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Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R3

Leylah Annie Fernandez

Odds: 1.65Stake: 5/10

Bet

The Tunisian tennis player Ons Jabeur has long desired to win a Grand Slam, but it still hasn't happened, even though she has reached the finals of Wimbledon twice and once made it to the decisive battle for the US Open trophy. Her record at Roland-Garros is more modest - a quarterfinal in 2023, which she now looks to improve. In the third round of the Paris major, Jabeur is set to face Leylah Fernandez, who is also familiar with competing for a title at such prestigious tournaments. However, the Canadian player has only once made it to the final and it was in the US Open, where she could have clinched the super title. Leylah Fernandez Fernandez works in a classic style, managing her ranking efficiently, although there are series of tournaments where the Canadian appears somewhat weak, occasionally losing to less powerful players in the tour. There are highs in Fernandez's career, but more often it seems that Leylah struggles to fulfil her potential. She managed to reach the final of the US Open and won a few WTA titles in Monterrey. Also, in 2022, she could have reached the semifinals at Roland-Garros if she had played better against Martina Trevisan. Despite being a technical, fast, and intelligent player, Fernandez seems unable to perform consistently well. This year has been tough for the Canadian, although she did have a good tournament in Qatar where she made it to the quarterfinals before losing to Elena Rybakina. After that, her best result has been progressing through just one round of any competition, sometimes even losing her opening match. It turns out that Fernandez has prepared well for Roland-Garros, although in her previous tournament, Leylah played two mediocre matches, and it seemed like she would come to Paris not in the form typical of her major tournaments. Nevertheless, physically and psychologically, she is ready for tough matches. In the first round of the clay Grand Slam, the Canadian breezed past Jessica Ponchet, and in the second match, she confidently handled Xiyu Wang, making fewer mistakes and working smartly in rallies, while serving the first ball quite well. Against Ons Jabeur, she will need to apply power and spin the balls, as the Tunisian struggles with various spins. The key for Fernandez will be solid serving and ensuring her basic technique holds up in this match. Ons Jabeur Sometimes things don't go well for Jabeur, but in terms of commitment, she is always excellent. One can outplay the Tunisian player if they find the right approach to her game. Often, Jabeur commands the matches, striving to hold the initiative even against stronger opponents. Last season, the Tunisian reached the decisive battle for the Wimbledon trophy again, but lost to Marketa Vondrousova. After winning matches against Kvitova, Sabalenka, and Rybakina, many probably bet on Jabeur, but she lacked concentration in the final game or perhaps simply ran out of emotions. In any case, she lost her third Grand Slam final. At Roland-Garros in 2023, Jabeur reached the quarterfinals where she was outplayed by Beatriz Haddad Maia. It's worth praising the Tunisian for two main titles: on clay in Charleston and on hard court in China. This year, Jabeur performed well only at the Masters in Madrid, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to Madison Keys, despite winning the first set to love. In Rome, she couldn't handle her match against Sofia Kenin, and then she prepared for Roland-Garros. At the clay Grand Slam, Jabeur played two strenuous matches. First, she had to get into gear while simultaneously defeating the American Sachia Vickery. Then came the match against Maria Osorio, where Jabeur had the upper hand but it seemed like the South American would play slightly better and win. However, the class of the Tunisian prevailed. In the match against Leylah Fernandez, Jabeur needs to attack more frequently on the move and hold her serve games well, which on clay is too easy for the return. Head-to-Head The Tunisian player has won all matches against Leylah Fernandez on three different surfaces. They played on clay in Madrid this year, where Jabeur lost the second set but overall was better than the North American player. Match Prediction: Leylah Fernandez - Ons Jabeur There will be a comeback here, as Fernandez will certainly improve at the start and might win the opening set. Then, Jabeur will aim to put up a solid performance in the second set and achieve success in the match.

31.05.2024

326

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R2

Handicap1 by games (+7)

Odds: 1.79Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

Fabio Fognini is always intriguing; he can deliver a superb tournament, but often the Italian showman of global tennis shows average results. In the second round of Roland-Garros, he is set to face Tommy Paul, and it seems that the American is a bit overrated, although he is fairly considered the favourite against Fognini. Fabio Fognini Fognini's clay-court technique is solid, and over years of competition in the ATP Tour, he has learned to perform decently on other surfaces. For instance, in 2018, the Italian won the tournament in Los Cabos on hard court. Last year, Fabio had a decent season, alternating between various 'main' tournaments and Challengers, naturally on clay, or the 'indoor' versions of hard courts. On standard hard courts, Fognini didnt win a single match in the previous season. He claimed a title at the Challenger in Valencia, where he faced strong opponents, and in the decisive battle for the trophy, Fognini defeated Roberto Bautista Agut in three sets, with Fabio winning two of them in tie-breaks, showcasing excellent, smart tennis throughout the distance for the first time. This season, Fognini looks worse, performing well only at the ATP 250 in Morocco, where he barely passed the qualification, then defeated two opponents in the main draw, and lost in the quarterfinals to Pavel Kotov. In his first match at Roland-Garros, the Italian tennis player played very well, defeating Botic Van de Zandschulp. Although Fognini's performance in the third set can be criticised, the advantage still lay with Fabio. Even if the Dutch tennis player had won the set, it would have been unlikely to turn the match around. In the second round of Roland-Garros, Fognini will face Tommy Paul, whose tennis is sometimes too complex for many top opponents. However, the American does not look strong on clay, so Fabio's classic style can yield a good result here. It's crucial that Fognini's 'winners' hit the mark, and his gameplay in rallies remains smart. Tommy Paul Last season, Tommy elevated to the level of top tennis players, performing very well in 'main' tournaments, even delivering strong performances in 'majors'. For instance, reaching the semi-finals in Melbourne is worth mentioning. In Toronto, he also performed well but failed to defeat Jannik Sinner in the semi-final. However, Paul lost three decisive battles for titles: on hard court in Acapulco, on clay in Aix-en-Provence, and on grass in Eastbourne. These results, of course, are disappointing for Tommy, though it's noticeable that the American has improved in efficiency. This year, Paul is performing no worse, perhaps even improving his technique, showing excellent play against weaker opponents. Tommy won an 'indoor' tournament in Dallas and almost claimed the trophy in Delray Beach but lost the decisive match to Taylor Fritz. The Masters in Indian Wells and Rome were also commendable, where Paul reached the semi-finals, though he couldn't advance to the title battles, losing to Daniil Medvedev in the US and Nicolas Jarry on the clay 'thousand' tournament, where it seemed the American would look better in the title-decider. The first round at Roland-Garros was an easy passage for Tommy Paul. The American tennis player confidently defeated Pedro Cachin, though the South American clay-court specialist could have played better in the second set but lacked something. Paul, on the other hand, played as needed and improved his advantage in the third set. In the match against Fabio Fognini, strategic rallies will be required for Tommy Pauls complex technical shots from the baseline to be effective. Paul will frequently approach the net, which his opponent will surely aim to exploit. Head-to-head In Montreal 2019, Fabio Fognini defeated Tommy Paul convincingly. Prediction for the match: Fabio Fognini vs Tommy Paul I'm backing +7 games in favour of clay-court specialist Fabio. The American should play poorly in several sets, and Fabio's abilities should be enough for a good match.

