If you’re a tennis fan there’s plenty to choose from this week, as the ATP has sanctioned tournaments in Memphis and Brasil to go along with the AMRO World Tennis Tournament, an event that has attracted some of the world’s top players. And we can’t forget about the women, especially after Andrea Petkovic pulled the minor upset yesterday and won us some money. These events have all reached the semifinal stage now and we’ve combed through today’s matchups in search of value. Here’s what we came up with:
ATP Memphis Open
Donald Young (3.3) vs. Kevin Anderson (1.35)
Young pulled off a bit of a stunner yesterday by upsetting Australian Bernard Tomic in three sets. In doing so he cost us a little money, but stubbornness is one of my primary character flaws so I’m back on the horse again, plopping my money down on his opponent. It just seems like we’ve seen this before from Young– he teases you by showcasing his considerable athletic gifts in beating a higher-ranked player, but, in the past anyway, his inconsistency and immaturity eventually catches up to him. I’m betting on that happening today, and it doesn’t hurt that Young’s opponent, Kevin Anderson, has been playing some excellent tennis lately. Anderson, a 6’8 South African with a monster serve, has yet to lose a set in Memphis and had a nice run in the Australian Open, where he won three matches before running into Rafa Nadal. The odds are a bit unfortunate I guess– if you want to back Anderson, you’ll have to pay for it– but I think a bet on the favorite is the right move nevertheless. Recommendation: Anderson at 1.35
ATP Brasil Open
Santiago Giraldo (2.48) vs. Pablo Cuevas (1.64)
These guys have both had to scratch and claw their way to this semifinal, as nothing has come easy in this tournament for either player. Looking at the big picture, there’s not much that separates these two. They’ve faced off twice, splitting the two matches, and they sit side-by-side in the world rankings (Cuevas at 32, Giraldo at 33). However, Cuevas has had a much better year than Giraldo– coming into this week’s tournament Giraldo has lost 5 of 7 matches, while Cuevas has taken home the tournament title in each of his last two clay court events (they were on the Challenger circuit, but still…). And after watching him dispatch Nicolas Almagro yesterday, I’m not about to bet against Cuevas, not on clay anyway. Recommendation: Cuevas at 1.64
BNP Paribas Fortis Diamond Games
Andrea Petkovic (2.02) vs. Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (1.79)
I see you, Petkovic! The gutty German once again appeared to break her opponent’s will yesterday, pulling out a soul-crushing first set tiebreaker over Dominika Cibulkova before cruising 6-0 in the second set. She’s been put through the fire these last ten days, fighting off 8 match points in a 1st-round win over Alison Van Uytvanck and winning two marathon Fed Cup matches last week. In yesterday’s second set Petkovic looked like someone who had withstood the worst and come out stronger for it. Pressure busts pipes but it also produces diamonds, and I’m riding this sparking diamond to another day of profits. Fade Petkovic at your own peril!! Recommendation: Petkovic at 2.02
