Quarterfinals at Zurich and Madrid
Profit Betting on Tennis Quarterfinals: Zurich Open , Madrid Masters
Of the four matches at Zurich today, Vaidisova and Golovin offer the best value. The men's side features Mario Ancic rekindling an old rivalry with Novak Djokovic.
Francesca Schiavone did the business against Patty Schnyder to progress to the quarterfinals of the Zurich Open. What lies ahead is a much difficult task for her as she faces Justine Henin, the world number 1. On the men's side, Mario Ancic is proving he has found his old form and should not be discounted today against Novak Djokovic and Karlovic could not maintain his fine run to reach a second successive last eight.
The line up of matches this afternoon is very appealing. From a punting angle, it is worth to stay off the likes of Henin and Kuznetsova as the top 2 female players in the world as of now are on a different level compared to the chasing pack. There is still value to be had in the women's matches especially with Golovin and Vaidisova's matches.
Zurich Open Quarterfinals
Marion Bartoli (France) vs Tatiana Golovin (France)
Her serve might be the most ridiculous one on tour but Marion Bartoli is finding that extra she needs to keep up her push inside the top 10. The number 1 French player has her eyes set on reaching Madrid but has to accrue enough points to overhaul the likes of Venus Williams and Elena Dementiva. The task ahead this afternoon is a hard one as she will be playing a known opponent, Tatiana Golovin another French player.
Golovin has picked up pretty well since a shocking first round exit at the US Open to a player ranked outside the top 100. Since then, she has reached a quarterfinal and two finals, one of which was last week at Stuttgart against Henin. Going by performances in the past couple of weeks, Golovin is the layer you want to side with. She has shown she can fight it out with the best of the best as she showed last week taking a set off Henin in the finals.
The approach to this game might be different for both players but they do have a high level of determination and can never be counted out of a match at any one point. It will be a war of attrition on court with two players that have found their zone recently. For two compatriots of the same country, they have only met once which is strange, and that was in 2006. The story since then has changed for either player and the 1-0 lead for Bartoli wont matter much when they take to the hard surface later.
The suggested bet is Tatiana Golovin to win as she has been more consistent of late.
Nicole Vaidisova (Czech) vs Alona Bondarenko (Ukraine)
The oldest Bondarenko sister has not made any impact this season until this week when she beat Amelie Mauresmo. It is hard to judge her form as such and she is going to be a difficult customer as the unknown factor this week in Zurich. Bondarenko takes on Nicole Vaidisova who has been conserving herself sensibly and turning up for the main tournaments which makes her fresh and full of energy.
This match is about ranking points and plain desire to win as both players cannot make any impression on the top eight spot for Madrid later this year. Vaidisova is picking up well where she left off from last week and has already seen off a top seed this week, Jankovic. There is a gulf in experience between these two and Vaidisova can continue her march to better ranking but Bondarenko will not give it up easily.
The suggested bet is Alona Bondarenko to win +4.5 games handicap.
Madrid Masters Quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic (Serbia) vs Mario Ancic (Croatia):
The rivalry between them seemed to have been gone for a long time with the injury to Ancic but the towering Croatian is back and with him he has brought back the promise that he showed in the past. Since his time off, Djokovic has won over a lot of fans with his breathtaking tennis and genuine challenge to the Big 2.
Head to head between them is 1-1 but they were completely different players when they last met in 2006. It is safe to disregard previous form as the betting market does suggest that Djokovic should win this one comfortably. The Croatian nation will hope not as the classic Serbia vs Croatia rivalry hits the hard courts of Madrid.
The form Djokovic is taking into this quarterfinal is well known but Ancic is coming back onto the tour after injury. This is his first real test against a top 5 player. He does look prepared as he has won his matches this week in good fashion, and in straight sets. There seems to be more in the tank for the Croat and he can stay close to Djokovic as his serve has been very reliable this week.
The suggested bet is Mario Ancic to win +3 games handicap and Lay ( on tennis betting exchanges ) Novak Djokovic to win 2-0 sets.
Of the other quarterfinal matches at Madrid today, take Feliciano Lopez to stay within +5 games handicap against Roger Federer. When it comes to a best of 3 sets, Lopez's serve can win him enough games to cover a big handicap for a player that relies solely on big serves. And, Nicolas Kiefer to beat Fernando Gonzalez: the German seems to be in a ruthless returning mood and can make it pay.