30.05.2024

336

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R2

Total over by games (36)

Odds: 1.76Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

The men's 1/32 finals at Roland-Garros are lined with exciting matches. For instance, Fabian Marozsan will take on Grigor Dimitrov. These tennis players have never faced each other before, but it's clear that the Bulgarian starts as the favourite, while the Hungarian will strive to prove otherwise. Fabian Marozsan Marozsan is trying to succeed everywhere, but as the old saying goes, one who chases two rabbits catches neither. Unfortunately, this Hungarian tennis player can't quite find his place. While Challenger tournaments seem beneath him, it appears he transitioned from lower-level tournaments to main competitions too quickly. Last year, Marozsan achieved his first victory over a top tennis player at the Rome Masters by surpassing Carlos Alcaraz, only to lose to Borna Coric. Fabian's impressive play continued in Challenger clay court tournaments, and after the US Open during the Asian tour, the Hungarian reached the quarterfinals of the 1,000-point tournament in Shanghai on hard court. This underscored Marozsan's aim to compete exclusively in prestigious tournaments, as he could still win Challengers, but they no longer fit his current schedule. This year, Fabian's performance has been average, but he's started to succeed on hard courts, which used to be a weakness. In Melbourne, he advanced two rounds, won three matches at the Indian Wells Masters, and went as far as the quarterfinals in the Miami Masters (1,000), where he lost to Alexander Zverev. Before the Parisian tournament, Marozsan struggled on clay, but in the first round of Roland-Garros, he effortlessly defeated Mikhail Kukushkin. Despite some issues in his own serves, Marozsan's opponent appeared weaker, resulting in a smooth victory in three sets. Fortuitously, he faced Kukushkin in his opening match on the clay Grand Slam rather than a stronger clay-court specialist, which would have posed a tougher challenge for Marozsan. The match against Dimitrov promises riveting rallies, but Marozsan must build his game around his serve. Grigor holds his serve games well, and any technical flaws in this area from the Hungarian could cost him the match. Grigor Dimitrov Dimitrov has evolved into a professional-calibre player. Previously, his presence at major tournaments was solely to maintain a good ranking, without much concern for trophies. Last year, Grigor started contending for titles, reaching the final of the Geneva clay tournament and becoming a title challenger in many events. He reached the semifinals in Shanghai, where he lost to Andrey Rublev, and contended for the trophy at the Paris Masters, ultimately losing to his friend Novak Djokovic. This year, for the first time since 2017, Dimitrov clinched a trophy by defeating Holger Rune in the Brisbane final. A mediocre result in Melbourne followed, but he then reached another final at the indoor tournament in Marseille, where he lost to France's Hugo in a thrilling contest. In Miami, many expected Grigor to win a major trophy, but Jannik Sinner's excellent form saw him beat Dimitrov in straight sets, despite the Bulgarian overcoming several strong opponents to reach the final. Dimitrov has shown decent form in this seasons clay tournaments, although well-prepared opponents have bettered him, including Jakub Mensik in Madrid. In the first round of Roland-Garros, the Bulgarian comfortably defeated Aleksandar Kovacevic 3-0, notwithstanding minor serving issues, showcasing his class. Against Marozsan, Dimitrov needs to play intelligent attacking tennis, minimising mistakes in combination play with net approaches and drop shots. Marozsan could take a set, but its crucial that the Hungarian doesn't outplay Dimitrov in the first set. Match Prediction: Fabian Marozsan vs Grigor Dimitrov I'm betting on a tiebreak occurring in this match and total over by games. Dimitrov always aims to control games with his serve, and Marozsan will likely mirror this tactic, focusing on his own serves throughout the match.

29.05.2024

375

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R2

In the women's main draw at Roland-Garros, there are quite a few Chinese tennis players performing admirably within the top-100 of the WTA world rankings. Wang Xinyu is one such player, aiming for a strong position in the table so she can frequently qualify for the main draws of various "main" tournaments. In the 2nd round of Roland-Garros, the Chinese player will face Viktoriya Tomova, whose ambitions and drive for self-improvement have been evident since the previous season when the Bulgarian player claimed her first "main" trophy. Wang Xinyu Wang Xinyu has steadily transitioned from the lower-tier Futures tournaments, where she could win any trophy, to regularly competing on the WTA tour, understanding the need to maintain her ranking position. Wang had several notable local achievements last year, but she needs titles to secure her future; otherwise, her eight "lower level tournaments" trophies and various minor successes might not suffice. This season, Wang reached the semi-finals in Hua Hin, where she lost to Diana Shnaider. However, her performances in other tournaments have been less impressive, although she has participated in all major events to maintain a decent ranking position. On clay, Wang has lost to stronger players, leaving little room for criticism, but she needs to enhance her performance to compete effectively against many top-100 players in terms of skill and class. At Roland-Garros, Wang started with a challenging match against Jule Niemeier, where she struggled in the first set. However, the German's game errors turned the tide, and the crucial third set saw Wang holding her serve slightly better. The match against Tomova promises interesting rallies. If Wang can tactically outplay the Bulgarian, it may resemble their clash in Madrid, where Viktoriya won the opening set but lost the match. Viktoriya Tomova Any surface suits Tomova, although she has often won ITF trophies on clay, but her first WTA title was on hard courts in Chicago. Indeed, Tomova had an excellent season last year, winning the WTA tournament in Chicago in 2023 and securing two Spanish Futures titles on clay. The Chicago win pushed her into the top-100 of the WTA world rankings. However, a series of failures could see Viktoriya drop back into the second hundred. This year, Tomova did not compete in Futures events, starting her season in Hobart, where she entered the main draw as a "lucky loser." She capitalised on this opportunity, overcoming two opponents before losing to Emma Navarro in the quarter-finals. Subsequent performances were average, but in a recent tournament in Morocco, Tomova came close to the final but lost to Peyton Stearns in a third-set tiebreak. The Morocco tournament served as excellent preparation for Roland-Garros. At the clay "Grand Slam," Tomova began with a strong match against Ekaterina Alexandrova, who isn't fond of clay. Tomova consistently built her lead in each set to win the match, showing good form and readiness. In the upcoming match with Wang Xinyu, Tomova needs to play her usual game, incorporating power rallies and varied serves. Gaining the advantage should help Viktoriya secure victory in this match. Head-to-Head Wang Xinyu has won twice, while Viktoriya Tomova has one victory. Notably, they played on clay recently at this year's Madrid Masters, where Wang won in three sets in the first round of this Spanish "1000" tournament. Match Prediction: Wang Xinyu vs Viktoriya Tomova I will bet on Viktoriya Tomova, despite her loss to Wang Xinyu in Madrid. However, Tomova gifted her opponent that victory, as she could have won in two sets, having afforded Wang 10 match points. Therefore, in this match, the Bulgarian player should take revenge against the Chinese player.

