Tennis Picks 2026 (Saturday 18th April)

The tournaments being played around Europe are all coming to a conclusion this weekend and the attention will soon turn to the Madrid 1000 event for both the ATP and WTA Tours.

The top of the ATP event has lost both Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic with both players citing injury- the withdrawal of Alcaraz is more worrying considering he pulled out of the event in Barcelona before playing his Second Round match and the defending French Open Champion will be desperate to get some more clay court tennis under the legs at the Rome Masters in early May.

We know that Novak Djokovic is all about peaking for the Grand Slams, but his fans will also like to see him take part in a clay court event before the French Open gets underway at the end of next month.

The WTA event in Madrid is intact at the time of writing, but things can change quickly on the Tour as most begin to think about the second Grand Slam of the season.

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 games v Fabio Cobolli: At the end of March, Fabio Cobolli set a new career high World Ranking mark at Number 13 and he can move even higher than that if he is able to win the ATP Munich title on Sunday.

The performances at this event have been pretty strong, but the Italian has benefited from a draw in which he has not faced anyone Ranked higher than World Number 40.

You can only beat what is placed in front of you and so credit has to be given to Fabio Cobolli for the manner in which the wins have been produced. This is a clay court event, but it says something when you think Cobolli has only been broken twice in three matches, although he will be the first to admit that his serve will be tested considerably more by the World Number 3 compared with the opponents that have been seen off in this tournament.

Alexander Zverev showed his qualities in coming from behind to beat Francisco Cerundolo in the Quarter Final and he is very comfortable playing in front of the home fans. After dropping the first set 7-5, Alexander Zverev lost just two more games against a very solid clay courter, and he looks to have his eye in on the return of serve.

There is a pretty small sample of clay court results at this stage of the season, especially for these two players who have both begun the red dirt experience since the Tour moved back to Europe.

The numbers are pretty similar, but it cannot be ignored that Alexander Zverev has been facing considerably stronger opponents than the younger player across the net. It means Fabio Cobolli probably has another level to find if he is going to compete in this Semi Final and Alexander Zverev should be comfortable with the match up.

He has won both previous matches against Fabio Cobolli and Alexander Zverev has won all five sets played against one another.

They met at the French Open last year and Alexander Zverev was a very comfortable winner in that Third Round meeting- the higher Ranked player proved to have a real edge when it comes to the service numbers and that could play out again in a tournament that Alexander Zverev has really enjoyed.

In a best of three set format, this is a big spread, but Alexander Zverev has been playing with the intensity and qualities to find a way to break down the Fabio Cobolli game and ultimately make relatively comfortable passage into yet another Munich Final.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 4-1, + 2.34 Units (5 Units Staked, + 46.80% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2026 (Thursday 16th April)

There may have been plenty of matches scheduled on Wednesday, but enough doubt around the majority of them meant a single selection was made.

Rafael Jodar came through some tough moments to earn his straight sets win over Camilo Ugo Carabelli for the second time in this clay court season and Carlos Alcaraz withdrawing from the Barcelona tournament means all eyes will be on the other young Spaniard who is now beginning to make headlines.

He will have to wait until Friday before the Quarter Final matches begin, but Thursday is all about completing the Second Round matches across the various tournaments being played this week.

Once again a number of matches have come close to being selected, but ultimately have not quite convinced enough and that means going with two selections from the ATP Munich event.

Francisco Cerundolo - 3.5 games v Botic van de Zandschlup: The move into the clay court season means there is limited samples of how players are performing, but some are more comfortable on the red dirt compared with others.

The World Number 19 Francisco Cerundolo is one of the more comfortable clay courters and tends to take in the South American Golden Swing in between the Australian Open and the big hard court events in North America in March. That was the case again in 2026 and Cerundolo does win plenty of matches on the clay, which is a solid reason behind his overall World Ranking mark.

A title has been won on the surface earlier this year, but Francisco Cerundolo suffered a relatively early loss in the opening tournament played on the European clay courts.

A comfortable win in the First Round against a Lucky Loser has taken Francisco Cerundolo through to this Round and he is the right favourite in this match.

You have to have respect for the early clay court form shown by Botic van de Zandschlup who reached the Semi Final in Budapest and who has another win under his belt here in Munich. However, it should also be noted that the 30 year old has yet to face anyone Ranked higher than World Number 60 on the surface and his numbers in recent years suggest the current level is unlikely to be sustained through the two big Masters events coming up before the French Open.

This is a player that has been pretty reliant on his serve, but that cannot be the case on the clay courts and that is where Francisco Cerundolo should have the edge.

He has won the two previous meetings between the players and both on the hard courts in 2025.

Francisco Cerundolo did not drop a set in either of those two matches and his confidence on the red dirt should make sure he is in a position to move into the Quarter Final behind another strong win against this opponent.

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 games v Gabriel Diallo: The most consistent Grand Slam success produced by Alexander Zverev has been at the French Open and he was leading Carlos Alcaraz in the Final of that Slam two years ago before eventually being beaten in five sets.

There is no doubt that Alexander Zverev will be heading to Paris as one of the favourites, although at the same time most would have Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner significantly shorter prices in the outright markets.

Yet another defeat to the new World Number 1 at the Monte Carlo Masters underlines the challenges that face Alexander Zverev when it comes to finally winning a Grand Slam. The feeling remains that the window has closed barring unexpected defeats for the top two players in the world, but Zverev cannot think like that and the Semi Final run in Monte Carlo is a reminder of his qualities.

Alexander Zverev is expected to have too much for Gabriel Diallo in this Second Round contest in Munich, especially as the World Number 37 has had limited success on the surface.

He took advantage of a Lucky Loser spot to enter the main draw at the Madrid Masters in 2025 and Gabriel Diallo reached the Quarter Final at that ATP 1000 event. However, Diallo will have to accept that he was given a pretty kind draw and the Canadian was just 3-5 on the clay court outside of that run in Madrid.

Opening defeats in Bucharest and Monte Carlo will have done little for the confidence and Gabriel Diallo beat a Qualifier Ranked outside the top 200 in the First Round here in Munich.

Suffice to say that this Second Round match is a significant step upwards and Gabriel Diallo was well beaten by Alexander Zverev at the Australian Open back in January. That was a First Round match played on a surface that would suit Diallo more than the clay courts here in Munich and it may be a tough ask to stick with the top Seed in this ATP 500 tournament.

