A look ahead to the Week..

WOMENS

WTA MARRAKECH/ GRAND PRIX DE SAR:

Favourites: Garbine Muguruza and Peng Shuai

Garbine is one of the hot young players on the WTA circuit at the moment. I feel she has a chance to make it to the Semis at least.

Peng is simply one of the most enduring players I have seen, and that’s including the mens game. I feel she has the motivation to go through, but her serves do have a element of inconsistency!

Outsiders: Oprandi, Hantuchova, Meusberger and Dominguez Lino

All the above players are priced just about equally. Among them, I feel the best hope to reach the Semis is more likely to be Meusberger or Dominguez Lino.

Good bets: Polona Hercog and Maria Teresa Torro-Flor

Hercog and Maria are both priced @17.00 on bet365. I think both have a decent chance to make it to the quarters at least. I feel these are great odds as both are really good clay courters!

MY PREDICTION:

Outside the favourites, I fancy Hercog and Torro Flor to do rather well in this tournament. If they make it to the quarter finals, the door is open for them to cause some big upsets.

Between Muguruza and Peng I think Muguruza is the better player so its possible that the odds maybe indeed right, so I am going for her!

WTA PORSCHE TENNIS GRAND PRIX:

Favourites: Radwanska, Halep, Kvitova and Sharapova

All four are finding some sort of form coming to this tournament. I feel Radwa showed some good clay court game in the recent Davis cup against Spain.

Halep probably is the most improved player in the last few years and she will be looking forward to this one.

Kvitova’s huge serves will prove difficult to handle for most, so if she gets it right, she’s got her chances.
Sharapova is the defending champion here and for some reason she really likes this surface in Germany. I feel she has a decent chance but due to her inconsistencies recently, I probably wouldn’t put my house on her..

Outsiders: Kerber, Lisicki and Petkovic

The German ladies have done well at home and I think all three will have their chances here. Out of the three I’d pick Petkovic as she has just won an event on clay!

MY PREDICTION:

Halep and Sharapova look good bets for me in the favourite category however Petkovic and Kerber maybe the dark horses of this tournament.

With an unbelievable endurance and grit, I am going to pick Simona Halep to win this year!

MENS:

ATP BRD NASTASE TROPHY:

Favourites: Dimitrov, Youzhny and Monfils

I think Dimitrov has a great chance and maybe the rightful favourite. He still has a bit of work to do to polish his serves though!

Youzhny used to be a great bet in such events with no top players but recent consistency is definitely a question mark!

Stats show Monfils is a good bet at the moment regardless of his recent losses. I feel he may catch some form just in time for the French!

Outsiders: Simon and Berlocq

I feel Berlocq is a great bet as he has loads of experience on Clay. However it maybe worth waiting till the third round before putting money on him!

Simon has been up and down throughout this year. I am not sure what to make of him. However, he has the experience to pull through situations. I wouldn’t count him out hence..

MY PREDICTION:

I feel Youzhny and Dmitrov both have a great chance to make it to the final. However, Dimitrov might just have enough fire power to win it all! Dimitrov to win for me!

ATP BARCELONA:

Favourite: Nadal

Outsiders: Ferrer and maybe Nishikori

MY PREDICTION:

There is not much to predict here I feel. Rafa is playing in Spain and he is a heavy favourite here especially with the absence of Djokovic, Federer and the winner at Monte Carlo, Stan! All three out of this one simply means, Nadal to win is almost certain. The only challenge to him is Ferrer who did knock him out last time. This time though, I think Rafa will get the better of him!

The odds on Rafa are slightly over 1.5 for the outright. I feel that will shrink to at least 1.2 very soon indeed! In other ways, ALL IN NADAL!

Good Luck

Patrick