29.05.2024

379

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R2

In the 2nd round of the women's draw at Roland Garros, there are some lesser-known tennis players whose matches are just as captivating, particularly at the start of the Grand Slam when the motivation for some players to win 1-2, and possibly 3 matches is off the charts. Wang Yafan is one of these representatives in the top 100 of the WTA world rankings. Her game may not promise extraordinary success, but she can win a couple of matches, and that should be enough. In the 1/32 round, the Chinese player will face Dayana Yastremska, who, after her semi-final in Melbourne, aims to perform no worse in the capital of France. Wang Yafan Wang Yafan has made considerable progress in the WTA rankings after an excellent past year, where she won 6 trophies, five of which were ITF Futures and one Challenger in Stanford. It seemed like Wang would improve following her victory in the Acapulco 500 in 2019, and she would shift focus from ITF events to making strides in the WTA Tour. However, "main" tournaments remain challenging for her. This year, Wang Yafan performed well in Melbourne, defeating two opponents in the main draw. She then reached the semi-finals in Hua Hin and Charleston (2) but fell short against equally matched opponents. However, her performances at the clay-court events leading up to Roland Garros were less impressive. At the French Grand Slam, Wang Yafan began with a tough match against Maria Timofeeva. The first set saw some mistakes from the Chinese player, yet she won 6-3. In the second set, she had a rough start, trailing 3-0, but Timofeeva started to falter, and Wang managed to capture the set 6-3. Against the Ukrainian Yastremska, Wang will need to play high-quality rallies and possibly adopt a more defensive approach. Dayana will undoubtedly go on the offensive, potentially making errors, and Wang will try to exploit those while leveraging her technical capabilities. Dayana Yastremska Yastremska is talented and smart but needs to improve her execution skills. It is evident that the Ukrainian tennis player aims to reach a high level and strives to enhance her game. Yet, Dayana is still searching for the kind of tennis that brings good results. Last year, Yastremska won the Polish tournament in Kozerki, labelled as a "lower-level tournament". It was a tough path for the Ukrainian, and even in the final against Greet Minnen, not everything worked out, but Dayana prevailed. If her opponent had been stronger, Yastremska probably wouldn't have won that tournament, which was her first since claiming the "main" events in Hua Hin and Strasbourg in 2019 when she moved from Futures to competing exclusively in the WTA Tour. This year could have been promising for Yastremska if she had won the Australian Open. After a challenging qualification and tough main draw matches, the Ukrainian lost in the semi-finals to Qinwen Zheng, although she could have performed better. Following her solid performance in Melbourne, Yastremska faced a string of bad results, failing to advance past the 2nd round in any subsequent tournaments. Yastremska began Roland Garros with a tough match against Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic. The 1st set didnt go well for Yastremska, and it seemed that the advantage would remain with Tomljanovic in the 2nd set. However, the Ukrainian player turned the match around, winning the second and then the deciding set. Against Wang Yafan, Yastremska will need to showcase strong offensive tennis and utilise a variety of cross-court shots. Her serve must be effective, as a battle on returns could favour the Chinese player. Prediction for the Match: Wang Yafan - Dayana Yastremska Let's bet on the Chinese in this match. Jastremska can draw energy from a lost set, and Wang Yafan is able to lose the opening set, but then demonstrate psychologically collected tennis. Therefore, we will choose this type of bet on the match.

29.05.2024

321

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R2

Odds: 1.66Stake: 5/10

Bet

Tomorrow in the second round of Roland Garros, Russian Pavel Kotov and Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka will compete. Pavel Kotov Currently ranked 56th in the world, Pavel Kotov has been showing consistent results on clay courts, with a record of 9-5 this year. He has successfully played several matches, including tournaments in Lyon and Madrid, defeating players like Ramos, Mickelsen, and Thompson, and losing in the third round to Sinner in a tough match and Shelton in three sets. At Roland Garros, Pavel managed to reach the second round by defeating Cameron Norrie with scores of 4:6, 6:3, 3:6, 7:6, 6:2, marking a significant improvement compared to last year's performance. His play on clay courts is characterized by an active attacking style and high endurance, allowing him to successfully compete even against higher-ranked tennis players, though consistency is still lacking. This season, Kotov has demonstrated the ability to perform well under pressure, especially noticeable in his matches in Rome and Lyon. For instance, in Rome, he initially defeated Mickelsen with a convincing score of 6:1, 6:1, but then lost to Shelton in a tense match with scores of 4:6, 6:3, 4:6. In Lyon, after beating Muller with scores of 7:6, 6:1, he faced Bublik, where he lost with scores of 7:6, 4:6, 3:6. These results show his ability to compete against strong opponents who are above his level. At the current Roland Garros, Pavel continues to compete, showing confident gameplay. His next match against Wawrinka promises to be a serious test, considering the experience and skill of the Swiss. However, Kotov has already proven that he can successfully stand up to strong opponents, using his aggressive tactics. Stanislas Wawrinka The veteran of world tennis, Stanislas Wawrinka, currently holds the 98th position in the world rankings. Despite his 39 years, the Swiss continues to demonstrate a high level of skill, particularly evident against the backdrop of his powerful hits from both hands. Recently, Wawrinka has been experiencing not the best times in his career, facing a series of defeats, but he starts every match at Roland Garros with new hope. In the first round of the tournament, he confidently defeated Andy Murray with scores of 6:4, 6:4, 6:2, which was a good start on the Parisian clay. The Swiss does not hide his preference for playing on clay, where his heavy strikes can have the maximum effect. However, his recent performances in the tournaments in Bordeaux and Ex-en-Provence have not added optimism: Wawrinka lost to Spaniard Portero in Bordeaux (4:6, 4:6) and to Ramos in Ex-en-Provence (3:6, 7:6, 4:6). Despite the difficulties, Stanislas tries to adapt his game to modern realities and maintain competitiveness at a high level. At the current Roland Garros, Wawrinka approaches the matches full of determination to demonstrate his best qualities. His victory over Murray showed that experience and the ability to maintain composure in key moments still help him overcome difficulties. The upcoming match against the young and ambitious Pavel Kotov promises to be a real test. Prediction for the match Kotov - Wawrinka I would still give preference to Kotov, who on clay gave a powerful fight to peak Sinner and nearly took a set, whereas the great Wawrinka seems to be preparing to end his career. He had a streak of 4 consecutive defeats on clay, Navone a couple of years ago Stan would never have lost to, as well as another veteran, Ramos. I'll bet on the younger and more powerful Kotov.

28.05.2024

363

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R2

Total over by games (34.5)

Odds: 1.82Stake: 5/10

Bet

Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic and Russian Daniil Medvedev will play tomorrow in the second round of Roland Garros. Miomir Kecmanovic Ranked 57th in the world, Miomir Kecmanovic has shown noticeable progress on clay courts, where he has played a significant number of matches this season. Since the start of the clay season, the Serbian tennis player has played 27 matches, winning 18 of them. His performance at the tournament in Rome is particularly noteworthy, where he first defeated top player Casper Ruud with a score of 0:6, 6:4, 6:4, and then took revenge on Thiago Monteiro, who had defeated him just a few days earlier. In Roland Garros, the Serb started with a victory over Monteiro, overcoming him 6:2, 6:1, 4:6, 7:5. Failures at the Madrid tournament, where Kecmanovic lost to Casper Ruud 4:6, 1:6, did not affect his confidence in subsequent performances. He successfully overcame the first round of Roland Garros, which was an important step in improving his play on clay. This year, Miomir has proven that he can compete even with the strongest players on this surface, demonstrating character in difficult moments. Miomir Kecmanovic continues his performance in Paris, where he aims to consolidate his positions and show that last year's successes on clay were not accidental. After defeating Monteiro in Rome and a confident start at Roland Garros, the Serbian tennis player hopes to continue his progress, despite previous defeats. The upcoming matches will show how ready he is to fight for high places at one of the most prestigious tournaments in the tennis calendar. Daniil Medvedev Ranked fifth in the world, Daniil Medvedev continues his performances at Roland Garros, having secured a confident victory over German Dominik Koepfer in the first round. The match, which ended with scores of 6:3, 6:4, 5:7, 6:3, highlighted both the advantages of the Russian player and the difficulties he faces on clay surfaces. Medvedev struggles to maintain consistency in his game on the slowest type of courts, especially evident in the third set, where he initially led with a break but then made a series of errors. This season on clay, Medvedev has shown mixed results, suffering several defeats at major tournaments from Khachanov in Monte-Carlo and from Paul in Rome. After easy victories in the first and second sets against Koepfer at Roland Garros, the Russian had to concede the third set, again demonstrating his vulnerability on clay, losing the set from a 3-1 lead. However, Medvedev managed to gather himself and end the match in his favour in the fourth set, allowing him to advance to the next round. Daniil Medvedev has been actively working to improve his performances on clay over the past couple of years, evidenced by his achievements at various tournaments. At the last tournament in Rome, the Russian reached the fourth round, where he lost to Paul with scores of 1-6, 4-6. Earlier, he had victories over Medjedovic and Draper, and in Madrid, he took to the court against Lehhecka, with whom he could not finish the match, trailing 4-6 at the time of withdrawal. At the same tournament, Medvedev defeated Bublik and Korda, showing his potential and ability to adapt to the challenges of clay surfaces. Forecast for the match Kecmanovic - Medvedev Medvedev still does not know how to confidently close out everyone on clay, as clearly shown by the match with Koepfer. In the first-round match, the Russian erred in his shots, but to his credit, they have significantly improved. Apparently, working with the tricky player Gilles Simon is bearing fruit. But Kecmanovic is very good on clay, I think Medvedev will have problems, so I bet on a total of more than 34.5 games for the match Kecmanovic - Medvedev.