MY PICKS: Francisco Cerundolo - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 1-0, + 0.91 Units (1 Unit Staked, + 91% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (May 1st)

A difficult start on Saturday was replaced with three consecutive winners for the Tennis Picks and it has kept the week totals ticking along nicely.

The WTA event will have reached the Third Round in Madrid by the time the Sunday action is concluded, but the ATP First Round begins on the same day, while the tournaments in Estoril and Munich conclude with both Finals set to be played.

I will update the season totals in the Tuesday Tennis Picks thread, but for now you can read my selections from the Sunday schedule below.

Marta Kostyuk v Emma Raducanu: Two very young players are meeting on the clay courts in the WTA Madrid Second Round and I have little doubt that Marta Kostyuk and Emma Raducanu know all about the other. It is Marta Kostyuk who is the slightly older of the two and she has been a pro for longer, but Emma Raducanu has raised her own stock ever since winning the US Open.

A first competitive season playing on the clay is something of a learning experience for Raducanu, but she was a solid enough winner in the First Round. It is the second time she has beaten Tereza Martincova on the clay courts, while Emma Raducanu is feeling pretty comfortable on the surface, despite the heavy loss to Marketa Vondrousova in the Billy Jean King Cup.

The numbers back that up, but this is a match against a pretty strong clay courter in Marta Kostyuk who reached the French Open Fourth Round last year. We haven't seen a lot of Kostyuk on the clay courts in 2022 as she continues to worry about the situation in Ukraine, her home, but she was a strong winner over Clara Tauson in the First Round.

In her early career, Marta Kostyuk has shown a liking to playing on the clay courts and I do think that experience could stand her in good stead against her British opponent.

Over the last twelve months, Marta Kostyuk has shown she has a pretty effective serve on this surface and she has been able to back that up with strong returning displays. We don't have a very big sample of numbers from Emma Raducanu, but it does feel like her second serve is pretty attackable on the clay and that is where Kostyuk could come out on top in this match.

Both players will feel they can have success when they are returning, but I do have a touch more faith in the Marta Kostyuk serve in what is a pick 'em match set by the layers.

These two did meet on a hard court at the back end of 2021 and it was Marta Kostyuk who crushed Emma Raducanu for the loss of three games. The British player did struggle with the weight of expectation following the US Open success, but Emma Raducanu saw her serve attacked over and over again and I think Marta Kostyuk will be the player moving through to the Third Round thanks to her superior clay court successes.

MY PICKS: Marta Kostyuk @ 1.91 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Elena Rybakina - 4.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

John Isner - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Lorenzo Sonego - 3.5 Games @ 1.75 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Holger Rune - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Sebastian Baez - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 8-4, + 6 Units (24 Units Staked, + 25% Yield)

Madrid Update: 6-2, + 6.94 Units (16 Units Staked, + 43.38% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 30th)

It has been a quiet week for the Tennis Picks, but Friday was one of the busier days with the WTA Madrid tournament firmly underway.

I really could not have asked for a better day with the Tennis Picks going 7-2, although I did benefit from the inches going my way on the day. A couple of those selections could have easily ended up on the wrong side of the fine margins, although Alejandro Davidovich Fokina's late collapse prevented the day from being even better.

Still, a strong winning day has to be appreciated and it gives me something to build upon as I look for this week to end positively. The Madrid Masters will be played through to next weekend with the ATP event beginning on Monday and there will be some big matches coming up that could have an impact on the way the French Open is played out.

Simona Halep v Paula Badosa: The WTA Madrid tournament is one of the big events left before the French Open gets underway in May and the field that has come together means there are very few easy matches for players.

Even the top names have been given some early challenges and the Second Round match between Simona Halep and Paula Badosa would headline most events.

Injury and a decision to move ahead without a Coach has meant we have not seen much of Simona Halep in recent weeks, but she was a very comfortable winner in the First Round. For a long time Simona Halep has been one of the top players on the clay courts on the WTA Tour, but there look to be other players out there that are more likely to win the French Open.

That feeling will change depending on how Simona Halep is able to perform here in Madrid and in Rome before the second Grand Slam of the season gets underway. It was actually injury that cost Simona Halep a strong clay court season in 2021, but the numbers have remained pretty strong on the surface and I do think Halep is very happy on this surface, even if the conditions in Madrid can be difficult.

A player like Paula Badosa may feel happier with the faster conditions that tend to be the case in Madrid, and she did reach the Semi Final here last season. With Iga Swiatek out of the event, it feels like a very open tournament and a player like Paula Badosa will believe in her ability to take the title on home soil.

Paula Badosa already has one Quarter Final run and one Semi Final run on the clay courts under her belt and she was a dominant First Round winner too. She reached the French Open Quarter Final last year and the World Number 2 is a much improved player on all surfaces.

I expect this to be a close match considering the kind of numbers that both of these players can produce on the clay courts. The Spaniard has the edge on the service numbers, but Simona Halep is a player that can be very strong when it comes to the return and her own serve is one that can be productive enough to earn a win in this big match.

The lack of recent tennis is a concern when backing Simona Halep, but I still think she is amongst the top three clay courters on the WTA Tour. Paula Badosa may soon crack that level herself, but I still think Halep may be the slightly better player on this surface and can make odds against quotes count.

MY PICKS: Simona Halep @ 2.10 Bet365 (2 Units)

Belinda Bencic - 4.5 Games @ 2.20 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Yulia Putintseva + 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Miomir Kecmanovic - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Sebastian Baez - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 7-3, + 6.18 Units (20 Units Staked, + 30.90% Yield)

Madrid Update: 4-1, + 4.92 Units (10 Units Staked, + 49.20% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2022 (April 29th)

I had a few matches on my shortlist for the Thursday play, but ultimately there were enough doubts around those which meant waiting for another day.

That is fairly surprising considering how many matches were heading to the courts as the Madrid Masters WTA event begun First Round action along with the two ATP tournaments being played this week. However, I was simply not comfortable enough to back any of those that made it down my list and I have to accept the results as they are.

Hopefully there are plenty of winners still to find over the first of the two big Masters events played on the clay courts before the French Open begins in a little under a month from now. Players will be looking to round into some form, but it should be noted that the conditions in Madrid have long been very different to those faced in Rome and Paris and so there are a few more upsets that can occur at this event compared with the others.

It has been a good week for the Tennis Picks so far, but I am looking for more as selections from Estoril and Munich are also going to be in this thread.

I will then update results for the 'Weekly Update' and a separate results tally for the Madrid Masters with that event going through to a week on Sunday.

Friday looks to be a busy day for the Picks with plenty of matches passing the tests I've set to try and put a winning season in the books.

