isner a couple of days ago and he came through very easily against the big serving American in straight sets. This is going to be a bigger test for the Frenchman and he has been given the slight edge by the oddsmakers to come through against Dominic Thiem with little between them in the World Rankings.

Personally I think Thiem might have enough to beat Monfils who played really well against Isner, but who has been suffering with an illness. He won't be able to expect the rallies to be as short as they were against Isner and that can really highlight any issues Monfils is feeling on the court.

Thiem's scheduling has been criticised by fans and you do wonder why he keeps switching continents and surfaces as much as he does. He has looked good so far in his two wins in Indian Wells though and the court speed might actually suit him, while Thiem also holds the mental edge having overcome Monfils twice before.

I have little doubt this will be a close match and it will turn on a couple of points here and there, but I think Thiem may just get the better of Monfils to move into the Quarter Final. Thiem has been producing many more wins than Monfils over the last month and, if the latter is less than 100%, I do think the Austrian can make that count with a solid win here.


Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova v Svetlana Kuznetsova: There might be a shift between these two Russian players as to who feels better on the court after Svetlana Kuznetsova won five of the opening six matches against Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova. However it is Pavlyuchenkova who has won both matches against Kuznetsova in 2017 and she will feel she has the power to frank those wins with another at Indian Wells.

The only real issue is her fitness and how much the win over Dominika Cibulkova took out of Pavlyuchenkova on Tuesday. She played after a fairly straight forward win for Kuznetsova and during the heat of the day, while also being forced into a third set before beating the Slovakian.

That could be a telling factor in this Quarter Final, but I think Pavlyuchenkova has been producing enough big serves to earn the cheap points to keep her moving forward in this one. Pavlyuchenkova has been returning the ball very effectively too and I think she can once again punish the second serves she sees from Kuznetsova.

Both players have been broken plenty of times so far in the tournament which can't be a surprise on the slower hard courts, but both have been able to back up with plenty of breaks of their own. I do think Pavlyuchenkova's wins over Kuznetsova over the last couple of months will give her a lot of confidence at the key moments in this one and I will be looking for her to have the edge and earn a win to move into the Semi Final.


Karolina Pliskova - 2.5 games v Garbine Muguruza: These two players might be considered amongst the leading group behind Serena Williams for the big titles and the winner will be the favourite to go on and win the title in Indian Wells. However it is Karolina Pliskova who has shown considerably more consistency than Garbine Muguruza over the last few months and she has also had the better of this match up.

As well as Muguruza has done to come through to the Quarter Final, she was perhaps a little fortunate to get the better of the in-form Elina Svitolina on Tuesday. That win has to give her some confidence, but the big hitting of Pliskova has regularly proved to be tough for the Spaniard to deal with.

That has helped Pliskova win five in a row in the head to head with Muguruza and she has only dropped two sets. Having an opponent withdraw early in their match on Tuesday should mean Pliskova is well rested and ready to compete, while Muguruza had an emotional three set win which will have taken something away from her game.

They have met twice in Premier Events in the United States and Pliskova has won both with relative comfort. If she is serving as well as she can, Pliskova should keep the pressure on Muguruza through this match and I would expect her to have a little too much in a 7-5, 6-3 kind of win.

MY PICKS: Stan Wawrinka - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Dominic Thiem @ 1.95 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Karolina Pliskova - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Midweek Football Picks 2017 (March 14-16)

I've had a change in plans for some of the picks going forward to try and ensure the last three months are going to be stronger than the last two have been.

This week is all about the Champions League and Europa League Last 16 ties which will set up the Quarter Final line up. That will be drawn out on Friday for both competitions and this is the time when teams will start scenting the chance to go all the way.

Last week's ties were headline grabbing and I think this week will also be one in which some memorable ties are played.

The picks from the ties this week are below.


Juventus v Porto Pick: The 0-2 lead from the First Leg has put Juventus in a commanding position in this Champions League Last 16 tie and it is a lead they are unlikely to lose.

A few years ago you may have thought Juventus, being from Italy, would look to defend what they have in the Second Leg and ensure their progress through to the Quarter Final. While they won't be in an 'all out attack', Juventus' natural game is to play attacking football and score goals and I think they will look to play the game as if it is 0-0 from the First Leg.

All of the pressure is off having a 0-2 lead, but Juventus will have seen what happened to Paris Saint-Germain when focus is lost and I expect that to be drilled into the players. They are unbeaten in 45 games here in all competitions and 16 in the Champions League so there shouldn't be the collapse that afflicted Paris Saint-Germain in Barcelona.

