I was just starting to look at the lines for tonight. I should have my plays up right at 4pm CST, about 2 hours before the matches go up. Just so you know. I finish my next lesson around 3pm, so I will have an hour to post before I go back for the night to finishing teaching.
Looking at the Ram match, it really depends on how Ram serves. His games REALLY revolves around his serve. When he lost to Sela in India to start this year, he had a terrible serving day. Only 2 aces and only 55% on first serves. He lost 4&1. But, he is serving a LOT better in this tment! He got thru qualifying, so he has played 3 extra matches. BUT, he knows how good Cilic is and this is a match where he can leave everything he has left on the court. He had around 30 aces in qualifying & 11 aces to 1 double in his match with GGL yesterday. What is more imp is that he served his firsts around 70%, which tells me he is feeling the serve. IF he serves well tonight, Cilic will prob win a set or two in a breaker. I could not see Ram serving well and losing bad. If his serves fall off, it Cilic could cover the 8 games. But I think Ram will serve well tonight, lose in 3 or 4 sets and most likely COVER the 8 games. He would have to lose 3,3,3 or 2,4,3 and I don't think that will happen. He should hang in there for prob two sets tonight and that should get the cover. Cilic is playing just ok I think. He struggled the first two sets with Matosevic and Mato hit over 40 errors that match!!! Mato's serve is NO where near Ram's when it is clicking!! Cilic got the third easy 6-2, but I think he has to work hard tonight to beat a tricky, crafty, never say die Ram. Besides, Cilic served only over 50% for his firsts. Although Ram is not a good returner, if Cilic has to work harder to hold HIS serve, than that should allow Ram to hold his serve a bit easier bec Cilic could spend alot of energy covering his own games. Just my opinion. But I think I might take Ram +8 games tonight.......
Davy plains scares the CRAP out of me. When he is taking that ball SUPER early, he can be deadly!! We saw that when he destroyed Ferrer a week or so ago. BUT, this is Federer we are talking about. I think Davy will try to do way too much in this match tonight and if his timing is not PERFECT, he should get beat down by Fed. Davy does not have a big serve, so Fed will be looking to break on every service game he serves. And we all know, if Fed is serving good, then Davy will have no chance to break him (maybe just a look or two the entire night). If Fed wins in straights, I think he covers this 7.5 games. If Davy can sneak a set out, he covers. I honestly think that is how it goes. I can't see a 5 setter and I can't see Davy knocking off Fed. Don't forget that Davy had to save 16 out of 19 break points against Garcia Lopez!!! NO way Fed lets him get away with that. If Fed has a third of those chances to break, he probably gets most of them. I will not touch Davy in this spot, I just can't trust him and I think Fed has way too much firepower. Davy would have to be dead on tonight to cover IMO. Otherwise, look for Fed to cruise in 3 sets....
I hope this helps. Best of luck tonight!! And I should have my plays up by 4pm CST if that helps you at all. Thanks