Aussie Open: Round 4
*Dokic -150(Kleybanova): This is a classic let-down spot for The Russian.Kleybanova got their win of her career against Ivanovic in the 3rd round, but now faces the steam rolling Aussie, Dokic. Dokic has been the big story here on the ladies side with her resurrection from the tennis graveyard. She's been steady with her first serve percentage (always a key stat) and has shown grit & determination in playing 3 set matches. Kleybanova meanwhile has done much the same although until the Ivanovic win, had played lesser competition. No doubt in my mind that if Dokic plays to the same level she did against Wozniacki & Chakvetadze to an extent - she is the pick here. The home crowd makes her all the more enticing. Kleybanova may be happy to have gotten this far after he monumental win. Dokic I think being the more experienced player, knows that these shots don't come around often in tennis & that she'll take advantage and continue her Cinderella run with a trip to the quarters.
*Baghdatis +250 (Djokovic):
This is a copy/paste of my diagnosis of this match when I did my pre-tourney write-up.
[The Serb leads the head-2-head 2-0, including the 2007 Wimbledon classic 5 setter. We all know this was Djokovic's break out tourney in 2008. Still, his loss to Niemenen and Gulbis already this year + the way he ended 2008 still mark him as a fade for me. His interest in tennis/spirit just doesn't seem right. Baghdatis meanwhile is happy to be healthy (if indeed he is). When he's healthy, he's a danger to all in majors. I'm gonna peep an upset here. Maybe it's too much hate on my part for Djokovic, but he still has to prove it to me.]
As of today, I'm sticking with my gut feeling when I looked at the draw. Baghdatis has always been capable of making a run in any major when he's healthy. He seems just that right now and since bringing himself back up off the mat against Soderling, he's been playing some solid tennis. Baghdatis to me is that pesky player that Djokovic doesn't want to play at this point. A big key for Baghdatis to this point has been his ability to return serve. He's won over 40% of the return points against big servers Soderling & Fish. Djokovic is definitely another solid server that Baghdatis will try to wear down. To this point, Djokovic hasn't been extended fully in a match yet. If Baghdatis can make him work the entire match, then I think he has a chance today as Djokovic showed a little bit of that frustration at points against Delic when things did not go right. The price is right for me.
*Dokic -150(Kleybanova): This is a classic let-down spot for The Russian.Kleybanova got their win of her career against Ivanovic in the 3rd round, but now faces the steam rolling Aussie, Dokic. Dokic has been the big story here on the ladies side with her resurrection from the tennis graveyard. She's been steady with her first serve percentage (always a key stat) and has shown grit & determination in playing 3 set matches. Kleybanova meanwhile has done much the same although until the Ivanovic win, had played lesser competition. No doubt in my mind that if Dokic plays to the same level she did against Wozniacki & Chakvetadze to an extent - she is the pick here. The home crowd makes her all the more enticing. Kleybanova may be happy to have gotten this far after he monumental win. Dokic I think being the more experienced player, knows that these shots don't come around often in tennis & that she'll take advantage and continue her Cinderella run with a trip to the quarters.
*Baghdatis +250 (Djokovic):
This is a copy/paste of my diagnosis of this match when I did my pre-tourney write-up.
[The Serb leads the head-2-head 2-0, including the 2007 Wimbledon classic 5 setter. We all know this was Djokovic's break out tourney in 2008. Still, his loss to Niemenen and Gulbis already this year + the way he ended 2008 still mark him as a fade for me. His interest in tennis/spirit just doesn't seem right. Baghdatis meanwhile is happy to be healthy (if indeed he is). When he's healthy, he's a danger to all in majors. I'm gonna peep an upset here. Maybe it's too much hate on my part for Djokovic, but he still has to prove it to me.]
As of today, I'm sticking with my gut feeling when I looked at the draw. Baghdatis has always been capable of making a run in any major when he's healthy. He seems just that right now and since bringing himself back up off the mat against Soderling, he's been playing some solid tennis. Baghdatis to me is that pesky player that Djokovic doesn't want to play at this point. A big key for Baghdatis to this point has been his ability to return serve. He's won over 40% of the return points against big servers Soderling & Fish. Djokovic is definitely another solid server that Baghdatis will try to wear down. To this point, Djokovic hasn't been extended fully in a match yet. If Baghdatis can make him work the entire match, then I think he has a chance today as Djokovic showed a little bit of that frustration at points against Delic when things did not go right. The price is right for me.