28.05.2024

345

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R2

Total over by games (21.5)

Odds: 1.93Stake: 5/10

win

+4.7

Hello everyone! The Roland Garros moves to the 1/32 finals. In the women's bracket, there are plenty of intriguing matches for both viewing pleasure and great betting opportunities. Jelena Ostapenko will face Clara Tauson in what promises to be an eventful clash. The Latvian tennis player is the favourite, but many will likely contest this claim. Jelena Ostapenko Ostapenko often unleashes a flurry of emotions on everyone, but when the Latvian player is composed, she is capable of winning trophies. Interestingly, Jelena is not particularly fond of clay, though her first WTA title came at the 2017 Roland Garros. Since then, Ostapenko hasn't found much success on this surface. In contrast, she performs well on other courts, especially on the indoor hardcourt version, where the balls have a softer bounce, perfectly suiting her aggressive playing style. This season, Ostapenko has clinched two titles: an indoor trophy in Linz and another on the standard hard court in Adelaide. Jelena has been in good form, showing a decent performance at the clay-court Masters in Rome, where she only lost to Aryna Sabalenka in the quarterfinals after beating three tough opponents. In Paris, the Latvian had an average match against Jacqueline Cristian, who could have won both sets but lacked something. The second set was particularly chaotic, with both players taking turns leading the game. Ostapenko missed a match point but eventually regrouped and triumphed on experience. A match with Tauson should feature powerful tennis, with many 'unforced errors' from Ostapenko, who also tends to produce a good number of 'winners'. However, against Clara, she needs to play more reliably than she did in the first round. Clara Tauson The Dane is impressive, though she still needs to improve to show good results in 'main' tournaments rather than just playing in the ITF tour, where Tauson has already won 11 titles. Nonetheless, Clara also boasts three notable titles from 2021, indicating that she can aim for more than a few seasonal Futures wins. This year, Tauson has yet to achieve significant success. She managed to reach the final of the clay-court ITF tournament in Oeiras (2). There were smaller achievements for her ranking, such as after recovering from an injury sustained in the Madrid Masters qualifiers. The Dane performed admirably at the Rome Masters, where she navigated through the qualifiers and won one main draw match before falling in the second round to Anna Kalinskaya. Additionally, at the Billie Jean King Cup, Clara had five excellent matches, winning all of them in straight sets despite facing varied and sometimes tough opponents. In Roland Garros, Clara started with a confident performance against Tatjana Maria, where many things went well for Tauson. However, the German was not powerful enough to test Clara's readiness for a clay-court Grand Slam. In the second round, Tauson will face Ostapenko, whose tennis is often uncomfortable, especially on clay or other 'soft' courts. When Jelena goes on the attack and uses her quick footwork, powerful cross-court shots, and strong first serve, Clara will have to respond in kind. But Tauson has strong strokes from both her backhand and forehand and a good serve herself. Head-to-head Both players are skilled on 'indoor' courts, having met there and won one match each. Notably, one of these meetings was in Linz this year, where Ostapenko secured a 9-7 victory in the tie-break of the deciding set. Prediction: Jelena Ostapenko vs Clara Tauson Place a bet on TO 21.5 games. We might see two sets, or the ladies could once again play a deciding set.

28.05.2024

352

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R2

Handicap1 by games (-6.5)

Odds: 1.77Stake: 5/10

win

+3.9

Tomorrow in the second-round match of Roland Garros, Russian player Andrey Rublev will face Spaniard Pedro Martinez Portero. Andrey Rublev One of the leading Russian tennis players, Andrey Rublev, approaches the Roland Garros tournament in good form, albeit with inconsistent results in recent games. He won the tournament in Madrid, defeating several top players including Carlos Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Felix Auger-Aliassime, but then unexpectedly lost in Rome to the world's No. 90-ranked player. Following his triumph in Madrid, Rublev was evidently mentally exhausted, which showed in his defeat to Alex Muller in the round of 16 in Rome, highlighting his instability. Rublev continues to show his strength on clay courts, as evidenced by his recent performances. His confidence and ability to serve at a high level have helped him overcome many challenges in recent tournaments. At the recent Rome tournament, he lost to a French player and looked nervous in the first round of Roland Garros, potentially adding pressure in his quest for the French Open final. In the first round, Rublev faced Japanese player Taro Daniel, ranked 80th in the world. Despite more nerves and loud outbursts, Rublev managed to secure a 3-1 victory in this match. This season, Andrey has shown himself as a strong competitor on clay, although his performances have been far from perfect. On clay, Andrey had a streak of 7 consecutive wins and a title in Madrid. Pedro Martinez Portero Spanish tennis player Pedro Martinez Portero continues to actively participate in clay tournaments, where he manages to demonstrate stable results. Despite playing 27 clay matches this year, with 9 losses, his performances in challenger tournaments have been more successful. At one such tournament in Girona, Martinez emerged victorious, defeating Albot (sarcasm), De Jong, and Hassan in the final. In the first round of the current Roland Garros, Martinez Portero faced Argentine player Thiago Agustin Tirante, who has not achieved significant success in his career. The Spaniard struggled in this encounter, which extended to almost 4 hours. Despite this, Martinez managed to come out on top with a 3-2 set result, albeit making numerous errors. This match was clearly not easy for the Spaniard, highlighting his instability in major tournaments. On clay courts, Pedro Martinez Portero feels more confident, but his game often suffers from a lack of confidence in crucial moments of matches. This becomes a major problem for the Spaniard in encounters with strong opponents. Recent performances at tournaments in Bordeaux and Lyon, where he also suffered defeats, and a recent streak of 4 consecutive losses on clay since April confirm that for success, he needs to add aggressiveness and sporting aggression, which he often critically lacks for victories at a high level. Prediction for the Rublev vs. Martinez Portero Match Rublev should confidently close out the match against the Spaniard in a maximum of 4 sets. Martinez spent 4 hours on court in his match against a little-known Argentine in the first round, showing how poorly he performs under pressure. The prediction for the Rublev vs. Martinez Portero match is a handicap in favour of the Russian by games (-6.5).