It is up to Porto to make the play as they need to score at least twice in Turin to give themselves a chance and their travelling fans will have to remember the 0-3 win in Roma in the Champions League Qualifiers earlier this season. However Roma lost two men to sending offs in that game and Juventus should be careful in the tackle knowing that is likely the only way Porto get back into this tie.

At some stage Porto have to send more men forward and I do think Juventus will pick them off and win this Second Leg. The 4 draws in their last 6 home Champions League games is a concern when backing Juventus considering another draw will be good enough to send them through, but they have the attacking potential to punish Porto when the away team become a little desperate.

I think that will see Juventus end up with a win by a couple of goals on the night and I will back them on the Asian Handicap to win this Second Leg.


Leicester City v Sevilla Pick: The key question one has to answer before this game is whether you think Leicester City are showing a more realistic level now than they have been all season or whether this is a team that is still full of average players that overachieved and have been at a more realistic level through the course of the season? Some think Craig Shakespeare has helped the players rediscover their belief, while others think the players have stabbed Claudio Ranieri in the back by underperforming to get the manager out.

I think it is something in between both extremes, but I am surprised that Sevilla have come into the Second Leg as an odds against favourite to win the game. This is a team that has shown they can perform away from home in European Football having won the Europa League in three consecutive seasons and those experiences should mean they are able to have the necessary tactics to win here.

They don't need to win to go through and Leicester City have been much improved in their last couple of games here. They have scored 6 goals in those couple of games against Liverpool and Hull City, but Sevilla are arguably better than both of those teams.

Sevilla will control the ball and they have the pace to counter Leicester City when they come forward, although I do think the home team will create some chances themselves. The recent Sevilla form does temper some of the enthusiasm for them to win this game, especially as Sevilla have conceded in 4 of their last 5 away games in all competitions.

The side did keep 3 clean sheets away from home in the Champions League Group Stage, but Leicester City won all 3 of their home games and this could be a competitive game. An early goal should open the contest and make it fun for the neutrals to watch too and it is likely that one of the teams will be chasing the game in the final 20 minutes which should mean chances continue to be created until the end of the game.

That makes it feel like a game that will see at least three goals shared out and I will back goals in this Second Leg.


Atletico Madrid v Bayer Leverkusen Pick: Having a two goal lead from the First Leg and having scored four goals in Germany should have eased any pressure Atletico Madrid might have been feeling prior to the Second Leg being played at home. They will be aware that Bayer Leverkusen have to send men forward in search of goals in the Second Leg and I do think that will allow Atletico Madrid to pick them off on the counter attack which may suit Diego Simeone just fine.

Having the lead they do, Atletico Madrid are not compelled to win this Second Leg, but I don't think Simeone is the kind of manager who will be looking to settle with what they have. He is trying to help the side build some confidence and momentum and that can only be achieved by putting wins on the board.

Atletico Madrid have been very strong at home in recent weeks unless Barcelona have turned up here, while they have a very good home record in the Champions League. You have to imagine Bayer Leverkusen will commit men forward at some stage and I do think Atletico Madrid will end up getting the better of them in the Second Leg too.

The visitors come in looking to find some form having sacked Roger Schmidt after losing 6-2 at Borussia Dortmund in what has been a miserable season for them. Even getting into the Europa League will be a challenge for Bayer Leverkusen the rest of the season and the real concentration may already have shifted onto the Bundesliga.

It does have to be said that Atletico Madrid rarely win games easily at home in the Champions League but half of their last 8 games here have been won by at least a two goal margin. I can see Atletico Madrid picking off Bayer Leverkusen the longer this game goes on and ultimately I can see them winning this one by a couple of goals and then look forward to the Quarter Final draw on Friday.


Monaco v Manchester City Pick: Anyone who loves defending and saw the First Leg of this Champions League tie might have been having kittens, but for the neutrals it would have been one of the more enjoyable football games of the season. Both Monaco and Manchester City proved they are very good going forward, but shocking defensively, and the feeling is they will pick up from where they left off in Manchester.

I do have to say that the playing surface in Monaco is not as good as the one they have at The Etihad Stadium, but it has been a ground where Monaco have thrived. They have already beaten Tottenham Hotspur here this season and Monaco have continued to produce a high amount of goals in front of their fans.

They will need those goals to overturn the 3-5 deficit from the First Leg and some Manchester City fans might point out the 6 consecutive away clean sheets their side have achieved. However none of those teams are of the same attacking threat as Monaco and I think Pep Guardiola is right that Manchester City will be knocked out of the Champions League if they fail to score on the night.

Manchester City might even need more than a solitary strike to stay in the Champions League, but I am expecting the likes of David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero to have their chances in this one. Monaco have plenty of attacking threats themselves who are being monitored around European Football and it would be a stunner if there aren't goals in this Second Leg.

