Posted on
3/5/2008 10:06:29 PM
Tennis Free Picks Murray and Ferrer favored to advance in Dubai
By Nila Amerova
Dubai, UAE – The quarterfinal of the Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships is set to kick-off on Thursday, March 6, 2008. In the top-half of the draw, unseeded Scot Andy Murray and Spaniard No. 4 David Ferrer are the bookmaker’s short-odds-on favorites to advance. Bet on the Dubai Barclay’s Tennis Championships at BetUS.com.
Tennis Betting Line: Andy Murray vs. Nikolay Davydenko
Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, Thursday March 6, 2008
Tennis Prediction: No.11 Andy Murray holds a slight edge over No. 5 Nikolay Davydenko with a 3-2 lifetime record; but upon closer inspection, the Scott nicked all three wins over the Russian in succession. Starting in Doha last year, in their two meetings last year and one meeting this year, Murray has yet to lose against the Russian or drop a set for that matter. Clearly, Murray enters this matchup with a comfortable edge; moreover, after upsetting the top seed and defending champion in the first round, Murray is slotted by pundits and experts alike at the very least for a berth in the Dubai semifinal. Murray owns a 12/2 record for the season, which includes two ATP titles.
Tennis Free Picks: Murray in straight sets.
Tennis Betting Line: David Ferrer vs. Feliciano Lopez
Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, Thursday March 6, 2008
Tennis Prediction: In this all-Spanish affair, the higher ranked No.4 David Ferrer is the short-odds-on favorite to advance into the final four. However, it is interesting to note, that Lopez owns the slight edge over Ferrer with a 3-2 lifetime record. Moreover, in 2007, they met twice and split the victories (both of which were on hard). Both Spaniards are solid clay-courters, but their hard court game has seen marked improvement, particularly during last season – more so for Ferrrer, who rose in ATP rankings in the latter half of 2007 on the heels of some spectacular performances on hard.
Ferrer reached the quarterfinal of Auckland and followed with a quarterfinal appearance at the 2008 Australian Open. Since then, he competed in one tournament – in Rotterdam, where he fell in the second round. This is Ferrer’s third quarterfinal this year and so far, he holds a 0-2 record.
After arriving in Dubai on the heels of a sluggish season, Lopez is enjoying a bit of turn-around and his first winning streak. Lopez is contesting his first quarterfinal of the season. He arrives into the final eight on the heels of two upsets: Janko Tipsarevic in the first round followed by eighth seed Tomas Berdych in the second round. Both victories will be huge confidence boosts for the young Spaniard.
In terms of handicapping this match, the fact that this is an all-Spanish affair, the lower-ranked Lopez will be forced to raise his game to uncommon levels and the added dimension of playing against his compatriot, will lend the match even more intensity, particularly on his part as he has more to prove. On the other hand, the pressure to win will lie on Ferrer, as he will be the favorite. The sum total of such unique match ups typically is surprise results. Lopez could be a bankable underdog, especially if Ferrer is going through a bout of faltering confidence, a phenomenon not uncommon to him.
Tennis Free Picks: Lopez in three sets
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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.