Emma Raducanu - 3.5 games v Tereza Martincova: Another Coaching change has been made by Emma Raducanu and the young player has very little experience on the clay courts, but she can play with some freedom over the coming month with all that in mind. The early form on the surface has been decent and Raducanu gave Iga Swiatek a tough battle in Stuttgart on this unfamiliar surface, although the conditions in Madrid will be somewhat different to what she will be facing in other clay court tournaments.

At least she will know what to expect when facing Tereza Martincova having beaten her in a Billie Jean King Cup match earlier this month. It was a tough match, but Emma Raducanu looked the stronger player for much of the time spent on court and I do think the British player can frank that form with a win in the First Round here.

It has been a mixed year on the Tour for Tereza Martincova, but she has reached a career best World Ranking in February and that will offer some encouragement.

However, the Czech player has never been the most consistent on the clay courts and she has lost both matches played on this surface in 2022. Tereza Martincova will usually get plenty of first serves into play, but it isn't much more than a rally starter in the main part and that will allow aggressive players like Emma Raducanu the chance to play first strike tennis and put her opponent under pressure.

The Tereza Martincova return also has room for improvement on the clay courts and the early form of the Emma Raducanu serve on this surface offers some encouragement. I do think there will be players with the clay court specialism that will cause Raducanu problems and there are some top clay courters on the Tour, but this is a match that should be one in which the British player is comfortable by what she is seeing in front of her.

When these two met in the Billie Jean King Cup, Emma Raducanu was the slightly stronger return player throughout the match and that helped her win in straight sets. There will be some rallies that see both players taking control of the points, but Emma Raducanu served well in Stuttgart on an indoor clay court and the faster conditions we tend to find in Madrid can suit her game a little more than it will Tereza Martincova's.

She may still be a work in progress overall, but this is a match that Emma Raducanu should be winning and I think she can move through to the Second Round.

Maria Sakkari - 2.5 games v Madison Keys: A gastro illness was the reason given for Maria Sakkari's decision to withdraw from her match in Stuttgart, but I expect a much stronger player to arrive in Madrid.

The run to the Semi Final at the French Open last year was unexpected, but Maria Sakkari has long been a competent player on the clay courts. She looks to have the tennis that should be very effective on the surface, although Maria Sakkari has not always had the best time in Madrid.

However, Maria Sakkari will be pretty happy with the First Round match against Madison Keys, a player that is very much not at her best on the clay. The American is playing in her first European clay court event in 2022, but there has been very little time spent on the clay over the last couple of years from Madison Keys and this has been a tough match up for her too.

Last season Madison Keys finished up at 3-4 on the clay and that was largely down to the two wins secured at the French Open. Her numbers behind the first serve are relatively decent, but Keys has not really shown the patience to build points on the surface like you need to and that leaves her vulnerable in matches she plays on clay courts.

The big first serve will have to be given the respect it deserves, but Maria Sakkari will feel she gets plenty out of her own first serve to match the one Madison Keys brings to the court. However, the Greek player will expect her return to be a major difference maker on this surface, while the mental edge is also with Sakkari.

In their two previous matches, Maria Sakkari has not been bothered by being the lower Ranked player and has won all four sets they have played. Both of those matches were played on the hard courts and I think the clay gives Maria Sakkari even more of an edge, so I am expecting her to find the tennis to move through.

Maria Sakkari has dominated the second serve numbers in their two matches against one another and I think she can drag Madison Keys into some longer rallies to further the edge in her own direction. It is never easy to beat Keys, but Maria Sakkari should be able to serve well enough to keep her at arm's length in this First Round match.

MY PICKS: Emma Raducanu - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Maria Sakkari - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Petra Kvitova - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Bianca Andreescu - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Kaia Kanepi - 3.5 Games @ 1.83 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Sebastian Baez - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Oscar Otte - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 4-2, + 2.76 Units (12 Units Staked, + 23% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 27th)

There are two events being played on the ATP Tour this week and the WTA Madrid Masters is set to get underway with First Round action on Thursday.

Even then, I did not have any Tennis Picks on Tuesday after looking through the schedules at Estoril and Munich- the latter tournament has been hit with poor weather early in the week and they are still playing catch up with First Round action on Wednesday, although I do like the look of a couple of players in the Second Round.

One of those will depend on when the markets are formulated and whether the mark is where I would expect, but I will definitely have at least one selection from the ATP Munich event.

After a positive 3-1 start to the week, I am looking to really nail down some positive selections to build on the early momentum to take into the Madrid Masters event which is being played over a ten day period. The run to the French Open really picks up steam in May and I am looking for some momentum behind the Tennis Picks to take into the second Grand Slam of the season.

Alexander Zverev - 4.5 games v Holger Rune: A home favourite will return to the court after reaching the Monte Carlo Masters Semi Final and I do think Alexander Zverev should be heading towards the French Open with a maiden Grand Slam in mind. Rafael Nadal is going to be returning from an injury next week in Madrid, while Novak Djokovic has looked pretty vulnerable having played little competitive tennis in 2022 and Alexander Zverev has long been one of the stronger players on the clay courts.

He is making his first appearance here in Munich this year and that could leave Alexander Zverev potentially vulnerable to an upset.

Going up against Holger Rune will be a challenge with the young Dane long been producing strong numbers on the clay courts and having won a match in Munich. The big test for Holger Rune is going to be transfer his form on the clay courts from the Challenger Tour to the main ATP Tour and that has been something that he has yet to do with any real consistency.

Over the last twelve months, Holger Rune has a 6-9 record in main ATP events on this surface, while he has won just 58% of points played behind serve.

It is something that Alexander Zverev will look to exploit and he has broken in 38% of his return games played on the clay in 2022. A look at a bigger sample over the last twelve months shows the German has been able to produce solid return numbers and he has managed to win 43% of return points played which has led to breaks in 35% of return games played.

I do think Holger Rune will have some success attacking the Alexander Zverev serve, but there looks to be a significant edge in favour of the top Seed in this tournament. The bigger first serve may see Alexander Zverev get out of a couple more jams and I think he performed well enough in Monte Carlo to believe he will be able to put Rune under immense pressure.

The last couple of appearances in Munich have ended disappointingly for Alexander Zverev who has suffered Quarter Final losses each time, but he is a former Champion here. Despite those relatively early losses, Zverev has won his Second Round match with some comfort and I think he is going to be eventually break down the Holger Rune game on his way to another last eight appearance in Munich.

