Finally followed up some of the breaks, going to a 3rd set. C'mon Petko, wanna see the dance!
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Or get broke early in the 3rd and roll over.
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No dancing. Not impressed with either of these girls today. Kanepi took better advantage of the sloppy play though. Another loss, wee!Comment -
What time does Marino start I thought it was supposed to start at 11am eastern timeComment -
ATP BUENOS AIRES: ZEBALLOS +200
Argie vs. Argie, Zeballos & Chela. Chela has been his usual, flirting with danger-self dropping sets the past couple of weeks and then rallying for wins. Looking at his last two losses though on this surface and I THINK Zeballos rates a chance. Zeballos has a big serving game - or at least the ability to hold frequently. Almagro & Giraldo are Chela's last two losses this season on dirt and they are of a similar mold, although a bit better in class than Zeballos on this surface. Still, Chela's ability to leave break opps on the table for someone to take are the reason I'm taking a swing here. If Zeballos continues to serve well and Chela brings a little less than his best, I THINK Zeballos can pick him off.
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I forgot how much fun these WTA matches were. Marino wins after about seven mini heart attacks from me.Comment -
If I was a baseball player, I'd be a damn All-Star. 1 for 3 every day? Suck on that Pujols. The Fade Train continues.Comment -
Jesus Oudin sucks ass...How was she this big a fav?
Love that isner total under man..remind you of Isner/Dr ivo last year at 24.5...??Comment -
E/P 36 any thoughts on Blake and KendrickComment -
This is my rut right now. Finding bigger dogs to play, I've marked a few a day but played the losers and left off the winners. Had a feeling Malisse was dodgy today, so was going to go with Serra - but skipped. Same with Rodina over Oudin. Of course I play Zeballos and he gets whacked.
Kendrick has some pretty good form right now. If his serve holds up, I think he'll win. I'd make Blake show he can win back-2-back. Money is all on Kendrick as well.Comment -
Blake has beat him many times and was a top player
Kendrick is riff-raft
If Blake has a shed of pride left he'll beat that bumComment -
Those old head-2-heads don't mean anything here. They're three years old or more. Blake isn't anywhere close to 1/4 the player he was the last time they played.
I should turn this into a Dr.Abbey thread instead of picks. I think I am better with advice, than actual picks.
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tennis is probably the one sports where a "square" bettor can do near 30-35% over the long haulComment -
This one as mentioned before got super juiced where the OVER went to -165 and once again, going oppo pays off. So far, it definitely looks like if you follow this method that when you see the super chalk they have cashed more often than not by going oppo.
TOTALS TRACKER: 11-9 [+3.08]Comment -
2.17.11
WTA DUBAI
KLEYBANOVA-ZVONAREVA OVER 20.5 [-122]
Loves me my overs when we get the Russian vs. Russian WTA match-up of the higher caliber players.
PENNETTA +120
Good match-up here with the Italian against Azarenka. Azarenka looked out of sorts in winning her opener, perhaps due to rust. In any case, losing 7 of 15 break points and double faulting seven times is not a good way to live and expect to win. Vika made the final here last year, so she will be a tough out, but Pennetta is in solid form right now. The Italian was a bit off in her 1st set against Zakopalova, but then got it together to roll through in 3 sets. On this surface, she's been solid in the past year and is showing confidence that has carried her through two wins in Australia in Fed Cup action against tough players in Groth and Stosur. Both their serves can be picked on, so I THINK it's paramount to get the 1st serve in with regularity. I THINK whomever has to rely too much on their 2nd serve will find themselves in the loser's column.
DEUCE: LLODRA + QUERREY [-140]
You have to lay some chalk here, but these are two of the more solid shots on the board for Thursday, I THINK. Llodra is on his preferred surface in Marseilles where he faces Kamke. Kamke rolled greenhorn Schoorel in straights in his opener, but is going to be hard pressed to match Llodra's power serve & volley game. Kamke will make it tough on Llodra, but the Frenchman is at home and stands 10-1 in this tournament since 2009. Querrey draws Dabul as the Sam-urai looks to kickstart his 2011 campaign after finally getting in the win column against Istomin. Dabul is a good fighter, but doesn't possess any weapons that really are conducive to this surface. Querrey was big when he needed to be against Istomin and was not broken once. He'll need a similar serve today. He sounded upbeat finally after the win and now has a nice draw to make a little noise in Memphis.
