Wimbledon Day 12 Picks 2013- Women's Final (July 6th)

The Semi Final between Novak Djokovic and Juan Martin Del Potro will go down as one of the best matches I have ever seen on a tennis court, right up there with the two Finals played by Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer on this court.

The ebbs and flows were fascinating and Del Potro will have won a lot more fans with the courage and strength of character he displayed, but it won't have surprised his long-term fans as he showed considerable toughness throughout his career. I have seen Del Potro play some stunning matches against the likes of Roger Federer in the past, but he admitted himself that he feels he played the best match of his career in this one. If he can replicate that kind of performance in two months time, Del Potro may just be able to add to his Grand Slam that was won at the US Open when he returns to Flushing Meadows.


The wins for Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray have set up a mouth-watering Final on Sunday in the Men's tournament, but first we will have the Women's Final between Sabine Lisicki and Marion Bartoli. Neither of those players were expected reach the Final at the start of the tournament and I don't think either will have too many better chances to win a Grand Slam title in their career.

My only hope for this Final is that it is one that isn't hindered by the nerves that both players will feel in this one- Bartoli has the experience of playing in the Final here in the past, while Lisicki has the big serve and groundstrokes that can see her take the racquet out of anyone's hands.


Sabine Lisicki - 3.5 games v Marion Bartoli: I really was torn between these players because I feel Sabine Lisicki has the game to dominate the points on this surface, but Marion Bartoli is certainly the more consistent.

Lisicki does blow hot and cold and that was seen in the Semi Final win over Agnieszka Radwanska when the German looked down and out in the third set. That fightback though may just have hardened her enough to win this tournament as long as she can hold her nerves and not think too much about what she has on the line.

I expect her to be able to win points a little easier than her opponent, particularly on serve and that could prove to be the ultimate difference between the players on the day.

Marion Bartoli's strength is she plays the same consistency of tennis throughout a match... There won't be the same fluctuations in her level of play as Lisicki can be prone to have a real drop in level at times. However, Bartoli could be under pressure by the weight of shot that Lisicki can generate and she uses the same pace of first and second serve which could help the German build up her rhythm on the return of serve.

It was Bartoli that won the first match between the two players, here at Wimbledon in 2008, but she has lost the last three matches. That run includes a three set defeat at Wimbledon two years ago.

I am expecting Lisicki to just force the pressure with her return of serve and also to come through her own service games a little more comfortably and that could lead to a 64, 63 win for the German player and her first Grand Slam title.


MY PICKS: Sabine Lisicki - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Wimbledon Update: 22-14, + 18.02 Units (68 Units Staked, + 26.50% Yield)

French Open Day 12 Picks- Women's Semi Finals

Day 11 proved to much better and I can now forget the memories from Day 10 when I couldn't catch a cold let alone a pick.

The Men's draw could not have shaped up much better with Federer-Djokovic being joined by Murray-Nadal on what should be a fascinating Friday of tennis.

Rafael Nadal looked back to his imperious best for 2 sets against Robin Soderling, and then showed his strength of character in refusing to buckle for the Swede when the pressure was put on in the 3rd set.

It is also telling that Nadal said he felt he played much better today and we have seen this from him before at the business end of tournaments.

He will meet Andy Murray who made a little harder work of Juan Ignacio Chela than he would have wanted. The injury to the ankle is still not fully healed, while Murray has too many lapses in concentration that will cost him against Nadal.

5 breaks of his own serve in the first 2 sets today must also be a concern for the Murray camp.


The Women's tour has been crying out for a star in the absence of the Williams sisters for almost a year- now they might be getting another familiar face back in the form of Maria Sharapova who looked absolutely dominating in her win over Andrea Petkovic.

Sharapova has not played in a Grand Slam Semi Final for 3 years and her return will be welcome for the WTA Tour. The Russian also became favourite to win this tournament but will have to beat the tough Chinese star Na Li.

I have underestimated Li for much of the tournament, and fully expected both Petra Kvitova and then Victoria Azarenka to beat her, but I have been put in my place both times. Li has reached a Grand Slam Final already this season and obviously feels she can take a step further in this tournament.


Day 12 is all about the Ladies as it is their Semi Final day so on to the picks:


Na Li + 3.5 games vs Maria Sharapova: As I mentioned above, I have underestimated Na Li twice already this tournament and now would much prefer to be on her side in what looks like a winnable Semi Final if I am honest.