MY PICKS: Alexander Zverev - 4.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)
Emil Ruusuvuori - 3.5 Games @ 1.90 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 3-1, + 2.96 Units (8 Units Staked, + 37% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2022 (April 25th)

A busy weekend means the opening Tennis Picks from the tournaments to be played this week in Estoril and Munich are not going to have a full write up.

Later this week the Madrid Masters will begin and there is a suggestion the ATP and WTA Tours are going to come together and make a decision to not count any Ranking points from Wimbledon in light of the move the third Grand Slam of the season has made in relation to Belarusian and Russian players. While I don't think it will impact the arrival of players at an event that will offer significant prize money, it will still be a noted move by the Tours.

We will see how that shakes up later this week when the next really big clay court tournament begins. The ATP part of the Madrid Masters will begin early next week, but the main draw of the WTA side of the tournament should get underway on Thursday.

I should have a much fuller thread for the Tennis Picks on Tuesday.

MY PICKS: Soonwoo Kwon - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Federico Coria - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Holger Rune - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Emil Ruusuvuori - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2021 (April 30th)

It was a mixed bag of results on Thursday, but so much is down to the awful collapse Elina Svitolina had in her eventual defeat to Jill Belen Teichmann.

After looking in control at 6-2, 2-0, 30/0, Svitolina blew the second set, but worse was to come.

She was then up 5-1 on serve in the final set and missed four Match Points on her way to failing to see out the match and eventually Elina Svitolina was beaten in the Tie-Breaker.

I need that kind of poor luck to be erased, but there really isn't much more I can do than the research and believe that I am making the right selections. You can't get much closer to covering without covering and the feeling is that eventually I am going to hit a really good patch of form.

I am hoping that begins on Friday as the First Round is completed at the WTA Madrid tournament, while the Quarter Final matches in Estoril and Munich are also set to be played. A busy day is in store and I am looking for some successes to lay the foundations for what is hopefully a much better few days leading into early May and the move to the Rome Masters.

Daria Kasatkina - 3.5 games v Irena-Camelia Begu: We haven't really seen Daria Kasatkina kick on in her career in the manner many would have expected of her and the next few weeks are going to be important to earn some solid World Ranking points. At almost 24 years old, I do think Daria Kasatkina should have been much higher than her current Number 37 World Ranking, especially as the Russian cracked the top ten back in October 2018.

This is only the second clay court tournament that Kasatkina is playing in 2021, but she has long been very comfortable on the surface where her return can be a huge weapon for her. The serve is a vulnerable one that can be attacked by opponents, but Daria Kasatkina may not be too worried about this match up with the Qualifier Irena-Camelia Begu.

Winning two matches to earn a spot in the main draw will give Begu some confidence, especially in what has been a mixed season for her as she has fallen down to Number 75 in the World Rankings. Irena-Camelia Begu has long favoured playing on the clay courts which makes her a test, but the head to head with Daria Kasatkina is one that will have the Romanian a little nervy despite the two wins produced in Madrid.

The faster clay court may actually benefit Irena-Camelia Begu too, which is encouraging, but she has lost seven of eight matches against this opponent and that includes six in a row with just a single set won in that stretch. It has been a couple of years since these two met on the red dirt in Rome, but Daria Kasatkina has won the last three matches between them on the clay courts and Begu has not really been able to get into the return games as well as she would have liked.

I have to say that Irena-Camelia Begu is a pretty steady clay court player and any off day from Daria Kasatkina will be punished. However, the level that Kasatkina is able to produce on this surface may be too much for Begu to stick with and in their head to heads that has tended to be the case as I look for the Russian player to come through with a cover of a wide enough spread mark.

Anett Kontaveit - 4.5 games v Nina Stojanovic: Qualifiers can be very dangerous in the early Rounds of any tournament they enter the main draw and Nina Stojanovic has to be respected with two wins behind her in Madrid. This is the first clay court tournament she will have played this season, but it has been a good year in general which saw Stojanovic reach a career best World Ranking last month.

The 24 year old was in good form in her two Qualifying wins and that will make Stojanovic dangerous in this First Round match and especially if Anett Kontaveit is not as focused as she should be. That is one of the main complaints about Kontaveit who can blow hot and cold within matches and tournaments, but a good week in Stuttgart has been put in the books and the Estonian is comfortable on the clay courts.

One of the areas that continues to let Kontaveit down is the return of serve and she has to find a way to put more pressure on Nina Stojanovic if she is going to break down her lower Ranked opponent. There were positive signs out of Anett Kontaveit in Stuttgart, but she needs to build on that if she is going to have the kind of clay court campaign she would like to put in the books.

Anything less than a strong returning day will put Anett Kontaveit under pressure and her opponent does have previous having produced a 5-3 career record against top 100 Ranked players on the clay courts. The second serve has been a weakness for Stojanovic in those matches though and I think that is where Kontaveit has to make sure she is aggressive, but not wasteful when she sees that serve.

On this surface I do think Anett Kontaveit can find the break points to eventually crack through Nina Stojanovic and it may come with enough time to win and cover. Their sole previous meeting is largely irrelevant as it came back in 2017 when Nina Stojanovic was much younger and inexperienced, but even at this stage of their careers I do think Anett Kontaveit may have a touch too much for Nina Stojanovic.

Simona Halep - 5.5 games v Sara Sorribes Tormo: This has already been a memorable season for Sara Sorribes Tormo who reached a career best Singles World Ranking earlier this week, and it could potentially only get better for the Spaniard. She has long seen the clay courts as her best surface and can pile up the World Ranking points over the next month, although I think Sorribes Tormo will be the first to admit she would prefer a kinder draw than the one she has been given in the First Round in Madrid.

It is a home tournament and that is going to provide plenty of motivation for Sara Sorribes Tormo, but Simona Halep will be heading into the French Open as one of the favourites to win that title again.

A Semi Final run in Stuttgart will have shown that Simona Halep is feeling in pretty good form and she is a former winner in Madrid so the faster conditions at this tournament is not a major concern. In recent years you could argue that Halep has been the most consistent clay courter on the WTA side of the Tour and her numbers have been very impressive, especially on the return of serve.

I think that return of serve is going to be key in this match against an opponent whose returning game is much stronger than her serving one. However, I think it would be wrong to suggest that Simona Halep has as weak a serve as the one Sara Sorribes Tormo will be bringing to the court and that is where the top ten Ranked player will likely dominate the rallies.

