fisherking
04-19-2005, 12:36 AM
Some thoughts from me:
* PORTAS over Chela (3.550 Pinnacle)
Albert were born in Barcelona a long time ago :) and lives there since then. In the past he won 2 challangers there. In Open Seat he is a qualifier, but didn't have much problem so far. But to be true - this bet is more an "anti-Chela" bet. Because he is completely out of form lately, but even more important is fact he will start next week in Estoril, when he won last year, so a lot of points there are to defend. SO it's hard to imagine he will treat Barcelona seriously. I believe he needs some time to practise and try to give all his best next week.
* Marc LOPEZ over Muller (2.100 Admiral)
Lopez - like Portas - were born and lives in Barcelona. He starts here since 2000 and always lost only to better players than Muller (Ivanisevic, Hewitt, Volandro, Nalbandian). Last year he played in 3rd round, while Gilles Muller never played here before. Actully this bet is more my feeling bet. I hope Lopez want to play his best before his audience.
* MALISSE over Thomas Johansson - 2nd round (1.526 Pinnacle)
They both defeated their opponents very easy and quickly in 1st round losing only 3 games. Johansson hates claycourts so it was rather surprised, but we shoudn't forget that his opponent was Koubek, who was suspended for 3 months and used this break to "cure" his legs. Malisse is much bigger obstacle, he feels very comfortable on clay, and he has here quite nice draw, what should give him some extra motivation to beat ToJo. They played 2 times so far, 2 victorie for ToJo, but both games on hard (out- and in-) and both games were close.
* VERDASCO over Ferrer (2.230 Pinnacel)
Even if it seems that Ferrer is in better shape at the moment, I'll try Verdasco here and I'm counting on Ferrer tirderness.
Barcelona is his 5th tournament in a row. He is playing week after week since Indian Wells (March 11)!!! To be true - the same with Verdasco but he simply played less games (9, while Ferrer 18 ).
* MONACO over Mirnyi (1.670 St James)
After long-awful start to new season Monaco show signs of improvement in Casablanca where lost in Final to Puerta - beating earlier quite impressive set of players: Sanguinetti, Mayer, Simon and Zib. On the other side, it's time when Mirnyi always makes poor results, and the reason for that is simply: clay and grass are both his most unliked sufaces. Especially clay - his big serve doesn't give him an important advantage here at all - as it does on faster courts.
And 2 big (?) surprises
* MONTANES over Ferrero (5.750 Pinnacle)
"Another man from Catalonia" (Montanes) who played here semifinal last year (lost to Gaudio, but earlier he beat Costa, Almagro, Martin and Calleri - a set of quite good clay-courters). During last 2 months he defeated some good clay-names: Zib, Volandri, Calleri while was beaten only by Nadal, Gasquet (2 times), Martin and Federer. His recoed from 2 last moths: 10-5.
On the other hand I'm one of those who would like to see Juanqui in Top-10 soon but he still needs more stability in his play. And true - yes he played semifinal last week, but did he beat any important name there: injuried Volandri, careless Safin, out-of-form Novak and cly-specialist Smile Karlovic? Odds worth a shot I believe
* FOGUES over Davydenko (5.600 Pinnacle)
It's simply - I like to bet against Kolya in his first game of tournament. Especially, if he is a big fav :) And Fogues showed he like to play here.
good luck with Your choices
and btw
Happy Birthday to Miss Sharapova
* PORTAS over Chela (3.550 Pinnacle)
Albert were born in Barcelona a long time ago :) and lives there since then. In the past he won 2 challangers there. In Open Seat he is a qualifier, but didn't have much problem so far. But to be true - this bet is more an "anti-Chela" bet. Because he is completely out of form lately, but even more important is fact he will start next week in Estoril, when he won last year, so a lot of points there are to defend. SO it's hard to imagine he will treat Barcelona seriously. I believe he needs some time to practise and try to give all his best next week.
* Marc LOPEZ over Muller (2.100 Admiral)
Lopez - like Portas - were born and lives in Barcelona. He starts here since 2000 and always lost only to better players than Muller (Ivanisevic, Hewitt, Volandro, Nalbandian). Last year he played in 3rd round, while Gilles Muller never played here before. Actully this bet is more my feeling bet. I hope Lopez want to play his best before his audience.
* MALISSE over Thomas Johansson - 2nd round (1.526 Pinnacle)
They both defeated their opponents very easy and quickly in 1st round losing only 3 games. Johansson hates claycourts so it was rather surprised, but we shoudn't forget that his opponent was Koubek, who was suspended for 3 months and used this break to "cure" his legs. Malisse is much bigger obstacle, he feels very comfortable on clay, and he has here quite nice draw, what should give him some extra motivation to beat ToJo. They played 2 times so far, 2 victorie for ToJo, but both games on hard (out- and in-) and both games were close.
* VERDASCO over Ferrer (2.230 Pinnacel)
Even if it seems that Ferrer is in better shape at the moment, I'll try Verdasco here and I'm counting on Ferrer tirderness.
Barcelona is his 5th tournament in a row. He is playing week after week since Indian Wells (March 11)!!! To be true - the same with Verdasco but he simply played less games (9, while Ferrer 18 ).
* MONACO over Mirnyi (1.670 St James)
After long-awful start to new season Monaco show signs of improvement in Casablanca where lost in Final to Puerta - beating earlier quite impressive set of players: Sanguinetti, Mayer, Simon and Zib. On the other side, it's time when Mirnyi always makes poor results, and the reason for that is simply: clay and grass are both his most unliked sufaces. Especially clay - his big serve doesn't give him an important advantage here at all - as it does on faster courts.
And 2 big (?) surprises
* MONTANES over Ferrero (5.750 Pinnacle)
"Another man from Catalonia" (Montanes) who played here semifinal last year (lost to Gaudio, but earlier he beat Costa, Almagro, Martin and Calleri - a set of quite good clay-courters). During last 2 months he defeated some good clay-names: Zib, Volandri, Calleri while was beaten only by Nadal, Gasquet (2 times), Martin and Federer. His recoed from 2 last moths: 10-5.
On the other hand I'm one of those who would like to see Juanqui in Top-10 soon but he still needs more stability in his play. And true - yes he played semifinal last week, but did he beat any important name there: injuried Volandri, careless Safin, out-of-form Novak and cly-specialist Smile Karlovic? Odds worth a shot I believe
* FOGUES over Davydenko (5.600 Pinnacle)
It's simply - I like to bet against Kolya in his first game of tournament. Especially, if he is a big fav :) And Fogues showed he like to play here.
good luck with Your choices
and btw
Happy Birthday to Miss Sharapova