I fully expect there to be enough chances for both teams to hit the net multiple times as we saw in the First Leg and an open game looks to be in the offing. I will look for the Second Leg to follow the same pattern as the first and I will back at least four goals to be shared out on the night.


Besiktas v Olympiacos Pick: The First Leg has this Europa League Last 16 tie finely poised, but I am not sure I am as confident in Besiktas getting the job done in the Second Leg as the oddsmakers seem to be. I backed the Turkish Champions to get a result in Greece last week, but Olympiacos have been better on their travels in the Europa League compared with at home which is a reversal of their recent seasons.

They have already won 0-3 in Turkey in the Last 32 having drawn the home Leg against Osmanlispor and so Olympiacos will feel they can challenge Besiktas. It also should be said that Besiktas have conceded in all 4 home European games this season and needed a late goal in the last Round to beat Hapoel Be'er Sheva after drawing all 3 Champions League Group games here.

It could mean this Second Leg reaches the same mark as the First Leg with the game getting to 1-1 at some point, but goals do change the game and at it might mean there are spaces to exploit at various times during the ninety minutes.

Besiktas have scored at least twice in 6 of their last 8 home games in all competitions, while Olympiacos have won 3 of their 5 away games in the Europa League.

Both teams have scored in all 4 Besiktas home games in Europe this season and this does feel like a fixture that potentially goes into extra time. I will be looking for both teams to score at least once in this one at odds against.


Anderlecht v APOEL Pick: I didn't expect Anderlecht to have enough to take a lead back to Belgium from the First Leg in APOEL last week, but that result looks like it will be good enough to take them through to the Quarter Final of the Europa League. This is a team that has played much better at home than on their travels, while APOEL have not been the best travellers in European competition.

Of course there was plenty pointing to APOEL to have enough to get an edge in this tie last week when playing at home where they have been so strong so you just never know in football. However Anderlecht have been playing very well at home and look the stronger team with a very good chance of making it through to the next Round.

Anderlecht have won 6 of their last 7 home games in all competitions and scored at least twice in each of those which should be too much for APOEL to handle. APOEL do have a solid 0-1 win at Olympiacos behind them in the Europa League Group Stage, but this is a team that has lost at Rosenborg, Copenhagen, Young Boys, Astana and Athletic Bilbao this season.

At some point APOEL are going to have to take a risk and I think Anderlecht will be able to pick them off at home. I can see Anderlecht doubling their lead on aggregate in the first half and then having a few opportunities to finish APOEL off when the Cypriot Champions try and get back into the tie.

Being at home means Anderlecht shouldn't be able to sit on a narrow lead and they will be expected to come forward and score goals like they have done. A knock out blow late in the Second Leg can see them cover the Asian Handicap in this one and I will back Anderlecht to do that.


Borussia Monchengladbach v Schalke Pick: The First Leg looked like it was promising goals when both teams scored inside the first half hour, but an inspired goalkeeping display and some poor play in the final third prevented Schalke taking a lead into the Second Leg. I do have to think Borussia Monchengladbach are much better than they were for much of the First Leg, especially being at home, but I prefer the angle of this game featuring at least three goals that the First Leg just missed out.

The two League games between Borussia Monchengladbach and Schalke produced a high number of goals including a 4-2 win for the former here two weeks ago. That means Borussia Monchengladbach have won 4 in a row at home against Schalke and each of those games featured at least three goals shared out.

There was certainly enough positive play in the First Leg to think there will be chances in this one too. The onus is on Borussia Monchengladbach to get forward being at home and the fans looking for them to positively make their way through to the Quarter Final, but Schalke are going to be dangerous too and I wouldn't be surprised if both teams score in this one too.

This time I am looking for the teams to at least show better composure in the final third when the opportunities come their way and I am looking for the teams to share out three goals at the very least. 6 of the last 8 Borussia Monchengladbach home games and 6 of the last 8 Schalke away games have ended with that number reached and the goals have tended to flow when they have met here.

It looks an intriguing price to look for the over 2.5 goals to come in and I will look for that to happen in this Last 16 Second Leg.


Manchester United v Rostov Pick: I have to admit that the playing surface made things very difficult for both Rostov and Manchester United in the First Leg, but I did expect more from the hosts who had a bit of fortune about their equaliser in what was a poor quality game. The 1-1 scoreline was probably a fair reflection of the game, but this should be a much better watch for the fans at Old Trafford.

The scoreline is also one that makes this very much a live Second Leg and it is a big game for both Manchester United and Rostov. It is looking like the Europa League is the best avenue back into the Champions League for both clubs and so two strong teams should be picked for the Thursday evening game.