28.05.2024

379

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R1

Total over by games (19.5)

Odds: 1.77Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

Today, in the first round of Roland Garros, Poland's Magdalena Frech will face off against Russia's Daria Kasatkina. Magdalena Frech Currently ranked 54th in the world, Magdalena Frech begins her Roland Garros campaign with solid match practice. This season, she actively participated in various tournaments, and notably advanced through the qualifiers in Strasbourg, surprising many with a victory over Sloane Stephens. Unfortunately, in the third round against the world number six Marketa Vondrousova, physical fatigue took its toll, resulting in a three-set match (7-5, 1-6, 0-6). Now she faces the challenging task of taking on Daria Kasatkina in the first round of Roland Garros. Frechs season has been a mix of successes and setbacks. After a promising start at the Australian Open, where she reached the fourth round, losing to Coco Gauff (0-2), she replicated this result in Dubai but was knocked out by Elena Rybakina. However, the clay season has been less fruitful: she exited in the first round in Charleston and Madrid and failed to make an impact in Rome, losing again to Gauff (0-2). Frechs recent performance in Strasbourg ahead of Roland Garros highlighted her persistence and limitations. After advancing through the qualifiers, she secured only one victory in the main draw against Sloane Stephens. It will be a tough road for her to go far in Roland Garros. Daria Kasatkina Ranked 11th in the world, Daria Kasatkina shows a slight decline after her peak ranking of 8 last year. So far this season, Daria has played 30 matches, winning 19, but has yet to claim a trophy. However, she has reached three finals, the last of which was in Charleston, where she lost to Danielle Collins with a crushing score of 2-6, 1-6. Kasatkina also competed in Rome, exiting at the round of 16 after losing to Naomi Osaka (3-6, 3-6), underlining the challenges she faces at the highest level. Despite recent setbacks, Kasatkina displayed confident play on clay courts, notably in Charleston. However, subsequent tournaments in Madrid and Rome highlighted her difficulties, evident in her instability and dropping sets against lower-ranked opponents. Coached by Italian Flavio Cipolla, Kasatkina has improved her game on shorter rallies, but old issues persist: inconsistent first serves and psychological challenges in critical moments. Dasha aims to overcome these obstacles and replicate her 2022 Roland Garros semi-final performance, where she showcased a high level of play. Head-to-Head The players have met twice, with the Russian winning on both occasions. In 2019, on hard courts in Dubai, Kasatkina triumphed in three sets. In 2022, on hard courts in Granby, she won 6-3, 6-2. Match Prediction: Frech vs. Kasatkina Dasha usually does not start Grand Slam tournaments with a dominant performance against top 50 players. Bet on the total games over 19.5, as Frech took a set from Vondrousova in her last match and hit the TO, despite the crushing defeat due to fatigue.

28.05.2024

267

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R1

Handicap1 by games (+8)

Odds: 1.72Stake: 5/10

win

+3.6

Today in the first round, British player Daniel Evans will play against Danish player Holger Rune. Daniel Evans Currently ranked 60th in the ATP rankings, Daniel Evans is experiencing a challenging season, having achieved only 5 victories against 14 defeats since February. The British tennis player has not shown his best this year, only reaching the quarterfinals of a challenger in Bordeaux, where he lost to Zhizhen Zhang from China with scores of 6:7, 4:6. Recently, at the tournament in Lyon, Evans was defeated in his first match by Arthur Rinderknech from France with scores of 3:6, 6:4, 6:7. Evanss results this year reflect a difficult phase in his career, having won only 3 matches in the main ATP events. The clay court season was particularly disappointing, with successive early exits in tournaments in Marrakesh, Monte Carlo, Barcelona, Rome, and Lyon. The quarterfinal appearance at the challenger in Bordeaux provides little consolation, but it is clearly not a highlight. Last year, Evans reached his career-best ranking of 21st, but his current performances are far from good. Despite not being his preferred surface, Evans has shown some signs of competitiveness on clay ahead of the French Open. In Bordeaux, he made it through two rounds, defeating Grenier and Mayo, although he lost to Shan. In Lyon, he was defeated in the first round by Rinderknech but won a set and had chances in the deciding set. Now, in the first round of Roland Garros, his opponent will be Holger Rune, who is also facing difficulties this year. Holger Rune The current world number 13, Holger Rune, is not demonstrating stability this season. Despite a promising start to the year with a finals appearance in Brisbane and several semifinals, his recent performances have been less confident. Particularly, at tournaments in Madrid and Rome, the Dane failed to progress past the third round, losing to less ranked players Talon Griekspoor and Sebastian Baez. Rune's failures in recent tournaments call into question his ability to compete at a high level, especially considering his previous achievements, including quarterfinals at Roland Garros in past seasons. Injury issues and a lack of stability cloud the Dane's prospects at the current French Open, where he has previously had significant success. Rune's preparation for the current tournament in Paris leaves much to be desired: his recent record is a mix of victories and defeats, not even showing a median level of his play, as neither Griekspoor, Baez, nor even Struff, from whom Rune received a 'bagel', are such serious opponents. Match Prediction: Evans vs Rune The Dane is currently not in the form to dominate the experienced and tenacious Briton. I predict at least one set from Evans.

27.05.2024

320

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R1

In the first round of Roland Garros today, Frenchman Grgoire Barrre will face Kazakhstan's Alexander Bublik. Grgoire Barrre Grgoire Barrre recently fell out of the top 100 in the world rankings, but successfully navigated through the qualifying rounds at Roland Garros, exhibiting aggression in his play. This year on clay, he has won 16 matches and suffered 9 defeats. The final stage of qualification was successful for him. After defeating Tho Papamalamis and Andrea Pellegrino, he overcame American Denis Kudla with a score of 2:6, 6:2, 6:3, demonstrating his readiness for the main draw of the tournament. In the current season, Barrre has shown his best results on clay, reaching the semi-finals at the tournament in Bucharest. However, his journey at Roland Garros will begin against one of the most unpredictable players on the tour. Barrre's approach to the current season is marked by a determination to improve his previous results, especially considering his first-round exit at the last Roland Garros. This is already the sixth consecutive appearance for the French tennis player in the main draw of his home tournament, and he is eager to prove that he can achieve significant success by relying on his experience and current form. Alexander Bublik Alexander Bublik has shown decent results on clay courts this season, as evidenced by his performances at various tournaments. Notably, in Madrid, he reached the fourth round, where he lost to Daniil Medvedev in two sets. Last week, Bublik reached the semi-finals at the tournament in Lyon, which indicates significant progress for the Kazakh tennis player on clay this season. His journey in Lyon ended with a loss to Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. Bublik is known as a competitive yet unstable player. Bublik is renowned for his unorthodox approach to the game, including underarm serves and sometimes unexpected decisions on the court, which can both surprise his opponent and work against him. Despite this unpredictability, he is showing improvement in his skills on clay, securing important victories over strong opponents, including wins against Alexander Vukic and Pavel Kotov on his way to the semi-finals in Lyon. This season's Roland Garros will be a significant test for Bublik, considering his previous failures at this tournament, including an early exit last year. With the experience of recent tournaments and preparation on clay courts, Bublik aims to improve his result and prove that he can compete at the highest level in one of the most prestigious tournaments in the tennis world. Match Prediction: Barrre vs. Bublik I hope Sasha won't get too eccentric from the first round and will manage to overcome the less experienced and skilled Frenchman, even if it takes 5 sets. Although Bublik has often stated that he hates long matches, it would be in his best interest to finish the match in 3-4 sets. The past year has shown that Bublik has begun to take his career more seriously