Li has played very well against Kvitova and Azarenka in the last 2 Rounds here and obviously feels comfortable on the clay after suggesting it is others who think she is troubled on this surface.

Maria Sharapova showed the very best of her game today against Andrea Petkovic, but it was clear the latter was a little overawed by the occasion and that is something I dont expect from Li. This is also the first Semi Final at Grand Slam level that Sharapova would have competed in for 3 years and so there is a chance she is the more nervous of the two players.

Li also has won the last 2 meetings with Sharapova, both on the Russian's favoured grass, and also pushed Sharapova to 3 sets here at Roland Garros in 2009.

It is possible it goes the distance again tomorrow and hopefully having the games on our side will make the winner of the contest a moot point.


Francesca Schiavone - 2.5 games vs Marion Bartoli: Marion Bartoli might be the last French hope here in Paris, but this looks like a tough match up against the defending Champion on the red dirt, Francesca Schiavone.

Bartoli has shown a lot of heart in this tournament as she progressed past her previous career best of the 4th Round to the delight of her home crowd. Bartoli has beaten some tough opponents to get this far, none more so than Julia Goerges and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but Schiavone poses a different type of threat.

It has been blustery in Paris the last couple of days, and Schiavone's touch tennis is likely to make things additionally difficult for Bartoli whose movement is perhaps her biggest issue.

This has been a special tournament for Bartoli, but I remain concerned about her previous lack of success on the surface where bad movement can be exposed (Bartoli is 13-17 on the main tour in clay court events in 2008-2010).

Schiavone also holds a 4-1 head to head record against the French Woman, with their last meeting coming at Wimbledon in 2009. This will be their first clay court match.


MY PICKS: Na Li + 3.5 games @ 2.00 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Francesca Schiavone - 2.5 games @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)


FRENCH OPEN: + 17.17 Units (+ 4.9 Units Day 11)

French Open Day 8 Picks

I am writing this in my last spare time before the big Final this evening and know I wont be able to get back online (in a sober state anyway) before tomorrow afternoon so thought I would put my picks up for Sunday's day at the French Open.

My Day 7 Picks are mainly still running, but Djokovic completed the 3-1 set win. Mardy Fish, however, looked like a.... errrr.... hmmm... Fish out of water as he was being demolished by Gilles Simon and I expect that match is likely over as I write.

I will be back for Day 9 Picks when I will update the profit/loss column.


Now on to Day 8 Picks:

Roger Federer - 7 games vs Stanislas Wawrinka: Roger Federer looked really good in his win against Janko Tipsarevic, even though the 2nd set was a little tighter. He covered the spread in that Round and now faces his compratiot in Round 4.

Wawrinka showed his heart and desire again when coming from 2 sets down to beat Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in Round 3, but it will be interesting to see how he copes with Federer here.

Federer leads the head to head 10-1, and also leads 3-1 on clay courts after losing their first meeting on the surface.

Federer also beat Wawrinka by 8 games last year in this tournament and I think he can take advantage of the quicker conditions to record yet another win over the Swiss Number 2.


Marion Bartoli win 2-0 in sets vs Giselko Dulko: It was Dulko who took the headlines in the last Round by beating Sam Stosur, last year's runner up, in 3 sets, but I think it was Bartoli who had the more impressive win by knocking off Julia Goerges, one of the dark horses to win the tournament and arguably the women in the hottest form outside of Victoria Azarenka.

Bartoli has been pushed to 3 sets in every Round so far, but the home hope is still standing strong. She has a 4-0 head to head record against Dulko and is yet to drop a set to the Argentine.

To be fair, this is their first meeting on a clay court, but Bartoli has shown she is in form after reaching the Final in Strasbourg last week and should come through in straight sets.


Svetlana Kuznetsova - 1.5 games vs Daniela Hantuchova: I will admit that Daniela Hantuchova surprised me with her win over Caroline Wozniacki in the last Round, but this could represent a step up in class for her.

I was glad Hantuchova got through as I get another chance to watch her play, but Kuznetsova is a real threat to win this tournament having done so in 2009. The Russian has breezed through the tournament and lost just 11 games enroute to this match.

Kuznetsova also leads the head to head between the players 7-4, and has won both meetings on clay without losing a set.

Hantuchova took advantage of Wozniacki's 'get the ball into play' philosophy, but might find it hard to get past a player that will hit through the court.


MY PICKS: Roger Federer - 7 games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Marion Bartoli win 2-0 sets @ 2.38 Stan James (2 Units)
Svetlana Kuznetsova - 1.5 games @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)