Being at home in the Europa League has proved to be good times for Manchester United this season who have won all 4 games played at Old Trafford in the competition. They have won the last 3 while scoring at least three times and all have come by a comfortable margin and it will be difficult for Rostov who have to score at least once here.

Respect has to be given to Rostov for some positive results at Anderlecht, Ajax, PSV Eindhoven and Sparta Prague away from home in European competition this season. However 3 of those have ended in draws and Manchester United are a step up from that level of opponent, while Rostov were beaten in Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid.

I do think Manchester United could have done without playing 60 minutes on Monday with just ten men, especially Paul Pogba who will have a couple of days to rest ahead of this game. However he should have the energy of players like Ander Herrera, Michael Carrick and Henrikh Mkhitaryan around him with none of those players having more than 30 minutes in their legs on Monday.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is back to lead the line too and I do think Manchester United might have a little too much on the day. I am not anticipating an easy game because Rostov work hard and they will be compact, but at some point they might have to come out to try and get back into the tie and Manchester United can punish the spaces they leave behind.

I am thinking we will see a situation where Manchester United are leading going into the last 20 minutes and are then able to capitalise on the Rostov side pushing forward which leads to the home team moving through with a cover on the Asian Handicap.


Roma v Lyon Pick: There was plenty of good football on display in the First Leg and the feeling is that the Second Leg will also produce some attacking fireworks from Roma and Lyon. The home team don't really have a choice with a 2-4 deficit from the First Leg, but the last couple of weeks will have encouraged Roma having seen Barcelona and Monaco overturn big defeats from the First Leg and still move through to the Quarter Finals in April.

I don't think there is a lot between Roma and Lyon so it is a big challenge for the home team, especially as they have lost a bit of form of late. The 0-3 win in Palermo would have given them confidence, but Roma had lost 3 big games in a row before that and that has to be playing on the mind.

Even more so is the fact this club have lost their last 4 Knock Out ties played in European competition at home. That's a really poor sequence for Roma who are considered amongst the favourites to win the Europa League and it has to be one that the players are well aware of.

It is difficult to be enthusiastic about the chance Lyon have of the upset when you think they have won 1 of their last 6 away games in all competition, but they certainly are capable of avoiding a loss here. Lyon lost narrowly in Sevilla, but earned a draw at Juventus, who are the leading lights of Italian Football, when they met in the Champions League Group Stage.

They will have spaces to exploit as Roma have to push forward and I do think Lyon might be able to do enough to earn a result here and move on to the Quarter Final. Lyon have a goalscorer in Alexandre Lacazette who should take the opportunities that are created and it might be difficult for Roma to get back into the tie which will mean needing to take risks.

That is when Lyon can make hay in this one and I will look for them to cover on the Asian Handicap.

MY PICKS: Juventus - 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 2.02 Bet365 (2 Units)
Leicester City-Porto Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.73 Stan James (2 Units)
Atletico Madrid - 1 Asian Handicap @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)
Monaco-Manchester City Over 3.5 Goals @ 2.10 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Besiktas-Olympiacos Both Teams to Score-Yes @ 2.15 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Anderlecht - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.90 Bet365 (2 Units)
Borussia Monchengladbach-Schalke Over 2.5 Goals @ 1.95 William Hill (2 Units)
Manchester United - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.73 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Lyon + 0.75 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Bet365 (2 Units)

March Update: 21-22-2, + 1.96 Units (87 Units Staked, + 2.25% Yield)

February Final: 31-50, - 29.34 Units (157 Units Staked, - 18.69% Yield)
January Final: 32-47-1, - 30.88 Units (164 Units Staked, - 18.83% Yield)
December Final: 38-40, - 7.93 Units (153 Units Staked, - 5.18% Yield)

November Final: 40-38-3, + 5.76 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.62% Yield)
October Final: 29-41-2, - 21.23 Units (139 Units Staked, - 15.27% Yield)

September Final: 43-28-1, + 35.17 Units (133 Units Staked, + 26.44% Yield)

August Final: 31-38-2, - 9 Units (124 Units Staked, - 7.26% Yield)

Season 2016/17: 243-272-9, - 57.45 Units (1029 Units Staked, - 5.58% Yield)

Season 2015/16: 133-174-2, + 0.89 Units (669 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Season 2014/15: 159-208-5, - 20.22 Units (647 Units Staked, - 3.13% Yield)

Season 2013/14: 164-185-3, + 15.84 Units (577 Units Staked, + 2.75% Yield

Season 2012/13: + 4.42 Units (415 Units Staked, + 1.07% Yield)