Official tip thread

[djroulette]

Right then guys here it is then the official tip thread. In here i will put down the matches each time and my selection.

[djroulette]

Munich may5th-10th

First Round Matches

KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp vsPHAU, Bjorn  selection = Philipp Kohlschreiber

Phau started well this year but has been struggling last month or so. Lost in a challenger last week second round and Kohlschreiber although not a great clay courter has far to much good form of late to lose this match.

YOUZHNY, Mikhail vs MINAR, Ivo  selection = Mikhail Youzhny

Minar pulled out of challenger last week with tonsillitis and has not beaten anybody of any significance this year. Youzhny, although not having a good year by his standards, qualified last week in rome and has the quality to beat Minar.

KIEFER, Nicolas vs GULBIS, Ernests  selection = Nicolas Kiefer

This was a slightly tougher match to call with neither player really in good form at the moment and not played much this year. Gulbis has not won a match on clay this year and is more suited to the hard courts. Kiefer has a reasonable record on clay and won a round last week in Rome.

KOROLEV, Evgeny vs CHARDY, Jeremy  selection = Evgeny Korolev

Although lower ranked than Chardy he seems to have a reasonable record on the clay recently making a semi final in texas earlier this month. Chardy on the other hand seems to prefer the hard and has only won one match on clay this year. Another tough match to call.

BRANDS, Daniel vs KOUBEK, Stefan   selection = Daniel Brands

This match was a little easier to call as Koubek has not played on the clay this year yet and Brands made a semi in Greece challenger in Greece not long ago. Could benefit from home country support

BOHLI, Stephane vs  BOLELLI, Simone   selection = Simone Bolelli

Jarkko pulled out today so Bohli got in as a lucky loser. Bolelli should win this very comfortably as he is a strong clay court player and Bohli has not won on clay at any level yet this year.


STARACE, Potito  vs KUNITSYN, Igor selection = Potito Starace

A close match to call with Kunitsyn being higher ranked however Starace has a good record on clay and has had some good results so far this year.  Potential for good odds on this match


VASSALLO ARGUELLO, Martin vs GREMELMAYR, Denis selection   = Martin Vassallo Arguello

Had some good results in the last few weeks and a reasonable clay court record. Denis on the other hand has struggled on the clay so far this year and has not had any really strong wins so far this season.


HEWITT, Lleyton  vs  PETZSCHNER, Philipp =  Lleyton Hewitt

Easy call this one. Hewitt won Texas on the clay a few weeks ago and has a great career record on the clay. Philipp has not played on clay this year and has a dreadful clay court record. Definate bet


BECK, Andreas  vs ZVEREV, Mischa  selection = Mischa Zverev

Toughest match to call so far. Both had really good form recently picking up wins against top players. Beck won their last meeting which was on grass however Zverev has a better clay court record. Last week Zverev had an astonishing week last week and I hope to see a repeat performance

PEYA, Alexander vs BENNETEAU, Julien   selection = Julien Benneteau

Has played well recently and always performs well on the clay. Peya on the other hand has struggled even at challenger level this year

OUAHAB, Lamine vs MATHIEU, Paul-Henri   selection = Paul-Henri Mathieu

Lamine has not beaten anybody ranked higher than 90 this year and although having played on clay most of the season so far he has not done much damage in any tournaments. Mathieu had good win last week in Rome and is looking to come back to some good form

SCHUETTLER, Rainer vs DE BAKKER, Thiemo  selection  =  Thiemo De Bakker

Schuettler has not won a match on the clay yet this year and De Bakker won a challenger on the clay last month. Has won some good matches in qualifying and has good confidence under his belt. Very long odds on this match


KLOER, Sascha vs BERDYCH, Tomas   selection = Tomas Berdych

Berdych is in a different league to this guy. The clay is not his best surface however he has to much quality to lose here.

KINDLMANN, Dieter vs  CILIC, Marin  selection = Marin Cilic

Marin has been playing well lately and Kindlmann has only ever won 1 match at this level. No contest

That is all the matches up on the draw at the moment. I will modify my post again once the new draw is up

many thanks

dj

[djroulette]

Belgrade

all first round matches here

TIPSAREVIC, Janko vs ROITMAN, Sergio   selection = Janko Tipsarevic

This match was easy to pick. Tipsarevic is different league to this guy. He plays a lot on clay but with not great results. Plays to often on Challenger level and has hardly any experience at this level.


KRAJINOVIC, Filip vs GRANOLLERS, Marcel   selection = Marcel Granollers

Different league. The young serb is only 17 with no experience at this level.

