Both pretty shaky on serve so far. Yeah those handicaps can be very useful when they get above +4 if you like the dog to stick in a match. Of course you have to get them fairly early though because the juice on them can get pretty heavy if a lot of people back it. Hantuchova I think started at maybe -115 for +4.5 and was at least -135 prior to the match when I saw it. It's always nice to hit the bigger win on the ML, but handicaps offer a good conservative approach on matches.
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Falla absolutely needs to consolidate here and take advantage.Comment -
Over would be nice here as Mannarino most likely wins this thing in 3 sets.Comment -
WTA ACAPULCO: LARSSON +155
Larsson against Arn. Arn has been putting up a blog this week on the WTA website and it could provide some useful stuff for today. She said prior to the tournament that she enjoyed playing in the heat, but not the heat AND humidity she faces in Acapulco. Although the forecast says about 60% humidity which is not the worst I've seen. Still, having that in her mind already could add to potential fatigue after she somehow got through a two and a half hour match yesterday. She rallied from down 1-4 in the third to beat Voracova and admits it was a horrible match where she just fought her way through. Larsson beat an in-form Mathilde Johansson, also taking care of some sloppy play from her opponent. She's dominated the four sets she's won this week, but looked poor in the two she lost. Larsson is a talented youngster on this surface who has a good ITF pedigree on dirt, but needs to find those results in the WTA. This looks like it could be a real grinder with lots of breaks again ... the longer it goes, I THINK that could benefit the younger Swede.
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Nice & EZ for Falla. Did not expect that simple of a win, but very nice to get.Comment -
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ATP ACAPULCO: KUBOT +4 [-118]
Kubot vs. Bellucci. I absolutely THINK Kubot has a shot to win this outright because Bellucci is such a streaky flake. We've already seen that in the sets Bellucci has dropped in lopsided fashion in the 1st two rounds. Kubot's best attribute may just be his ability to grind. He's not flashy, but he tries hard and usually gives himself chances to take advantage of mistakes from his opponents. On this surface, Kubot has taken a set in two of his three losses this season. Bellucci has dropped a set in five of his seven matches on dirt in 2011. I THINK Bellucci's fitness is factor here too. He's not the strongest in "heat check" situations and this will be his first match I believe in the actual heat of the day in Acapulco whereas his first two matches were later at night. Kubot has worked through the heat, so he should be battle tested.
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Almagro not looking sharp here. Been broken twice and just got broke right after he broke Giraldo.Comment -
Almagro rolled in the tie break. Woot.Comment -
Almagro finished the DEUCE.
Larsson came through in 3.
Kubot & Bellucci still on-court. Kubot took the 1st 7-6. Bellucci up a break in the 2nd. Need Kubot to keep it at just one break in the 2nd and I'll feel decent about the 3rd.
Decided to sit out Wawrinka-Dolgopolov but will be watching closely. This is the price range where I don't trust Dolgy. Interested to see how it pans out.Comment -
Come on Kubot, you can do it!Comment -
E/P I know your watching War and Dog but if you had to take one who do you think would prevail?Comment -
nice pick with larssonComment -
Couldn't have said. Wawrinka has been winning with smoke & mirrors it seems a lot in the past two weeks, but winning nonetheless. With where the prices ended, if you forced me to choose I would have taken Wawrinka as a small dog ... but if they played this match 10 times, I think the result might be 50-50, very close. Just hoping for no shenanigans.
Clutch choke by Bellucci serving it out after Kubot failed to hold serve that would have nailed a push. Now at least a push is the worst case scenario.Comment -
Got the push for Kubot. I'll take it. Looked bleak when he lost his serve.Comment -
ATP ACAPULCO: FERRER -4 [-138]
Ferrer has been absolutely solid in 2011 with the exception of losing his lone indoor match a few weeks back. He showed improvement from his 1st rounder to his second which says something considering he lost just four games in his opener. However, his serve looked more crisp in the 2nd against Gonzalez and he rolled 6-2, 6-2. Monaco also improved after struggling some against Zeballos in the opening round. His serve was better in round two. Still, I THINK Monaco's fitness is questionable still. He had a back problem in late January and has battled lingering injuries over the past year. His consistency still seems iffy from match-2-match, not something you want going up against Mr.Consistency in Ferrer. I THINK if Ferrer comes with anything close to what he's shown most of the year, he should push past Monaco and has a good shot to cover this.
