ATP Bastad Final

The day has come for the final game of the SkiStar Open, with basically the best ranked players in the tournament reaching the final stage. There is little to say about yestarday's semifinals, were both Soderling as well as Ferrer swept the floor with their opponents. Quite unexpected was the loss of focus from Nicolas Almagro, whom bearly won 3 games in the second set, and even worse, a Tomas Berdych whom managed to take a single game from an unleashed Soderling.
As a result, we have: Robin Soderling (#5) and David Ferrer (#6), each of them looking for a new title here in Bastad. Bookies consider Soderling favorite in this final, and there are some arguments to that. Soderling has an overall of 9 victories to 4 over Ferrer and strictly on clay, 3 wins to 2.
The advantage of Soderling is his very strong serve, which brought him no less than 351 aces this year (Ferrer only managed to serve 146 aces), however, statistically, both players seem to be in the same or close parameters. Furthermore, Ferrer has a better percentage on games won than Soderling on clay this year: 81% (22-5) as opposed to 75% (15-5).
I do believe we are going to have a balanced game this time, and I would not be surprised if it ended in 3 sets. The last encounter in Bastad, back in 2008, also ended in 3 sets, giving victory to Ferrer.
So, lets hope we see some high quality tennis from both players and here are my picks:

1. Over 9.5 games first set @1.57, 5 units, www.bet365.com
2. Over 2.5 sets @2.25, 2 units, www.bet365.com
3. Robin Soderling to win @1.61, 4 units, www.bet365.com

ATP Bastad Semifinals

Here we are in the semifinals stage.
First semifinal is between Robin Soderling(5) and Tomas Berdych(8). The head to head record between the two players is 8-4 for Soderling, with the last game on clay won by the Swede at Roland Garros 2010 in 5 sets. We have two strong, solid players; their heights only differ by 1'', with 6'4'' for Soderling and 6'5'' for Berdych. This year's last experience on clay lasted longer for Soderling, who lost in the quarter finals to Rafael Nadal, while Tomas Berdych lost in the first round to Frenchman Stephane Robert (140).
Until now, both players faced two opponents and none of them conceded a set. I believe it will be a balanced game, but I also see Robin Soderling advancing to the finals, such as he did in 2009 (when he won the title) and 2010( when he was runner up to the other semifinalist, Nicolas Almagro).
I am thinking of these bets for this game:
- Over 9.5 games 1st set @1.66 ( www.paddypower.com )
- Robin Soderling to win @1.44 ( www.bet365.com )
- Under 22.5 games ( www.paddypower.com )

The second semifinal is that between two Spaniards Nicolas Almagro and David Ferrer, two former finalists, with Nicolas Almagro having won the 2010 title and David Ferrer the 2007 one. The match record between the two players shows 7-0 for Ferrer, with the last two games on clay this year, in the Acapulco final and Barcelonda semifinal stages. However, Nicolas Almagro has a very good record on clay this year, being surpassed only by Rafael Nadal. Even though given the record is hard not to see Ferrer as the big favorite, I would also say that there is value in backing Almagro, so we have:
- Over 21.5 @1.72 ( ( www.paddypower.com )
- Nicolas Almagro to win @3.40 ( www.bet365.com )

ATP Bastad Quarter Finals

Today we have two matches of the ATP Skistar Bastad quarterfinals that I want to talk about:
First is the one between Michael Ryderstedt (311) and Nicolas Almagro(14).This is one of Nicolas Almagro's favorite tournaments, where he reached the finals in 2007 and had won it in 2010, taking on Robin Soderling. Although it came as a surprise Michael's victory over favorite Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo, I think the surprises will end here and Nicolas Almagro will claim victory in two sets. Hence my tip for this game:

Nicolas Almagro to win 2-0 @1.28 ( www.bet365.com )

The second game has Andreas Haider-Maurer facing Spaniard David Ferrer. Andreas Haider-Maurer is ranked at the best of his career, no. 74 ATP and has won against Filippo Volandri as an underdog in two sets, last one in tie break. David Ferrer also had to win in tie-break in the second set against Pierre Riba.
I expect this game to end in two sets even though a three set games is not excluded if you want to take a shot, but I will settle on the following:

Over 19.5 games @1.90 (www.bet365.com)

Kavcic Blaz to Win

Today I have settled on the match between Kavcic Blaz and Juan Monaco, from round 2 at the ATP Bastad tournament. Taking a look at the form of the two players, where Juan Monaco is in a form decrease, having won only 50% of his games this year and Kavcic Blaz has a much better rate of 64% matches won, I think is of good value to take into account a victory of the 24 year old Slovenian. I am going against the general trend by not backing Juan Monaco, a much more experienced player, however, this is my feeling and I'd rather take a chance with these fine odds. So, long stroy short:
Kavcic Blaz to win @3.25 with bet365.com

ATP Bastad Round 2, July 14th

This week we will go to Sweden for the ATP Bastad tournament. By now we are in Round 2 and are looking forward some tougher matches in the quarter finals. Today's last game is that between Robin Soderling and Diego Junqueira. Soderling is once again first seed, same as last year when he was runner up to Nicolas Almagro, losing in 3 sets. He should be a clear favorite in this game, and I think the best odds for his victory are of 1.10. I have decide to combine some correct score games of "clear" favorites and got a combo of odds 1.84 at bet365:
1. Robin Soderling to win 2-0 @1.18
2. Nicolas Alagro to win 2-0 @1.25
3. David Ferrer to win 2-0 @1.25

I also suggest single bets:
1.Filippo Volandri to win @1.44
2.Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo to win @1.53.

Good luck to you all!