QUERREY, Sam vs TROICKI, Viktor   selection   =Viktor Troicki

Not a great match-up as neither have a brilliant record on clay and Troicki has not won a match on clay this year. However Querry has not played a single match on clay this year which could be his downfall


ODESNIK, Wayne  vs MAYER, Leonardo  selection  = Wayne Odesnik

A real tough match to call this one as both players lost first round in Tunisia last week. Odesnik did well in Houston on the clay and has had a slightly better time on the clay this year.


DANIEL, Marcos  vs  CANAS, Guillermo  selection  = Guillermo Canas

Canas has a slightly better record on the clay so far this year and a bit more experience at this level. Should be a good match as Marcos had a good one in Tunisia last week


ROCHUS, Christophe vs DEVILDER, Nicolas  selection = Christophe Rochus

Christophe beat him a few weeks ago in Barcelona and has had a much better time on the clay this year.


CLEMENT, Arnaud  vs DARCIS, Steve   selection = Arnaud Clement

Both players struggling lately but Darcis did make semi of challenger a few weeks ago. However at this level Clement has the experience that Darcis lacks

DABUL, Brian vs MASSU, Nicolas   selection = Brian Dabul

Both players struggled on the clay this season so far but Brian has one more matches than Massu. Massu is yet to win a match on clay this year so am hoping he keeps this losing streak up

Crivoi, Victor vs Ljubicic, Ivan  selection = Ivan Ljubicic

Ljubicic had a good week last week in Rome picking up some god wins. Crivoi is a clay court specialist but I feel Ljubicic will be too good.

Flavio Cipolla vs Marcos Baghdatis  selection = Flavio Cipolla

Cipolla has played  a lot of matches so far this year and has a reasonable win reord on the clay however Baghdatis has not played much and is out of match practice

This is all the matches that are up so far on the site. I will update if I get a chance

many thanks

dj

[djroulette]

Munich Second Round Matches

ALMAGRO, Nicolas vs YOUZHNY, Mikhail  selection  = Mikhail Youzhny

Tough match to call as you have Almagro who is a through and through clay courter but however he has not had the best clay court season this year and has lost to a few lower ranked players. Although Youzhny has not played many main draw matches this year he has done well in qualifying is starting to gain more confidence each week.


KIEFER, Nicolas  vs  CHARDY, Jeremy  selection = Nicolas Kiefer

Neither player has really had a great year so far however I feel Kiefer will have the home player advantage and a little bit more experience

Andreas Beck vs BERDYCH, Tomas  selection = Andreas Beck

Beck is in form at the moment and is showing to be a tough competitor for the big hitters. He will frustate someone like Berdych who prefers the quicker points. Should be a great match

BENNETEAU, Julien vs BRANDS, Daniel selection = Julien Benneteau

Struggled to get going in his first match however I feel he has to much quality to beat this player


BOLELLI, Simone vs STARACE, Potito selection = Potito Starace


Bolelli has never beaten Starace on the clay and Starace had a great win in the first round which I feel will give him a lot of confidence. If he wins this match I feel he could make semi's or further this week

GREMELMAYR, Denis vs MATHIEU, Paul-Henri selection = Paul-Henri Mathieu

Mathieu cruised through his first match and always seems to show good form in the build up to the French. I think he is potential winner of tournament

DE BAKKER, Thiemo vs HEWITT, Lleyton selection = Thiemo De Bakker

My hardest match to call this week as both players have won clay court titles recently and most would put Hewitt to win however I have a feeling about De Bakker as he was playing juniors year before me and has always had something about him. We shall see


KOHLSCHREIBER, Philipp vs CILIC, Marin selection = Philipp Kohlschreiber

Another very tough match to call as neither have done much damage on the clay yet however Philipp has a 2-0 record against Cilic and Marin lost a few matches against lower ranked guys in last two tournaments.




I will update matches as they come

[djroulette]

Second Round Serbian Open

Marcel Granollers vs Victor Troicki selection = Victor Troicki

Victor is playing well of late and has racked up some great wins on the clay. Should be a comfortble match.


Lukasz Kubot vs Igor Andreev selection = Igor Andreev

Dangerous player on the clay. Had a great run on the dirt last year and I expect the same again this year


Christophe Rochus vs Kristof Vliegen  selection = Christophe Rochus

Vliegen has won 2 out of there 3 meetings but the time Rochus won was on clay. Vliegen has not gone far in any big clay court tournaments this year and rochus has won 2 or 3 rounds in some.


