ATP Medibank International 2nd Round Tips
Sydney, Australia – The ATP Medibank International enters the second round and tennis bettors are spoilt for choice with fantastic matchups and fabulous odds. Here is the lowdown on a select few matches, including a look on how they are currently trading in the Betfair tennis market.
Tennis Betting Line: Andreas Seppi 21/10 Lleyton Hewitt 1.31 Match Time: 07:00 P.M. Eastern Time Tuesday January 12, 2010
Tennis Betting Verdict: Andreas Seppi should be no match for Lleyton Hewitt, especially on Hewitt’s home turf. The Australian Hewitt, and former world No.1, is trading at 1.31 favourite odds, meanwhile, Seppi, a middleweight in comparison, is listed as the 21/10 underdog. Seppi does just edge Hewitt in head-to-heads 2-1, but their last meeting came in 2008 a season during which Hewitt struggled with a hip injury that was so bad he eventually was forced to have surgery on. Methinks, Hewitt will right the balance in their H2H.
Tennis Free Picks: Hewitt -1.31 in straight sets
Tennis Betting Line: Viktor Troicki Ev Marcos Baghdatis 1.71 Match Time: 08:30 P.M. Eastern Time Tuesday January 12, 2010
Tennis Betting Verdict: The bookies are rather uncertain where Troicki is concerned. The problem is that he is too damn inconsistent to trade at premium stock. And tennis bettors are unconvinced of his value. Therefore, he frequently fluctuates in the market. He enters his first-ever clash against Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis at Evens. Baghdatis enters as the bookies favourite and this in spite of being outranked by Troicki. The reason behind this market cast is twofold: Baghdatis is a former top ten player who reached the Aussie Open final and he is a fan favourite, especially in Australia where he enjoys almost home-like edge. Baghdatis is listed at 1.71 and that spells good value, in my humble opinion. Baghdatis finished the 2009 season on a positive note winning two challengers and the Stockholm title. He is fitter than he has ever been and he definitely has the game to beat Troicki.
Tennis Free Picks: Baghdatis 1.71 in straight sets
Tennis Betting Line: Richard Gasquet 1.29 Benjamin Becker 3.25 Match Time: 09:30 P.M. Eastern Time Tuesday January 12, 2010
Tennis Betting Verdict: Richard Gasquet is the bookies favourite in this match at 1.29 to win outright; meanwhile, Benjamin Becker, a journeyman player and minnow in comparison, is the underdog at 3.25. True, he currently outranks Gasquet but one need only to look at his career ATP mark which is 56-80 and measure it against his age, 28-years-old, to realize Becker typically doesn’t rank high enough to get direct entry into events. He spends most of his time in the lower circuits. Hence, he is a journeyman player.
Gasquet on the other hand is a former top ten player that has fallen off the grid – inconsistent play had something to do with his decline but a more recent and significant drop in the rankings can be attributed to a three-month suspension last year for suspected drug use.
If Gasquet were more consistent a performer, punching at his perceived weight class, tennis bettors would have had a more one-sided money line to consider. As it stands, Gasquet is the favourite but not so overwhelmingly to make him the obvious play – there are still lingering questions about his motivation and overall form.
Becker is not exactly priced out of the market, although he is still long by my estimation. What this says to me is that Becker has a theoretical chance to beat Gasquet but I don’t think there will be many bettors willing to lay money down on theory alone. Or are there?
Tennis Free Picks: Gasquet 1.29 in three sets