If Sorribes Tormo is not able to get enough first serves in play it could be a really tough First Round match for her and she was beaten pretty handily by Simona Halep when these two played on the clay courts last season. That was played at the French Open and Halep created more than double the amount of break points than Sorribes Tormo and I do think she is more likely to be in that position again.

The Spaniard has been in very good form in 2021 and she has to be respected, but Simona Halep should find the breaks of serve to get into a position to cover this spread. It won't be easy if Sara Sorribes Tormo is able to dig in as much as she has throughout 2021, but Simona Halep is one of the top clay courters on the Tour and I think the match up is one that should be appealing to her.

Victoria Azarenka - 2.5 games v Ekaterina Alexandrova: The last twelve months have been important for Victoria Azarenka who needed a Special Entry to play in the clay court tournaments in 2020, but who is back inside the top 20 of the World Rankings now. We haven't seen her since the Miami Masters that began at the end of March, but Victoria Azarenka is someone who has been pretty comfortable on the clay courts.

She will need to find her form pretty quickly as Azarenka has been drawn against Ekaterina Alexandrova in the First Round in Madrid. Last week the Russian won a couple of matches in the tough Stuttgart draw before coming up short against Simona Halep in the Quarter Final, but Alexandrova has been inconsistent on the clay courts throughout her career and we will see how much she has picked up from those wins in Stuttgart.

The return has been an area where Ekaterina Alexandrova has struggled in her clay court matches, but she was serving well last week and that may be important in trying to keep tabs with Victoria Azarenka.

The latter does have a really vulnerable second serve and that is where Alexandrova is going to have to try and take advantage, but Victoria Azarenka is a very good returner on this surface and I think that is where the difference is made on the day. If Azarenka can get enough first serves in play she will likely feel that she has enough to get on top of the rallies and control them.

Both players should have their moments in the match, but Victoria Azarenka is the stronger clay court player even if this is her first match on the surface in 2021. It may take a set to really get her feet underneath her, but Victoria Azarenka should begin to take control against Ekaterina Alexandrova who is not as comfortable on the surface.

I expect the Belarusian's return of serve to prove to be the most important factor in this First Round encounter and it should be enough to see Victoria Azarenka win and get past this spread too.

MY PICKS: Daria Kasatkina - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Anett Kontaveit - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Simona Halep - 5.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Victoria Azarenka - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Saisai Zheng @ 2.05 Bet Victor (2 Units)

Karolina Pliskova - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet365 (2 Units)

Filip Krajinovic - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Casper Ruud - 5.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Cristian Garin - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Albert Ramos - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Madrid Update: 2-2, - 0.74 Units (8 Units Staked - 9.25% Yield)

Madrid Masters Tennis Picks 2021 (April 29th)

I needed a few days off from the Tennis Picks and wrote that I would be back when the Madrid Masters comes around.

Frustration was getting the better of me with so many selections seemingly ending on the wrong end of every bit of bad luck I could think of. That was only made worse because those were the good selections and I wasn't getting any luck by getting away with the bad selections.

That adds up in a negative spiral and that is when taking a step back and looking for things to be reset is the best policy and especially in a long Tennis season.

The WTA side of the Madrid Masters begins on Thursday and I am looking for a positive start to the tournament which can give me something to build upon.

2021 has not been a very good season to this point, but things can turn around quickly and I am just looking for a touch more fortune behind the Tennis Picks.

I will update the Season Totals and place that down in either the Friday or the Saturday thread for the Tennis Picks, but hopefully there will be some positive signs immediately out of this tournament.

Elina Svitolina - 4.5 games v Jill Belen Teichmann: A tight loss in the Stuttgart Semi Final will have offered Elina Svitolina encouragement having played pretty well in a loaded tournament. The clay courts may not be her favourite surface, but the Ukrainian is pretty effective on all surfaces and she will be looking for a strong run in Madrid.

The clay courts in this City tend to play pretty fast compared with the ones we will see in Rome and Paris in the next few weeks and that is much to do with the altitude which sees players hit through the courts. That may be a problem for Elina Svitolina, but she should still have too much for Jill Belen Teichmann who is playing her first clay court match of the season.

Jill Belen Teichmann has been comfortable on the clay courts in the past so she is one player that can't be dismissed easily. However, the last time we saw Teichmann she was withdrawing from a match with an injury and it was a difficult match up for her against Elina Svitolina when these two met on the clay courts in Strasbourg in 2020.

Now she is going up against an Elina Svitolina who has been serving pretty well in her limited time on the clay and one who can exert plenty of pressure with her return. That side of her game looked in good shape in Stuttgart and was the key in Svitolina's wins over Angelique Kerber and Petra Kvitova and this is a match that is largely a step down from that kind of level.

When these two played in Strasbourg, it was Elina Svitolina who more than doubled the amount of break points created than Jill Belen Teichmann. I expect it is going to be a key part of this First Round match in Madrid too and I think Svitolina can get the better of things which will give her every chance to cover what looks a big mark.

It can be hard to trust Elina Svitolina who can play hot and cold within a match, but her World Ranking has largely come about thanks to her ability to win matches like this one. I would expect Jill Belen Teichmann to have her moments, but a lack of recent competitive tennis could go against her in this opener in Madrid.

Laura Siegemund - 3.5 games v Kateryna Kozlova: Two Qualifiers have the chance to pick up some vital World Ranking points when they meet in the First Round in Madrid and both Laura Siegemund and Kateryna Kozlova have to be confident in their chances. Both were pretty dominant winners in their opening two matches in Madrid, although Kozlova came through with consecutive straight sets wins compared with Siegemund who needed three sets in her Second Qualifying Round match.

That extra set meant Laura Siegemund had to spend an extra thirty minutes on the court winning that match, but I don't expect it will be too much of an issue with this First Round match scheduled for the afternoon. It should mean there is enough recovery time for a player who has been confident on the clay courts throughout her career and who will be expecting to put up plenty of wins in the weeks ahead.

Laura Siegemund was beaten by Ashleigh Barty in the Second Round in Stuttgart, a tournament she has won before, but that is not a loss that will hurt the confidence. The German should also take heart from the fact that Barty went on and won the tournament and Siegemund is someone who has consistently had decent numbers on the clay.

That consistency was on display in her two Qualifying wins, while Kateryna Kozlova has only recently returned to competitive action having been off the Tour since the French Open last September. Unsurprisingly it has been a relatively low-key return to the Tour for the Ukrainian, but Kozlova has previously reached the Third Round in Madrid having Qualified for the tournament when doing that in 2019.