27.05.2024

339

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R1

Total over by games (36.5)

Odds: 1.78Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

First Round at Roland Garros: Nuno Borges vs. Tomas Machac Nuno Borges Nuno Borges, ranked 46th in the world, has shown solid performance on clay this season, complemented by his achievements on hard courts. This year, the Portuguese player highlighted his progress with a fourth-round appearance at the Australian Open and a victory in Phoenix, where he defeated Matteo Berrettini 2-0 in the final. On clay, Nuno has also proved himself by winning 8 of 13 matches, including advancing to the fourth round at the Rome Masters, where he lost only to Alexander Zverev. Recently, Borges participated in several clay tournaments, showcasing a high level of play. His performance in Rome was particularly memorable, reaching the fourth round after successively defeating Passaro and Bublik before falling to Zverev. Ahead of Roland Garros, Borges confirmed his form at the Cagliari Challenger, defeating Lorenzo Musetti and Yoshihito Nishioka. Borges' preparation for the upcoming French Open looks impressive, thanks to his recent performances and improved play on clay. Nuno has already proven he can compete with top players, making him a potential dark horse of the tournament. Tomas Machac Tomas Machac, ranked 44th in the world, has shown good results on fast surfaces this season, including quarterfinals in Marseille and Miami. Recently, his performance on clay has improved, reaching the semi-final in Geneva and climbing the rankings. Despite his hard court success, his performances at Roland Garros in previous years were not as convincing, with only a first-round appearance in 2020 and two exits in qualifications. This season, Machac played 29 matches, securing 20 wins and 9 losses. His best achievement was reaching the final in Geneva, where he lost 0:2 to Casper Ruud. Ahead of Roland Garros, Machac exhibited impressive clay court results, winning 6 of 8 matches, demonstrating his ability to compete at a high level on this surface. Machac's recent performance in Geneva confirmed his form: he reached the final by defeating top players like Novak Djokovic and Alex Michelsen, before losing to Ruud in the final match. After a successful run in Geneva, showcasing both aggressive tactics and defensive stability, Machac is a player to watch at the upcoming tournament in Paris. Match Prediction: Nuno Borges - Tomas Machac It is difficult to identify a clear favourite; Machac has recently improved his clay game and is the bookmakers' favourite against the specialist clay courter Borges. I would bet on over 36.5 games in the match.

27.05.2024

319

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R1

Total under by games (18.5)

Odds: 1.63Stake: 5/10

win

+3.2

Greet Minnen Belgian tennis player Greet Minnen is struggling this season, yet she maintains a top-100 ranking, allowing her entry into the main draw of Roland Garros. On clay this year, she played 10 matches, winning only four. Her latest appearance in Paris ended in a defeat to Diana Shnayder with scores of 4-6, 3-6. Previous tournaments also didn't bring her success, including matches in Madrid and Rome, where she lost in the first rounds. Minnen's form continues to raise concerns, especially her performances on clay, where she regularly lost without winning a single set in the matches leading up to Roland Garros. Her game is characterized by a high number of unforced errors and poor execution of points, significantly reducing her chances of success against high-calibre opponents. This clay season has been discouraging for Greet Minnen. During the last five tournaments, starting in April, she failed to show significant results, even considering her current ranking. Her low effectiveness on clay and the lack of victories against top-100 players only confirm the difficulties Minnen faces this season. Considering her first-round opponent at the French Open, the likelihood of her early exit remains high. Elena Rybakina Representing Kazakhstan, Elena Rybakina has been showing impressive results in recent years. This year, she has already claimed a victory on the clay court of Stuttgart and reached the semi-finals in Madrid, where her only defeat came from Sabalenka with a score of 1-2 in sets. However, health issues prevented her from participating in Rome, which might have helped conserve energy for the upcoming competitions at Roland Garros, where Rybakina aims to surpass her previous best result the third round of the tournament. Recently, Rybakina has solidified her position among the top players in the world, achieving an impressive 8-1 record on clay courts this season. Her game is marked by a powerful serve and effective returns, often allowing her to break her opponents' serve. Elena has also shown exceptional skills in head-to-head encounters, consistently defeating her opponents, including her last victory over Putintseva with a score of 2-1 in sets in Madrid. Considering her stable form and significant improvements in clay court play, Rybakina enters the French Open with the goal of overcoming last year's barriers and reaching at least the quarter-finals, a feat she achieved in 2021. Head-to-Head Elena Rybakina has faced Greet Minnen twice before, winning both encounters. The first match took place at the Australian Open on 22 January 2020, where Rybakina won with scores of 6-4, 6-3. The second meeting occurred on 21 September 2020 at the Strasbourg tournament on clay, ending again in Rybakina's victory with scores of 7-5, 6-4. Match Prediction Minnen - Rybakina The Belgian is unlikely to pose a serious challenge to Elena, and Rybakina's power should not allow the match to drag on; I bet on a total of fewer than 18.5 games. I expect a decisive victory from the Kazakhstani tennis player

27.05.2024

302

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R1

Leylah Annie Fernandez

Handicap2 by games (+6)

Odds: 1.56Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

Some matches have their unique intrigue, such as the clash between Leylah Fernandez and Jessika Ponchet, which will be a classic duel of two skilful tennis players proficient on clay. However, they find it easier to play on hard courts, although their technical skills are well-suited for any "soft" surface, including clay. Leylah Fernandez Somehow, Leylah Fernandez missed her chance to globally promote her tennis persona, despite being the most talented player of 2019 when she first entered the tour. By the following season, she reached the decisive match at the WTA tournament in Acapulco and, in 2021, was in the US Open final, where she defeated many stars. Notably, in 2022, Fernandez reached the quarter-finals at Roland Garros, where she lost to Martina Trevisan as the favourite. Her technique was particularly praised when the Canadian accelerated the game pace, a tactic that caught challenging opponents at that US Open. Last season, the Canadian won the tournament in Hong Kong, reached the quarter-finals of the Masters in Guadalajara, and performed commendably in Nanchang, where only Katerina Siniakova managed to defeat her. Furthermore, in the Billie Jean King Cup, the Canadian tennis player overcame all opponents, including Marketa Vondrousova. This year, Fernandez is having a weak season, likely trying to maintain her ranking position and getting into form to play another powerful "main" tournament. On clay, Fernandez participated in all the major competitions, even travelling to Strasbourg, where she defeated Anastasia Potapova, but then lost to Ludmilla Samsonova. In general, the results aren't outstanding; nevertheless, Fernandez can be quite impressive when she gains top form, which happens rarely but effectively, as seen by her excellent performance in one "main" tournament per season over the past three years, securing trophies. In the first round at Roland Garros, the Canadian will face Jessika Ponchet, who isn't considered a formidable tennis player but is capable of adequately preparing for this match to advance to the second round of the clay "Grand Slam" for the first time. Jessika Ponchet Frenchwoman Jessika Ponchet has won a total of 10 futures titles in her career. This may seem sufficient for her abilities, though some might consider it a modest achievement at the ITF level. Last season, Ponchet had a decent number of well-played futures events, winning two of them on indoor hard courts. She also reached the final in Vitoria-Gasteiz on a standard hard court. This year, Jessika also performed well in several futures on "soft" surfaces. For instance, in one ITF event in France, she reached the decisive battle for the trophy but couldn't defeat a British opponent from the WTA second hundred, despite being the match favourite. The rallies with Leylah Fernandez will be fascinating, and Ponchet will try to spin the balls, using topspins, slices, and other technically challenging shots for her opponent, aiming to outmanoeuvre her tactically in this match. However, the Canadian is stronger, and the odds justifiably consider Jessika an underdog in the first round of the clay "Grand Slam". Head-to-head In 2017, Ponchet confidently defeated Fernandez on a hard-court future, although the Canadian was just starting her WTA tour career back then. Match prediction: Leylah Fernandez vs. Jessika Ponchet I'll place a handicap bet on Ponchet . It is unlikely that Fernandez will deliver a stellar performance in the first round of Roland Garros, and the Frenchwoman isn't an easy opponent to overcome effortlessly in this match.