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I'm with you on it. GLComment -
Sweeting vs Nishikori
who do you got?Comment -
Ferrer is getting drilled right now.Comment -
Bad 1st serve from Ferrer so far. Gonna be an uphill battle to try and push this.Comment -
Ferrer = shithouse. No chance this covers.
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Been waiting to make sure there isn't any strong info on this next play. Will wait a few minutes longer because I don't need another jinx.
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ATP DUBAI: GASQUET +5 [-115]
Gasquet and Federer. Listen, I'm not under any illusion that Gasquet is going to beat Federer. He won't unless Federer shows up in a wheelchair. But, I THINK Gasquet has a shot to cover the handicap if he plays like he did in the final two sets against Simon yesterday. Gasquet was blasting shots from all sorts of angles from the forehand & backhand side for winners. That's his shot today, if he comes out and plays like that from Jump Street. Federer has been solid this week, but has not been challenged. He did give some openings for Stakhovsky yesterday with nine break opps, but saved eight. Gasquet will need to see some opps like that and cash in on more to keep this close. Simon may have been a decent warm-up as far as engaging in rallies for today, but Federer certainly will add better shot making ability into the mix that Gasquet will have to contend with. Hopeful that this is a push at worst.
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Meh. Unless Federer gets bored in the 2nd set, this is a loser. Gasquet not serving great and if you're not serving well against Fed ... you get buried quick.Comment -
You still have a chance mate... could be worse... at least you´re not on Baroli +5
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Knew that was exactly how that 2nd set would end once Gasquet choked. Fukkstick had a chance to serve out the 2nd set at 6-3 and blows it to go 5-4. Federer wins the next 3 and it's -6 at the end.Comment -
Zvonareva is so iffy. Why does she do this to her self. Comes out dominates the first set 2 days in a row and then turns around and get throttled in the second. Janko is playing well, don't get me wrong but it seems as if she starts playing down to the competition the later the match goes and in turn her opponent starts stepping their game up. Which in turn makes reva step her game back up. aarrggghhhhComment -
Jankovic had that match. Couple of break points at 4-4 in the 3rd and she couldn't do it. Predictably, she let down the next game and lost.Comment -
Alamgro goes down today.. and tippy might too..Comment -
Maybe Tipsarevic if Dodig serves lights out. Bellucci is a clown. Almagro would have to break his legs.Comment -
WTA ACAPULCO: LARSSON -112
Will ride with the Swede again today as she faces veteran Parra-Santonja. Both have shown good battle ability this week, but I THINK I like Larsson better here. The Swede has dropped sets in each of her three matches, but the six sets she has won have been lopsided as she's shown a solid ability to convert break points [21/44]. She has managed to save 22/34 of her own breaks given out. Parra-Santonja meanwhile has saved 16/26 breakers ... but those numbers have dropped since she saved 9/12 in her opening round. The Spaniard has had difficulties consistently getting her 1st serve in and that is somewhere that Larsson must make her pay, tee off on that 2nd serve. I THINK both have done a nice job this week, but in looking at APS prior to this week, she lost to some poor players on dirt. As outlined yesterday, Larsson is a talent and I THINK this is one of those opportunities to put her name out there with a shot at making the final in Acapulco.
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Way to try in the breaker dodig ,you turd..
Ep, juice is kinda high for it, but ferrer and Dolgo are each such good defenders, I think the over 22 is still a soild bet..Comment -
Should have taken Nishi at 20-1 when I had the chance..
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