However, it should be noted that Kateryna Kozlova has not shown nearly the same kind of level on the clay courts on a consistent basis as Laura Siegemund has.

Laura Siegemund has also won the last three matches between these players and two of those were on clay courts as the former dominated the break point chances and eventually secured two easy looking wins on the scoreboard. The faster clay courts should make Kateryna Kozlova a little more dangerous, but Siegemund has enjoyed the match up and I think she is looking in good enough nick to find a win and a cover.

Ana Bogdan + 2.5 games v Anastasija Sevastova: Two more Qualifiers are perhaps feeling happy with a draw that sees them take on another Qualifier and the chance to put some World Ranking points on the board they may not have otherwise earned. The time that Ana Bogdan has spent on the court compared with Anastasija Sevastova might be a concern, but the younger player has a winning record against Sevastova and Ana Bogdan has always made life difficult for her too.

They have twice met on the clay courts and split those matches 1-1, while a couple of months ago Ana Bogdan beat Anastasija Sevastova on the hard courts in Australia in preparation for the first Grand Slam of the 2021 season. The first of the clay court matches was dominated by Bogdan, but the more recent one saw Sevastova come through a tough three setter and I believe this one is going to be another competitive First Round match.

Over the last couple of years Ana Bogdan has shown she has all of the tennis needed to be a solid clay court player and she had a good run in Istanbul already this season. The numbers have backed that up, although Bogdan would love to get a little more out of the serve so her return can really take over matches.

Anastasija Sevastova is a solid clay courter in her own right and she is a former Madrid Semi Finalist which has to be respected, but her form over the last year has been inconsistent to say the least. Two Qualifier wins will have given Sevastova confidence, but the Latvian has been beaten by Caty Mcnally on the surface this season and I do think she is a vulnerable favourite here.

The serve has been a touch more reliable than Ana Bogdan's serve and that may be important, although I do think the latter is the better returner. The four matches played by Sevastova this season has seen her return looking in good shape, but it is a small sample and I do think Ana Bogdan has shown more consistency on that side of her game.

This one going three sets will not be a big surprise, but I do think Ana Bogdan can edge past her higher Ranked opponent. She should hold the mental edge and I think Bogdan might just be the superior clay courter of the two at this stage of their careers.

MY PICKS: Elina Svitolina - 4.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Laura Siegemund - 3.5 Games @ 1.72 Bet365 (2 Units)

Ana Bogdan + 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Jan-Lennard Struff - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Cristian Garin - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Tennis Picks 2014 (May 3rd)

The draw for the Madrid Masters was made on Friday and it has given us a number of top matches from the very beginning of the draw to look forward to next week, especially on the ATP side of the draw.

Before that, we have to see the tournaments this week concluded as the Semi Finals in the ATP events are scheduled to be played on Saturday and the Final of the main WTA event in Oeiras is also to be completed on this day before most head over to the Spanish capital.


Tommy Haas - 3.5 games v Martin Klizan: It has been an important week for both of these players, but I consider Tommy Haas the more likely to find his way through to the Final in Munich.

Martin Klizan has come through the qualifiers before the main draw run to the Semi Final, but that is a lot of tennis in his legs this week and he will be put under pressure by Haas as long as the latter is serving well.

I do respect the way Klizan can play at times, but I also have seen him lose his patience and his composure on the court and that is where Haas' quality will certainly shine. As well as Klizan has done to get to the Semi Final, Haas should prove a little too tough in a two set win where a break more should get the match done.


Fabio Fognini - 4.5 games v Jan-Lennard Struff: When I saw Jan-Lennard Struff play in Marseille earlier this season, I didn't think it would be long until he makes the main Tour as a regular player.

He has reached another Semi Final this week after coming through the qualifiers, but now he faces one of the more solid clay court players who is clearly feeling better on the court.

Fabio Fognini wasn't winning a game last time he was on the court and had to retire against Santiago Giraldo in Barcelona, but he seems to be over whatever issue he was having. He has looked very good all week and I think he has the defensive skills to frustrate Struff and force the mistakes that leads to a 64, 63 win.

The Italian can be an extremely frustrating player to watch, especially when he decides to play a little too flashy for the occasion, but he is also producing a lot of wins on the clay courts and I like him to do that here.

MY PICKS: Tommy Haas - 3.5 Games @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Fabio Fognini - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 6-5, - 0.11 Units (21 Units Staked, - 0.01% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2014 (May 2nd)

We have reached the Quarter Finals in the tournaments on the ATP side of the Tour and the Semi Finals in the WTA event in Oeiras as another week of the clay court season draws to a close.

May should be a fascinating month with the three big tournaments that are scheduled for the next few weeks, especially knowing all the big names will be back in action with motivation at a high.


Tommy Haas - 3.5 games v Andreas Seppi: I was interested to see how Tommy Haas reacted to his time away from the court, especially with rumours about a shoulder issue, but he looked good in his comeback match.

Haas beat Alejandro Falla fairly comfortably, but I expect it will be that much tougher against Andreas Seppi who came through his Second Round match far easier than I thought he would. That might have been down to Albert Ramos heading to Madrid earlier for the qualifiers, but it was still a good, solid win for Seppi.

The Italian has a serve that can be vulnerable and Haas is going to have the home support to perhaps get on the front foot in this match.

It will be interesting to see if Haas can produce top tennis in back to back days after his lay off, but he should be good enough in a normal situation and come through 64, 64.


Daniel Gimeno-Traver v Marcel Granollers: I have backed Daniel Gimeno-Traver twice already this week and I think he can be backed, for a small interest, to beat his compatriot Marcel Granollers in this Quarter Final in Portugal.

I believe Gimeno-Traver is the better clay court player of the two and Marcel Granollers had been on a poor run of form which won't have done his confidence a lot of good, although he did have an important win in the Second Round against Albert Montanes.

However, you can't ignore the recent poor form of Granollers and the run of wins that Gimeno-Traver has had to get to this Quarter Final and a small interest in him winning another has to be the call.


Victor Hanescu v Gastao Elias: A home tournament means Gastao Elias has the chance to really pick up some big Ranking points and he has done well to move through to the Quarter Final, but now faces an opponent that is very happy on the clay courts.

With a serve like Hanescu has, I would have expected it to translate onto the faster courts, but it seems he likes getting his feet under him when it comes to groundstroke battles and that comes on the slower clay courts.

Elias mainly plays on the Challenger circuit and Hanescu has been a regular winner at that level on the clay courts and I can see his serve causing enough problems to pressure the home player.