27.05.2024

351

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R1

Handicap1 by games (+5)

Odds: 1.87Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

The match between Tatjana Maria and Clara Tauson promises to be highly intriguing. Both players are ranked within the top 100 of the WTA world rankings, and a successful performance could potentially see them break into the top 50. However, to achieve this, they must strive to win all their battles in the first week of the competition. Tatjana Maria The German tennis player had a commendable year in 2023, significantly improving her results and her overall gameplay. Maria clinched three respectable trophies last season, two of which were lower-tier, although the tournament in Barranquilla is held under the WTA flag. The Futures tournament in Pune was a solid start for her, and she also won the clay tournament in Bogot by defeating Peyton Stearns in the final. Additionally, a notable victory came from the Challenger series event on grass in Gaiba, and she reached two hard court semi-finals at the WTA 250 events in Warsaw and Cleveland. Maria had an exceptional past year, justifiably improving her position in the WTA rankings. This season, Tatjana Maria's performance has dipped, as she has only competed in main events. Her best result was the quarterfinals in Bogot, where she returned to defend her trophy. The match against Clara Tauson in the first round of the Roland-Garros will be challenging. Tauson plays energetic tennis and could easily outplay Maria with intelligent combinations and strong attacks. However, it's crucial to see what Maria can counter against her opponent. Clara Tauson Tauson lacks composure, technique, and psychological stability in crucial matches. It is evident that Clara is talented and capable of reaching great heights, but she needs to improve her self-discipline to become a formidable player on tour. Last season, Tauson won an indoor Futures and reached the third round at Roland-Garros after successfully navigating through the qualifiers. However, she lost in the round of 16 to Elina Avanesyan, despite being the favourite. This year, Clara hasn't won any trophies yet, but she did reach the final of a clay Futures event in Oeiras. At the Masters in Rome, Tauson performed admirably by qualifying for the main draw and defeating one opponent before losing to Anna Kalinskaya in the second round. The match against Tatjana Maria should lean in favour of Clara, but much will depend on whether Maria can play strategically against the young opponent, whose tennis can sometimes lack effectiveness, especially when countered with smart tactical play. Head-to-Head Last season at the Warsaw event, Clara Tauson lost to Tatjana Maria in straight sets. It was evident that the German player was a challenging opponent for the Briton. However, that was a hard court tournament, while this match will be on clay, a completely different surface. Match Prediction: Tatjana Maria vs. Clara Tauson I am placing my bet on Maria, whose tennis so far appears to be more comprehensive and well-constructed than that of Clara. Tauson might struggle to outplay Maria's technique and tactical strategies in this match.

26.05.2024

309

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R1

Total over by games (38.5)

Odds: 2.1Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

A highly intriguing match-up between Luca Nardi and Alexandre Muller is set to unfold. These players always manage to surprise, consistently ranked within the top 100 of the ATP world rankings. Luca Nardi The form of the Italian is always fluctuating. At times, Nardi seems poised to reach the peaks of the main tournaments, yet tennis connoisseurs often overestimate his abilities. It's hard to tell which surfaces favour Luca, as he performs equally well or poorly across different terrains. For instance, last season, Nardi clinched two Challenger titles on hard courts and looked fairly impressive in indoor lower level tournaments. This year, Luca secured a trophy at a clay Challenger in Naples, performed admirably at the Masters in Indian Wellsmaking it to the Round of 16 as a lucky loserand reached the final of a hard Challenger in Chennai. Much depends on Nardis psychological readiness; sometimes he appears to just be going through the motions, while at other times, his ambition to claim a trophy is so intense that not even strong opponents can stand in his way. In the first round of Roland Garros, the Italian faces Alexandre Muller, whose tennis is well-constructed and excels in combinatory play. Nardi must be prepared for long rallies and a battle for superiority. Additionally, it will be fascinating to see whether Nardi is psychologically prepared to play against the Frenchman or if Mullers home crowd support will unsettle him. Alexandre Muller The Frenchman has been performing well at the lower level tournaments for quite some time, yet he hasn't progressed much beyond the Challenger circuit, despite notable results in some main tournaments, both on hard and clay courts. Last year, Muller won the clay Challenger in Parma (3), reached the final of the ATP 250 in Morocco, and contested the final of the Challenger in Waco. These results seemed poised to advance Muller in the rankings, reaching a career-high of 71, but they lacked the necessary scale to cement his position. This season, Muller has had commendable performances in two tournaments: on hard courts in Auckland and the clay Masters in Rome. The New Zealand event was successful for Alexandre as he fought through two qualifying matches and subsequently won two main draw matches, only to be outdone by Taro Daniel in the quarter-finals. At the 'thousand series' event in Rome, Muller once again navigated the qualification rounds and overcame several strong opponents in the main draw, bowing out in the Round of 16 to Nicolas Jarry. At the French Open, Muller will face Luca Nardi in the first round. The Frenchman is proficient on clay, adept at defensive play, and knows when to inject attacking cross-court shots. Thus, Nardi is not favoured in this match-up, displaying less precision and effectiveness in many matches this season against tough opponents. Head-to-Head The Frenchman has been outplayed twice by Luca Nardi. In 2022, on the Challenger circuit in Barletta, the Italian won convincingly. This season, at the Masters in Monaco, Muller was defeated by Nardi 2-1. Match Prediction: Luca Nardi vs. Alexandre Muller It's worth betting on TO 38.5 games. Expect a closely contested battle, possibly stretching to five sets, but it's unlikely either player will deliver a stellar performance at the onset of the tournament.

26.05.2024

362

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R1

Handicap2 by games (-5.5)

