Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals: Roger Federer vs. Fernando Verdasco

London, England – World No.1 and top seed Roger Federer opens his Barclay’s ATP World Tour Finals campaign against debutant, world No.8 Fernando Verdasco. Federer enters this match as the sure favourite to win outright and with a comfortable 3-0 edge over the Spaniard he is looking like the sure play as well. Or is he?

Recently, Federer has perplexed tennis bettors. He failed to defend his home crown in Basel, losing to Novak Djokovic in the final. Although there is no shame in losing to a player like Djokovic, Federer was at his home event. He was the three-time defending champion and prior to that meeting had dismantled Djokovic at the Cincinnati Masters final and US Open semis.

Even then the loss could have been dismissed as simply Federer coming up against a top player that was clearly better than him on that day. But not so after his subsequent loss at the Paris Masters, all the more perplexing because it came against Julien Benneteau – a non issue in the game – had experts flummoxed. What was that about.

The fact that Federer enters the Barclay’s ATP World Tour Final on the back of two consecutive losses has some concerned, thinking he might not be as sure a play as under any other circumstance.

Roger Federer -700 vs Fernando Verdasco +400 >>Join Now to Bet

Match Time: 3:30 P.M. Eastern Time Sunday November 22, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Roger Federer should win this match despite all the hoopla surrounding his recent string of defeats. He has beaten Verdasco on three previous occasions and each time he has done so convincingly. Without even losing a set to Verdasco. Therefore, on paper, Federer is the sure play.

Of course, if Benneteau can beat Federer than so can Verdasco – in theory. It would mean Verdasco playing lights out tennis against the maestro, not unlike the intensity he showed against Nadal in the Aussie Open semis.

As good as Verdasco has become this season he is not spectacular. He has several vulnerabilities (mostly mental) in his game and all were progressively exposed over the season against the bigwigs. The occasion under which he is set to meet Federer doesn’t play to his fragile mental state it being so overwhelming a moment and it being his debut at the event and all. So, more likely than not, he will go out meekly.

Tennis Free Picks: Federer in straight sets -700

Additional Props:

• Roger Federer to win 2 - 0 -225
• Roger Federer to win 2 - 1 +300
• Fernando Verdasco to win 2 - 0 +750
• Fernando Verdasco to win 2 - 1 +850

Tennis Props picks: Federer 2-0 -225.