If Hanescu is serving well, Elias may push too much on his own serve with the pressure of trying to keep up on the scoreboard and I like the Romanian to eventually come through.

MY PICKS: Tommy Haas - 3.5 Games @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Daniel Gimeno-Traver @ 2.33 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
Victor Hanescu @ 1.73 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 4-4, - 1.1 Units (16 Units Staked, - 6.88% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2014 (May 1st)

The tournaments in Munich and Oeiras are both continuing this week and we have already seen a fair share of surprise results in both the men's and women's events that are taking place.

As I have said a couple of times already this week, players are perhaps already looking ahead to the Masters/Premier Event being held in Madrid next week and a number of those in the draws will be heading across for qualifiers.


Albert Ramos v Andreas Seppi: One of the players that could potentially have to go through the qualifiers in Madrid is Albert Ramos, but I still believe he is going to prove to be a little too good for Andreas Seppi in this Second Round match in Munich.

The clay courts are the favoured surface for Ramos and he has given Rafael Nadal and Grigor Dimitrov tough matches on the surface over the last couple of weeks and he won't be intimidated by what Seppi brings to the court.

It has been a poor eighteen months for Seppi who is slipping in the Rankings and he hasn't had much respite on the clay courts in that time either. This season has seen the Italian lose some matches that he shouldn't have and Ramos is good enough to take advantage, even if he has to wait until the match goes the distance before he gets through.


Federico Delbonis - 2.5 games v Thomaz Bellucci: He is currently Ranked as the World Number 44, but this period of the season could see Federico Delbonis break into the World Top 32 if he can continue the form he has shown on the red dirt.

By far and away the clay courts are the favoured surface for Delbonis, but he is now at a much higher level than twelve months ago which means all the points he accumulates should push him up the Rankings. I expect he is going to get the better of Thomaz Bellucci for the fourth straight time in the professional ranks, despite a good solid four wins in a row to reach the Second Round for the Brazilian.

Bellucci is another who prefers the clay courts, although injury has curtailed a career that looked like he could translate his game onto the hard courts too.

However, it has been a stop-start year for Bellucci and he may be wondering about Madrid and qualifying for that Masters event which could derail his chances of winning this match and I like the Argentinian to win this South American derby 76, 64.


Leonardo Mayer - 2.5 games v Andrey Golubev: Andrey Golubev recorded a win in the First Round, but he has not had the most success on the clay courts at the main Tour level over the last few years and I think Leonardo Mayer will have too much knowledge of the surface in the Second Round.

I do think there is more in the Golubev locker as he has a decent serve and heavy groundstrokes, but the consistency can be tough for him and that is really highlighted on the clay courts where you have to show the patience to win matches.

Leonardo Mayer snapped a run of six straight losses by winning four matches here and he should have the momentum to move into the Quarter Final, although the spectre of the Madrid Masters is a concern.

The first set will likely be tight, but Mayer should be able to come through with a 76, 64 win.

MY PICKS: Albert Ramos @ 1.73 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Federico Delbonis - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Leonardo Mayer - 2.5 Games @ 1.92 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 3-2, + 1.06 Units (10 Units Staked, + 10.6% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2014 (April 29th)

This has usually been the time of the season where Rafael Nadal racks up the points that helps him sit high in the World Rankings, but there have been a couple of upsets before the big month of May.

With two Masters in Madrid and Rome, and also the Grand Slam event at Roland Garros, Nadal's position as a strong favourite must have loosened with his defeats over the last couple of weeks. The defeat to David Ferrer was disappointing, but you could chalk that up to a bad day in the office, but then being defeated by Nicolas Almagro in Barcelona was a huge shock.

Nadal may have reached the Final in Miami and won a tournament during the South American Golden Swing in February, but I don't think it is too far fetched to think he hasn't been the same since his back injury cost him the Australian Open Final.

Of course it is too early to consider Nadal anything but the favourite to win the next three clay court tournaments, but the draw is going to be that much more important as he may be vulnerable to a surprise result.


If that is the case, who is the most likely player to take advantage of that and win the next Grand Slam tournament? In past years, Novak Djokovic looked the most likely and perhaps should have won the event last season, but his wrist injury has to be a concern for his backers.

Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka are likely next in the market leaders and both Swiss players will feel they can perhaps add to their own Grand Slam successes after contesting the Final in Monte Carlo. Tomas Berdych and Andy Murray both are vulnerable on the clay courts, while David Ferrer has to grind through too many matches to think he could beat two or three of the big names to win his maiden Grand Slam title.


The one thing the Nadal losses have done is make the French Open as intriguing as it has been for a number of years in terms of contenders for the title there.


There are a couple of tournaments being played this week but there was too much uncertainty for me to make outright picks when I am not comfortable that every player has the right motivation. In Portugal, the top two seeds, Tomas Berdych and Milos Raonic, should go close, but both have lost silly matches on the clay courts and I couldn't trust either.

In Munich, Tommy Haas was one of the leading contenders, but there are doubts about his right shoulder, while other players might be focusing on having to play the qualifiers for the Masters tournament in Madrid next week.

Let's face facts- the next month is the important time for most of the top players on the Tour with the two Masters events back to back and then a short rest before the French Open begins. Therefore, this week may see some more strange results as has been the case during the clay court season to this point.


Feliciano Lopez v Jan-Lennard Struff: Feliciano Lopez has not had the best start to his clay court season with a retirement and an early surprising loss to his name and he could have his hands full against Jan-Lennard Struff who had to come through qualifiers.

That should give Struff confidence in front of a crowd that will offer him plenty of support, but he hasn't really progresses on the Tour as he may have expected, although he certainly has the tools to win as the underdog in this First Round match.

However, I believe Lopez can put some pressure on the German if he is serving well and he does seem to use the scoreboard to build the pressure to the point that Struff could end up snapping.

The concern comes from the recent Lopez form and the retirement, but I think he is being given a generous price to win this one.


Thomaz Bellucci v Ivan Dodig: Another qualifier in Munich will play his First Round match on Tuesday, but this time I am backing Thomaz Bellucci to find a win against Ivan Dodig.

The clay courts are definitely favoured more by Bellucci than the are by Dodig whose serve and attacking the net game are better suited to the faster surfaces.

It has been a fall from the upper reaches of the men's game for Bellucci who has suffered from a loss of form and injuries, but coming through three qualifiers should inspire him to look for more from the tournament.

Bellucci is expected to be in the qualifiers for the Madrid Masters next week which is a distraction, but he has the better clay court pedigree of these two players and I expect he can find a win in the match, even if it takes three sets.


Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 2.5 games v Alejandro Gonzalez: Daniel Gimeno-Traver is at his most comfortable on the clay courts, but he is not normally a player that I would like backing as his serve can be a real weakness. I especially don't like backing him as a favourite because of that initial issue, but he has won three qualifiers here and I expect that to give the Spaniard the confidence to beat Alejandro Gonzalez.

Gonzalez hasn't played since Houston and he hasn't really been able to take the form he has shown in the level below the main ATP Tour into tournaments like this.

However, he will also have some confidence in facing a player like Gimeno-Traver who is at the level that Gonzalez would see more often. The problem is that I still think there is too much experience and clay court nous and that will help Gimeno-Traver come through with a 75, 64 win.


Santiago Giraldo v Albert Montanes: I will never forget the way Santiago Giraldo announced himself at the main Tour level with a crushing of Juan Carlos Ferrero a few years ago, but he has never really hit those heights since.

However, Giraldo may point to a couple of strong tournaments over the last three weeks to show the confidence he is in and I like his chances to beat Albert Montanes as long as last week in Barcelona hasn't taken too much out of the Colombian.

Giraldo reached the Final last week before finding Kei Nishikori far too strong, but Montanes is not as good as the Japanese star and I expect it could be a tough day for him. Montanes has had a few surprising results, but the veteran is wearing down and he has struggled against Giraldo.

They have met five times previously and it is the Colombian who has won four times, including twice earlier this season. That includes a win on the clay courts and I am surprised he has been picked as the underdog in this one unless Barcelona has taken its toll. Still, I have to back him at odds against to beat the veteran and move through to the Second Round.

MY PICKS: Feliciano Lopez @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Thomaz Bellucci @ 1.85 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 2.5 Games @ 1.85 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Santiago Giraldo @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Weekly Picks Final: 4-4, + 0.10 Units (16 Units Staked, + 1% Yield)

Season 2014: + 36.11 Units (561 Units Staked, + 6.44% 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

Tennis Picks 2013 (April 29th)

I have made a couple of outright picks from the ATP tournaments in Portugal and Germany this week which can be found here


Svetlana Kuznetsova - 2.5 games v Varvara Lepchenko: I think it would be very foolish to rule out Varvara Lepchenko on the clay courts considering she has beaten the likes of Sara Errani and Roberta Vinci on this surface this season. However, I do think Svetlana Kuznetsova is still more happy on the slower terrain and I do believe she can come through this tough First Round match.

My one real concern is that Kuznetsova hasn't played any tennis since Miami last month, although she has a real chance of being one of the seeds at the French Open with a couple of big runs in the next two weeks and that should be big enough motivation to see her through this match.

The left-handed Lepchenko could also cause some early problems and the Russian has also been complaining about the wind in Portugal. As long as these issues don't cause too many mental breakdowns, I think Kuznetsova comes through the match.


Daniel Brands - 3.5 games v Tobias Kamke: The battle of two home town players should be a decent one, but I would expect Daniel Brands to be a little too strong for Tobias Kamke.

Brands has the bigger serve and any time you can get a few cheaper points on serve can only be a benefit, while Kamke can be very erratic at times and go through phases in a match where he makes a number of unforced errors.

It is those unforced errors that will give Brands a chance on his opponent's serve and while both players have enjoyed some success on the clay courts off the Main Tour, it is Brands that seems to have been able to transfer that form to the highest level of competition.

I'd expect Brands to find a way to grab a break advantage in both sets here.


MY PICKS: Svetlana Kuznetsova - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Daniel Brands - 3.5 Games @ 2.10 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Tennis Outright Picks 2013 (April 29-May 5)

We are now less than a month away from the French Open so this week is the last one where the main players on both Tours decide to take off. After this, both Tours head to Madrid and Rome for the big tournaments at Masters and Premier level and then there will be just the eight days until the French Open will begin.

This week we have a joint tournament taking place in Portugal and another ATP event in Munich.

ATP Portugal Open

The Number 1 seed in at this tournament is David Ferrer and it is hard to look beyond the World Number 4 in the field that has come together for the Portugal Open this season. He was surprisingly beaten in his first match at the Barcelona Open last week against Dmitry Tursunov, but David Ferrer is certainly very capable of running some form together as proven by his title win in Buenos Aires earlier this season.

The draw seems to be kind to Ferrer here as he receives a bye in the First Round thanks to being one of the top four seeds here in Portugal and I don't think he will be too worried by any of the names in the top half.

The biggest danger may just be Tommy Robredo in the top half of the draw, but Ferrer has been too good for his veteran compatriot over the last twelve months and I would back the World Number 4 to be too battle hardened and consistent for Robredo.

I am not surprised that Stanislas Wawrinka is considered the second favourite, but Ferrer has a solid head to head record against him and I would back the Spaniard in that one. Other names in the bottom half like Fabio Fognini and Horacio Zeballos have had success on the clay courts, but neither would feel they have a favourable match up with Ferrer the Number 1 seed has to be the pick at odds against in this field.


ATP Munich
One of the more open tournaments in recent times takes place in Munich and it says a lot that the field is priced at 5.50 or better. There are plenty of big names in the draw and I have a feeling that backing a home favourite to come through the draw may pay dividends this week.

Philipp Kohlschreiber has won this event twice already in his career, including last season, and he has reached at least the Quarter Final in five of his last six appearances here. The German is in the better half of the draw here and receives a bye in the First Round which may give him enough of an edge to come through the top half.

His main rivals are Mikhail Youzhny and Janko Tipsarevic, but there are some doubts about the chances of both of those players and Kohlschreiber looks the most likely to take advantage of those doubts.


The bottom half of the draw looks a lot more loaded with the likes of Ernests Gulbis, Tommy Haas, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Marin Cilic all involved in the section. Cilic has enjoyed a lot of success in the tournament without quite winning it, but this is a really tough half of the draw and I think taking Kohlschreiber each way is the best way to be involved in this tournament.

MY PICKS: David Ferrer @ 2.25 William Hill (2 Units)
Philipp Kohlschreiber @ 8.00 Bet Victor (1 Unit E/W)


Daily Picks: 10-5, + 8.18 Units (28 Units Staked, + 29.21% Yield)
Outright Picks: 0-1, - 2 Units (2 Units Staked, - 100% Yield)

Season 2013: + 41.28 Units (517 Units Staked, + 7.98% Yield)

Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, + 5.76% Yield)
Season 2011: + 82.02 Units