Odds: 1.91Stake: 5/10

lose

-5.0

Laura Pigossi is quite a well-known Brazilian tennis player, although she has never broken into the top 100 of the WTA world rankings. In the first round of the French Open, she will face Marta Kostyuk from Ukraine. Let's try to find a good bet for this match, but first, let's evaluate these players who will be eager to showcase their skills against each other. Laura Pigossi Pigossi doesnt differentiate between hard and clay courts, striving to perform equally well on both. As a South American tennis player, she is naturally interested in clay because it allows her to perfect her academic technique. Nevertheless, many futures show how adept Laura is at handling fast ball bounces on hard courts. The Brazilian has 10 career trophies, one of which is a WTA title won last season on the clay courts of Buenos Aires. Pigossi claimed this Challenger title with commendable performance, even though she wasn't considered the favourite of the tournament. Also, in 2023, Laura won a hard court Futures event and looked quite solid on clay. This season, the Brazilian won an ITF tournament in Pretoria on hard courts and tried to shine in various clay tournaments. However, she hasn't made significant marks, aside from reaching the quarterfinals of the San Luis Potosi Challenger, where she played a poor match against Elisabetta Cocciaretto. At the French Open, Pigossi passed through the entire qualification. All her matches were straightforward victories for Laura, but it's worth noting that her opponents were weak. In the first round of the main draw at the French Open, Laura will face Marta Kostyuk, who is stronger but not particularly fond of playing on clay. If Pigossi executes her strategic combinations well, she might challenge the Ukrainian, though Laura remains the underdog and will be reliant on errors from Marta. Marta Kostyuk Last year, the Ukrainian claimed her first "main" trophy in Austin. However, her subsequent results were average, although her on-court performance remained solid. This season, Marta has been playing very well but lacks concentration in crucial matches. She reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open, where she couldn't overcome Coco Gauff. Nevertheless, Kostyuk played a commendable match against the American, faltering only in the third set. Later, she reached the final in San Diego, where it seemed she would outplay Katie Boulter, but after winning the first set, her game fell apart. She also reached the semi-finals of the Masters in Indian Wells, where she had nothing to counter Iga Świątek, and then the final of the clay tournament in Stuttgart, where she lost the decisive battle for the title to Elena Rybakina. In the match against Pigossi at the French Open, Kostyuk needs to immediately establish that the Brazilian is the underdog and will fail in her minimum goal to progress past the first round. Kostyuk has significantly improved her serve and is successfully executing her typical game combinations, leaving no doubt that she should get past Laura Pigossi, likely with a score of 2:0. Match Prediction: Laura Pigossi vs Marta Kostyuk Better to bring Marta into the competitive rhythm straight away rather than searching for her game in a tough match later. Therefore, I am betting on the handicap for the Ukrainian (-5.5) games.

26.05.2024

368

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

ATP French Open - R1

Odds: 2.57Stake: 5/10

Bet

The match between Richard Gasquet and Borna Ćorić looks intriguing. The Frenchman, a symbol of his country's tennis, competes at Roland-Garros, while the Croatian is yet to reach legendary status but has a promising future ahead. Richard Gasquet Winning a Grand Slam has become a distant dream for Gasquet although there were seasons when he could reach the semi-finals of some major tournaments, such as a Grand Slam. Nowadays, however, such scenarios seem unlikely. Last year, Richard surprised everyone by winning the ATP 250 in Auckland. Although he had a favourable draw and a walkover in the semi-finals, he managed to prevail in the final against Cameron Norrie, who couldnt cope with Gasquets technical skills. This year started off tough for Richard, but he found his form at the Challenger in Manama, reaching the final but losing to Mikhail Kukushkin. Following that, he had several disappointing tournaments before showing reasonable form on clay courts. Gasquet performed decently in Aix-en-Provence and reached the quarter-finals in ATP 250 in Estoril as a lucky loser. He also had two strong matches in the Madrid Masters qualifiers, though he lost to Lorenzo Sonego in the main draw. In Lyon, before heading to Paris, Richard couldn't manage a win against Alexandre Mller, although he had some good moments in that match. Gasquet's readiness for Roland-Garros is quite mediocre. Unfortunately, the draw wasn't kind to him, as Borna Ćorić is a tough opponent. Ćorićs speed and endurance could outplay Gasquet, rendering attributes like clay technique and smart combinations less significant, although Gasquet should be stronger in these aspects. Borna Ćorić Borna is trying to regain his best form but it's proving to be a challenge. Last season, Ćorić won the Hopman Cup on clay and had commendable performances in major clay tournaments. He reached the semi-finals of the Madrid Masters, losing to Carlos Alcaraz, and the quarter-finals in Rome (1000), falling to Stefanos Tsitsipas. At the French Open, Ćorić only made it to the 2nd round, losing to Toms Martn Etcheverry. On hard courts, he reached the semi-finals of two ATP 250 tournaments, although these arent the achievements Ćorić is aiming forhe is interested in significant accolades rather than local successes. This year, Borna played well at a Belgian Challenger, reaching the final but losing to Leandro Riedl. He also made it to the final of the indoor ATP 250 tournament in Montpellier, where Alexander Bublik outplayed him. On clay, Ćorić participated in all major tournaments but didn't progress beyond the second round. The match against Gasquet won't be troublesome for Ćorić if the Frenchman doesn't technically outplay him and if Ćorić avoids errors like those against Jack Draper in Rome or his failure to overcome Alexander Zverev in the Madrid Masters. Head-to-Head Richard Gasquet and Borna Ćorić have each won one match against the other. Their first encounter was at the Davis Cup in 2016, which Gasquet won, while Ćorić took his revenge in 2018 at the Dubai tournament. Match Prediction: Richard Gasquet vs. Borna Ćorić My prediction is a P1 in the first set. If Gasquet wins the initial games and imposes his stylistically challenging tennis, he might overcome Ćorić in this match.

26.05.2024

341

Tobiloba Jimoh

Expert

Tennis

WTA French Open - R1

Handicap1 by games (-1)

Odds: 1.78Stake: 5/10

Bet

The main draw of the clay-court Grand Slam is kicking off, and its impossible to ignore it. Donna Vekić will face Lesia Tsurenko in the opening round in France, and I believe this clash is quite intriguing for the 1st round of Roland-Garros. Donna Vekić The Croatian tennis player had an excellent previous year. Despite knee problems leading to speculation about her retirement, Vekić recovered and played confidently. Last season, she won the hard-court tournament in Monterrey and the Hopman Cup on clay. Additionally, she reached the quarter-finals at the Australian Open and was in the final battle for the Berlin trophy (500), where she lost to Petra Kvitov. Despite her distinct attacking style, Vekić skillfully spins the ball and can perform effectively on any "soft" courts, so its unwise to consider clay unsuitable for the Croatian. This tennis year for Vekić has been average. Her main achievement is reaching the semi-finals in Linz, where she couldn't surpass Ekaterina Alexandrova, although the match was evenly fought. As for clay competitions, Vekić has been trying to adapt but hasnt looked her best, even losing to her upcoming opponent Lesia Tsurenko at the Rome Masters. In the match against Tsurenko, its crucial for Vekić to always be ready to attack, as Tsurenko plays defensively and will be spinning the ball. Vekić must disrupt these spins and combine her plays effectively to expose weaknesses in Tsurenkos defensive strategy. Lesia Tsurenko Last year, Lesia performed admirably, although she often faces criticism for not giving her all in various tournaments. Frequently, she withdraws from matches citing minor injuries. Since 2018, Tsurenko has been without a trophy, but last season she reached the final in Hua Hin. Notably, Lesia performed quite well at Grand Slams, including in France, where she advanced through three rounds before losing to Iga Świątek, once again retiring before the match's conclusion. Tsurenkos technical abilities are better suited for clay tournaments. However, she sometimes gets carried away with aesthetics or alternatively, overuses power, leading to numerous "unforced errors." It will be challenging for Tsurenko to play a tight attacking game against Vekić. Most likely, Tsurenko will attempt to catch the Croatian on spin shots. The Ukrainian's serve is average, whereas her opponent serves powerfully, which Vekić is likely to exploit. Head-to-head Last season, they met three times on hard courts, and only in Monterrey, where Vekić won the trophy, did Tsurenko lose, once again retiring. However, Tsurenko won the other encounters, including the recent battle in Rome, where Vekić's unsuccessful plays on the tiebreaker decided the outcome. Match Prediction: Donna Vekić - Lesia Tsurenko Im betting on a Vekić revenge. It seems the Croatian has figured out how to play against Tsurenko. Also, Roland-Garros motivates everyone especially, so the Croatian's class should make a difference here.

26.05.2024

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