Tenns 6th - 13th Jan (ATP Sydney & Auckland, WTA Sydney & Hobart)

[Wittmann 44]

Hoping to reverse the poor results of the last few days at the SF stage.

Auckland

Ferrero-Benneteau

The pair have met twice on indoor hardcourt (06 and 07) with honours shared in 3 sets between the two – the match that Benneteau won was in France and he actually scored 8 points less than the Mosquito. Benneteau has beaten both Almagro and Ferrer but he scored less points than Almagro while managing to play the big points better. The result over Ferrer is a mini shock and the question is can he beat a third Spaniard in a row to make his first ATP final ? His past record doesn’t fill me with any confidence that he can – at all levels he is 3-7 and at ATP level he is 0-3 at the SF stage. The 3 he won were against players far below Ferrero. Ferrero ground away last night to draw the errors from Massu and I’d expect him to have too much power and steadiness for the Frenchman tonight – I was expecting around 1.55 for Ferrero on an outdoor surface so the Betfair price looks nice.

1.75 Units Ferrero @ 1.63

Monaco-Kohlsreiber

Monaco leads the h to h (both clay) 2-0 and if anything he looks stronger than he did last summer when he comfortably beat the powerful but erratic German. Mayer had plenty of chances last night in the QF but was very wasteful and if Kohlsreiber plays like that again he will be overwhelmed – Monaco’s nerves seem solid at this stage – he is 5-4 in ATP SF and won all 3 he contested last year while Kohlsreiber has underperformed with a 1-2 record , the sole win a bad tempered one over Bagddatis last year. Monaco’s battling 3 set win last night over an in form Llodra looks a useful result. Monaco is in the top thirty in terms of serving percentages (Kohlsreiber languishes just inside the top 100) and he is top 20 in terms of return of 1st serves which shows that he should punish the German if he can’t keep a decent serve going which on the evidence of the windy conditions of the last few days will be difficult. Monaco at a nice price for me.

1.50 Units Monaco @ 1.82

Sydney

Stepanek-Guccione

Guccione has done very well to get this far by beating both Hewitt (without creating a bp) and Berdych and should have the hometown crowd well behind him. Stepanek is a terrible opponent to play against however – the Czech can mix up his game as well as anyone and isn’t averse to some gamesmanship to break up a players rhythm. He goes well against lefties (7-1 since 2006) and doesn’t seem to have any particular problems against the big servers. The court isn’t playing particularly quickly as the other semifinalists show and I’d fancy Stepanek’s big match experience to count in what will be a close match.

1.75 Units Stepanek @ 1.66

In the ladies events at 15-2 it is impossible to make a case for Kuznestova to stop JHH run but the price looks right. Zvonereva should beat Danildou (although she has lost both hardcourt games) and the price looks fair.

[engineer]

In a telegraphic style my bets for tonight:
I'm copying Wittmann's Ferero and Stepanek and combine them in a double at about 3/2. Gucione won't have enough to beat Stepanek with his service only and I think Benneteau's win over Ferrer was due to the Spaniard being uninterested to defend his title.

In the other game I'll go for the German, who has better chances on that surface I reckon and shall lay Monaco.

I hope someone to beat Henin as soon as possible, but can't see it happening at that tourney. No ladies bets for me that night.

[Wittmann 44]

Doesn’t make pretty reading the last fortnight. I never do particularly well at the Slams either so January looking like a thin month already.

1.75 Units Ferrero @ 1.63 +1.05 Units
1.50 Units Monaco @ 1.82 -1.50 Units
1.75 Units Stepanek @ 1.66 -1.75 Units

ATP Staked 5.00 Units
ATP Loss -2.20 Units

ATP Event Staked 23.50 Units
ATP Event Loss -7.75 Units

WTA Event Staked 11.00 Units
WTA Event Profit +2.44 Units

Event Staked 34.50 Units
Event Loss -5.31 Units

+++++++++++++++++++++++++

YEAR TO DATE

Match - Bets

Year to Date Staked 67.75 Units
Year to Date Loss -10.01 Units (-14.77%)

Ante Post Bets

Year to Date Staked 2.50 Units
Year to Date Profit +5.75 Units (+230%)