Tennis Season to Date: 18-11 +34.74 units
Davis Cup:
See a few plays of value on day one of this year's Davis Cup:
Team ties:
Romania +600 over France:
Hard to guess what psychological effect France's stunning Davic Cup final defeat late last year will have on them when they open up the new campaign. But the home side is definitely over-priced here. They will probably need to win 3 of 4 singles with the 2003 Oz Open doubles combination of Santoro and Llodra lined up for France. But Pavel and Voinea could provide the biggest upset of the 1st rd v Grosjean and Escude (see below).
PLAY ROMANIA +600 (1 UNIT)
Netherlands +110 over Switzerland: Great price to get the home team as dogs. Should triumph in the doubles even without Krajicek - replaced by Milan Indoors winner Verkerk - and Kratochvil has yet to prove he can step up on carpet. If Federer doesn't win both games - and I think he may only split them, then the home side in front of a packed, vociferous 10,000 strong indoors crowd should cash the ticket.
PLAY NETHERLANDS +110 (3 UNITS)
Individual Matchups:
Adrian Voinea +350 over Sebastien Grosjean: Grosjean made the quarters at the Aus Open but his Cup record on carpet has been patchy. Voinea made the semifinals at Adelaide at the start of the year, lost in 3 to Roddick at the Aus Open and then lost in the 1st rd in Milan on carpet v eventual winner Verkerk. Last year in Davis Cup he bet Stefan Koubek in 4 on carpet, lost in 4 away to Hrbaty and the previous year bt Uhlirach away on carpet. In front of a parochial home crowd he is worth a play at this price.
PLAY VOINEA +350 (1 UNIT)
Raemon Sluiter +300 over Roger Federer: Federer is immensely talented and has an outstanding individual Cup record but still prone to erratic moments. Sluiter is just 1-3 on the tour this year but those losses were to Ferrer, Koubek and Safin and he warmed up particularly for this tie - indoors on carpet - by making the semis of a Challenger event in Germany last week. He has 2 Challenger titles on the carpet from last season and also beat Novak in the Czech Republic in 4 sets last year in the Cup.
PLAY SLUITER +300 (1 UNIT)
Mario Ancic +125 over James Blake: Blake showed signs of how good he could be at the Aus Open but has little carpet experience. The young Ancic has looked good again this year, bowed out of the Aus Open to JC Ferrero and warmed up for this tie by winning a Challenger in Hamburg on carpet without dropping a set. Won 3 Challenger events on the surface last year too.
PLAY ANCIC +125 (1 UNIT)
GL all
Davis Cup:
See a few plays of value on day one of this year's Davis Cup:
Team ties:
Romania +600 over France:
Hard to guess what psychological effect France's stunning Davic Cup final defeat late last year will have on them when they open up the new campaign. But the home side is definitely over-priced here. They will probably need to win 3 of 4 singles with the 2003 Oz Open doubles combination of Santoro and Llodra lined up for France. But Pavel and Voinea could provide the biggest upset of the 1st rd v Grosjean and Escude (see below).
PLAY ROMANIA +600 (1 UNIT)
Netherlands +110 over Switzerland: Great price to get the home team as dogs. Should triumph in the doubles even without Krajicek - replaced by Milan Indoors winner Verkerk - and Kratochvil has yet to prove he can step up on carpet. If Federer doesn't win both games - and I think he may only split them, then the home side in front of a packed, vociferous 10,000 strong indoors crowd should cash the ticket.
PLAY NETHERLANDS +110 (3 UNITS)
Individual Matchups:
Adrian Voinea +350 over Sebastien Grosjean: Grosjean made the quarters at the Aus Open but his Cup record on carpet has been patchy. Voinea made the semifinals at Adelaide at the start of the year, lost in 3 to Roddick at the Aus Open and then lost in the 1st rd in Milan on carpet v eventual winner Verkerk. Last year in Davis Cup he bet Stefan Koubek in 4 on carpet, lost in 4 away to Hrbaty and the previous year bt Uhlirach away on carpet. In front of a parochial home crowd he is worth a play at this price.
PLAY VOINEA +350 (1 UNIT)
Raemon Sluiter +300 over Roger Federer: Federer is immensely talented and has an outstanding individual Cup record but still prone to erratic moments. Sluiter is just 1-3 on the tour this year but those losses were to Ferrer, Koubek and Safin and he warmed up particularly for this tie - indoors on carpet - by making the semis of a Challenger event in Germany last week. He has 2 Challenger titles on the carpet from last season and also beat Novak in the Czech Republic in 4 sets last year in the Cup.
PLAY SLUITER +300 (1 UNIT)
Mario Ancic +125 over James Blake: Blake showed signs of how good he could be at the Aus Open but has little carpet experience. The young Ancic has looked good again this year, bowed out of the Aus Open to JC Ferrero and warmed up for this tie by winning a Challenger in Hamburg on carpet without dropping a set. Won 3 Challenger events on the surface last year too.
PLAY ANCIC +125 (1 UNIT)
GL all