Novak Djokovic vs Janko Tipsarevic  selection = Janko Tipsarevic

Tipsarevic is a very dangerous player and although Novak is the strong the favourite you never know what Tipsarevic can do on the day. great odds on him as well.


CLEMENT, Arnaud vs CIPOLLA, Flavio  selection = Flavio Cipolla

Tough choice between the two players as clement has the experience but has not played huge amounts of matches on the clay this year where as Cipolla has. I think Clements ranking is a bit false as he is hanging on to a lot of points from wimbledon last year.

DABUL, Brian vs KARLOVIC, Ivo  selection = Ivo Karlovic

Even though he may not be known for his clay court ability it doesn't matter what surface your on with a serve like his he is tough to beat. Lokking at Dabul past results he doesn't seem to fair well against the big servers and prefers to play in long bassline rallies.


MAYER, Leonardo vs SEPPI, Andreas selction = Andreas Seppi

Seppi is in reasonable form of late and is a good all round player. He prefers the slightly quicker courts but Mayer has not beaten anybody inside the top 40 this year and I don't expect him to damage Seppi here.



Ivan Ljubicic vs Marcos Daniel  selection = Ivan Ljubicic


Ivan is playing well latel with great results in Monte Carlo and Indian Wells. Could be on his way back to the top again?

[djroulette]

Munich Quater Finals

YOUZHNY, Mikhail vs MATHIEU, Paul-Henri  selection = Mikhail Youzhny

Mikhail leads 3-0 over Mathieu and even though Paul-Henri is playing well I still feel Youzhny is on a good streak right now.


CHARDY, Jeremy vs CILIC, Marin  selection = Marin Cilic

Chardy has had a great run this week and is playing well however Cilic has only dropped 9 games in his last two matches and is looking impressive


STARACE, Potito vs BRANDS, Daniel   selection = Potito Starace

Brands has hit some ridiculous form this week having not won a match in his past 3 tournaments. However I have said I think Starace will go deep in this tournament and I am sticking to my guns here


HEWITT, Lleyton vs BERDYCH, Tomas  selection = Lleyton Hewitt

Has picked up some momentum in this tournament and won Texas on the clay a few weeks ago. Is slow to start in his matches but is one of the best fighters around. Berdych hasnt really had a great year so far so not expecting him to win this one.



interesting round this one

[djroulette]

Serbia Quater-finals


VLIEGEN, Kristof vs KUBOT, Lukasz  selection = Lukasz Kubot

Really tough all this one however Kubot is a real clay courter and Vliegen has had two 3 set matches so far so may be feeling the strain a little.


DJOKOVIC, Novak vsTROICKI, Viktor  selection = Novak Djokovic

Was gutted last night after Janko fought back to win a set but he just ran out of steam. Djokovic looks good and is on a streak right now. Should win this title



SEPPI, Andreas vs DANIEL, Marcos   selection = Marcos Daniel

Has played all his matches on clay pretty much this year and won a challenger on the dirt. Seppi is much higher ranked however is not as good on the clay as the hard. good match this one


CIPOLLA, Flavio vs  KARLOVIC, Ivo  selection = Ivo Karlovic

Cipolla has had a good week so far however he has not beaten anybody with a serve of Ivo all year. Quite short guy and Karloiv serve gets up very high on the clay so will prove very difficult for Chipolla

[djroulette]

Munich Semi-finals

BRANDS, Daniel vs Mikhail Youzhny   selection = Mikhail Youzhny

Youzhny is coming right back in to form this week and even though brands is also playing well i feel Youzhny has to much for him.


BERDYCH, Tomas vs CHARDY, Jeremy  selection = Jeremy Chardy

This guy is on fire this week and has pulled out some big wins. I feel he can go one more here and take out Berdych. I think Tomas may not be overly fussed about tournament win with Madrid coming up next week and will be happy with wins he has so far this week.

[djroulette]

Serbian Open Semi-Finals

DJOKOVIC, Novak vs SEPPI, Andreas selection = Novak Djokovic

Novak is in impressive form at the moment as is Seppi however Murray will be taking number three spot next week with Djokovic points from Rome coming off so Novak could do with a points boost here to get a little closer to Murray


KUBOT, Lukasz  vs KARLOVIC, Ivo  selection = Ivo Karlovic

Ivo has too much for Kubot here and he has done very well to come this far but has not met a server like Karlovic before in his playing career.

[djroulette]

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