Sporting Selections October 04

Archived results for October 2004

Date & Time
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Breeders Cup Juvenile Fillies

Not often we would consider betting on the horses but we have it on good authority that the British books have underestimated the chances of this one

Obviously being a semi final of a Masters event this is already a huge match. With Houston and the Masters Cup only 3 weeks away it takes on greater significance in that these two are (probably) vying for the last available spot. Safin is almost back to 100% and with the confidence from his last win v Agassi we like his chances today

Verdasco to bt Robredo

Wrong fav here to our eyes. On this quick surface Verdasco has the bigger weapons. US Open 2003 still fresh in our memories.

Very big price for the American. Haas was all the rage yesterday against a less than 100% Novak but Dent is fit and these conditions should suit. Makings of a tight one

Not much between these two going on their meeting at the Olympics. Lopez is bound to be tired after winning Vienna and his struggle last night but if he cannot raise his game one more time here then he wont anywhere!

Price on Novak has drifted quite alarmingly overnight. We cannot let him go unbacked at the new prices. He has an injury scare having withdrawn from Vienna with rib problems. Seven days rest should have helped.

Dent is pretty much one dimensional and Canas may soak up that serve and spit it back at the American but the Argentine has come up very short here. Dent got the serve firing nicely in Tokyo and has carried it on here.

Slight worry in round 1 with Mayer as he recovered from injury. Chela might have been rusty but that was a good result and not the only one shown by the very promising German. Haas is very strong indoors and will be tough to crack. Mayer will fancy a shot at him though

Saulnier to bt Johansson

These big servers met 10 weeks ago in Canada and it took a 3rd set tiebreak to split them. Their prices that day were 5/6 the pair. In a match that a few points here and there will determine the outcome, this is a massive price.

Ulihrach to bt Enqvist

It has taken quite a while for Ulihrach to recapture any form at the highest level. His semi final performance last week was very commendable. If you delve deep enough he has a fairly solid indoor record and with Enqvist doing very little this year, we will take a chance on the recovery continuing.

Ferrer was very impressive last week getting to the semi finals in Lyon but the books have surely over-reacted. Horna was very competitive last week v Youzhny and in a battle between 2 claycourters on an alien surface, this should be a pick!

We didn't want to oppose Safin here this week as we believe he is the most likely winner! but this price is just too big to leave. Mirnyi has been quite flat for most of year but does have a Davis Cup win over Safin to remind himself of what is possible. Mirnyi has stated that this is his favourite time of the season.

Soderling to bt Johansson

Two big servers here and the possibility of a tiebreak or two separating them. Johansson does have a very solid game for indoors but he struggled a little last night and we see this as being very close.

Novak to bt Srichaphan

Hard to see why this is not a pick at worst. Novak has the positive head to head ratio, including a Davis Cup victory in Bangkok. Neither man will particularly want to face Hewitt in the semi final but ranking points can go to the Czech man here.

Arazi to bt Schuettler

He might be defending champion but Schuettler must start here with little confidence. He has had a shocking year and with Arazi at the other end, who knows what will happen!! The price here allows a small play on the inconsistent Moroccan

Burgsmuller to bt Carlsen

Two players enjoying their best event for some time and it is difficult to split them. In fact their last encounter in a challenger in Spring was a very tight 3 setter. Burgsmuller is certainly a touch overpriced here

Taken the Russian the whole year to get consistent again and this past 3 weeks he has played very solid tennis. He has won his last 19 sets and this should be close. Roddick is always vulnerable outside US and Safin has the power to stay in this one