ATP Auckland - Tommy Robredo vs Simon Greul

This is the first Double Dime of the 2010 season and I really hope we are as successful on these plays, as we are being on the regular ones until now. Simon Greul is the kind of opponent Tommy Robredo eats for breakfast. The German player has some talent and firepower, but he is just way too inconsistent to stay competitive against a player like Robredo, who always return every shot with a lot of depth, especially from his forehand wing. Robredo has already reached the final of this tournament and he looked clearly in-form during the Hopman Cup, where he won all his four matches, including wins over Andy Murray and Lleyton Hewitt. The Spanish player never has a problem with lowly opponents on hardcourt and in fact, he is 25-0 SU since 2004 on this surface in matches where he is priced at 1.25 or lower. But not only he wins these matches, he destroys his opponents, as he is 15-0 ATS and 13-2 Under on his last 15 matches on this spot. I really never had a doubt to make a selection on this match a Double Dime one, I just had doubts in choosing the spread or the under. I took the under, as a 6-4 6-4 win may happen and Robredo would fail to cover the spread, but still the match would easily go under. I expect some kind of a 6-4 6-2 type of result in here and so, I'm taking the under in a Double Dime Selection.

Pick: 2 units (Double Dime) on Under 21,5 Games (US Books are yet to open the total lines for this contest)


ATP Auckland - Juan Carlos Ferrero vs Michael Lammer

The difference between these two players is huge and the odds aren't reflecting that. Juan Carlos Ferrero showed last season that he is still a very good hardcourt player and even though, he will be making his season debut today, I don't think he will have a single problem in taking out a journeyman currently placed 209 in the rankings. Michael Lammer had a dream draw in the qualifying and managed to make it to the main draw, but let's face it: he has no business on this level and he won't have any kind of solution to handle the game variety of Ferrero in here. The Spanish player may even have a slow start, but then he will roll over the Swiss player, whose poor serve is easily be exposed by Ferrero. A spread of just 4,5 games doesn't reflect the difference between these two players and so, I'll be taking Ferrero minus the games in here.

Pick: 1 unit (Single Dime) on Juan Carlos Ferrero (-4,5 Games) @ -145 on 5 Dimes


ATP Auckland - Philipp Kohlschreiber vs Thomaz Bellucci

I believe everything has a limit. Even though Kohlschreiber was terrible in the Hopman Cup and Bellucci has begun the 2010 season in good form, there is no way the German player should be the underdog in here for the simple reason he is clearly the better player of the two. Kohlschreiber is a former winner of this tournament and looking at his good win yesterday, I believe he is headed to another big run on this tournament. He is a very complete player and with his great ground strokes from both wings, I believe he will be able to get the upper hand over Bellucci, who has already played a lot this season and who may be headed to a physical letdown mainly because of that. I trust Kohlschreiber to make this match highly competitive and then, I expect him to use his experienced to get the win at the end. The value of this match is clearly on the side of Kohlschreiber and so, I'll be taking him in here.

Pick: 1 unit (Single Dime) on Philipp Kohlschreiber ML @ -102 on 5 Dimes



ATP Sydney - Richard Gasquet vs Benjamin Becker
ATP Sydney - Lleyton Hewitt vs Andreas Seppi

Richard Gasquet easily defeated Feliciano Lopez in the first round, showing that he is really in great form and fired up to play tennis after his suspension. He will now face Benjamin Becker, a great matchup for Gasquet, who can handle the firepower of his opponents quite well, especially when they miss one shot on every two hit like Becker usually does. The German player was able to beat a disappointing Chela, but Gasquet is from another championship and I expect the French player to easily win this match.

Lleyton Hewitt wasn't exactly great on the Hopman Cup, but he still won two matches and just lost a match against Robredo when Australia was already eliminated. I know Seppi is tradicionally a tough matchup for Hewitt, however the Italian player isn't in great form right now, just like he was when he defeated Hewitt those two times (in Sydney 2006, he made it to the semi finals from the qualifying and in Rotterdam 2008, he defeated Rafael Nadal). With the help of the crowd, I expect Hewitt to outplay Seppi from the baseline, while exposing Seppi's average at best serve. Hewitt has never lost on his first match in Sydney in eight participations and I don't expect that to happen today. The Australian should get a comfortable win in here.

Pick: 1 unit (Single Dime) on Richard Gasquet ML x Lleyton Hewitt ML @ -115 on 5 Dimes


WTA Hobart - Carla Suarez Navarro vs Alicia Molik

I took Sania Mirza to beat Alicia Molik in the first round, but the Indian player was horrible the whole match and still she almost won the match! That's how poor Molik is currently playing, as even though she can beat Top 200 players, she really can't be competitive against a really decent player like Suarez Navarro. The Spanish player is a great baseliner, being able to hit very well from both wings and I expect her to use her good defensive game and counter punching to outplay a slow and backhand-less Molik. The Australian has just her serve and forehand to help her in today's match and even though that was enough against a terrible Mirza, that just isn't enough against a complete player like Suarez Navarro. Take the Spanish player to win in here.

Pick: 1 unit (Single Dime) on Carla Suarez Navarro ML @ -150 on The Greek



ATP Sydney - Marcos Baghdatis vs Viktor Troicki

I guess the oddmakers haven't still forgotten about Baghdatis' loss by 0-6 1-6 against Berdych last week because he should really be a much clear favorite in here. The Cypriot, barring that no show, is playing well and he showed that in the first round by easily taking out the in-form Nick Lindahl by 6-2 7-5. Baghdatis is serving well and hitting his ground strokes with conviction, something he lacked last season. He will now face Viktor Troicki, who would be a respectable opponent for Baghdatis in here if it wasn't for his terrible spot. He played semi finals in Doha last week and after such a big effort, he played a long match yesterday against Serra, where Troicki really struggled, even though the score doesn't show that. Troicki will be playing a back to back match today, while Baghdatis had one day to rest and with the help of the crowd, I expect the more talented Baghdatis to comfortably get the win in here.

Pick: 1 unit (Single Dime) on Marcos Baghdatis ML @ -125 on 5 Dimes


ATP Sydney - Mardy Fish vs Evgeny Korolev

Yesterday I took Mardy Fish to beat Carsten Ball, because the odds were ridiculous for the much more talented Fish. Today, I am basically doing the same thing. Mardy Fish is back and he is already playing like a Top 30 player once again. He is serving extremely well, his backhand is sharp as always and his net game continues to give him the ability to shorten the points when it is necessary. He is confident and happy for playing after a long injury lay-off and I expect him to comfortably defeat the inconsistent Korolev in here. The Russian (now bought by Kazakhstan) defeated Querrey yesterday, but that was such a terrible played match by both players that it's hard to call it a good win. Korolev is much more inconsistent than Fish, especially on serve and while Fish will be serving aces the whole match, Korolev will most likely serve more double faults than aces, like it is usual for him. Mardy Fish has won the only match between the two in the past and I expect him to do the exact same thing today. Take Fish to win in here.

Pick: 1 unit (Single Dime) on Mardy Fish ML @ -126 on 5 Dimes