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I'm gonna "go out on a limb" and say that Berdych losing is definitely worth the payout.Comment -
Guess this is about how it is for me right now. Zvonareva no-shows and it's over quick. Pennetta plays the better of the two in the first two sets, but chokes on-serve for the match and now they go to a 3rd. Sure that Azarenka wins now because I suuuuuuck.Comment -
EP, you like Tipsarevic's chances against an up and down Roddick?Comment -
has anyone talked about the stepanek-raonic match. I know everyone is on the raonic bandwagon right now, but he has to be a steal at even money against stepanek right? What's the lean on this match?Comment -
Azarenka chokes! Thank you!
Roddick-Tipsarevic: Don't think Roddick was bad in his 1st round match. Berankis is a talented kid, so losing a set to a guy who had been playing in tournaments whereas Roddick had been out since Melbourne is not a big deal to me. I think Tipsarevic is just as "up and down" as Roddick. This is one of those tournaments Roddick excels at for the most part. If he serves like he did in the 2nd and 3rd sets against Berankis, he'll be tough to beat.
I favor Stepanek - just slightly, but it's really what it is - a pick 'em. Sooner or later I think there is going to be a bit of a let down for Raonic and this might be the spot as he was probably pretty comfortable getting to play the same guy twice, but now has to face a tricky veteran with a very different game compared to Verdasco. I'd watch where the money goes in that match as oddsmakers set the line to favor Stepanek slightly.Comment -
WTA BOGOTA: HERCOG -125
Hercog and Martic here. I THINK the price has dropped as some are expecting Hercog to falter today after a tough three set match against Parmentier yesterday. The thing I like though is Hercog staved off four match points in the 2nd set and then cracked Parmentier early in the 3rd to roll. She's got a better serve than Martic that can produce some cheapies on aces. Martic's serve is efficient, but breakable - then again all WTA serves are breakable eh? Decent form too for Hercoq with a win over Goerges in Fed Cup play on this surface ten days or so ago. She generally has been better on the surface over the last year with Martic gathering four of her last five wins on clay down on the ITF level. If Hercog isn't fatigued from yesterday, I THINK she'll outlast Martic today. Should know early if fatigue will play any part.
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Don't know if it's fatigue or not - probably especially if she gets rolled in the 2nd set, but Hercog has totally blown this first set. Martic has tried to hand her several service games, but saved 6/6 break points and then Hercog blows one of her service games up 40-15.
Llodra closing in on a win. It's on you Querrey.Comment -
I´m on Hercog as well. I know she struggled the other day but in my opinion Martic has literally no weapons whatsoever. Not sure how she´s hurting her but she is. Like you say, there´ve been plenting of break opps so hopefully Hercog can finally take advantage in the second...
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I think Hercog is just spent after yesterday. No pop on her serve. Figures when I follow the money it loses. When I don't, it wins.
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Stepanek just went up to -120 and the kid dropped from -150 to -110? I know he is a crafty vet who does well here!Comment -
TOTALS TRACKER: 11-9 [+3.08]
*NO PLAYS*
All possible plays are now out of range, so nothing for today as of now unless one of the later ones gets slammed on price.
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ATP MEMPHIS: RAONIC +100
Fukk it. Initially thought Stepanek, but when have my initial thoughts been good lately? Looking closer, this appears to be Raonic's match to lose. Stepanek is capable of course but in looking at his losses on this indoor surface in the past year or so, there is a clear pattern. Dominant servers beat Stepanek. In general, the Czech has trouble with the power game lately with losses to Mayer, Soderling and Isner this year where he only got two breaks of serve. Raonic has offered eight total break opps in five matches on this indoor surface, saving six. Raonic does have to make a quick turnaround here playing later last night and then being 2nd up this morning - still, the match against Verdasco was only two hours in length and only the final set was a bit tense in the tie break. Should be no worries about where Raonic's head is at either as he is scheduled to be off next week while Stepanek will go to Delray Beach.
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who you guys like, the kid or stepanek?Comment -
Changed my mind as you'll read above. I think we keep looking for Raonic's cracks, but on this surface he can make up for lots of faults - although he has not shown many. If you read Verdasco's comments after the match last night, he was clearly frustrated by Raonic's game - the big serve and then coming to net and forcing Verdasco to try and hit by him. Hopefully Stepanek will be too.Comment
