The Overrule: ATP Rome & WTA Stuttgart

By Sports Magician

ATP ROME
TUESDAY APRIL 27TH

Stanislas Wawrinka made the final in Rome two years ago and he can begin his 2010 campaign with a win against the ever inconsistent Jurgen Melzer. The Austrian gave Fernando Verdasco trouble in Barcelona last week before inevitably imploding. Wawrinka has had a good start to the clay court season, winning in Casablanca and then reaching the last eight in Monte Carlo. The Overrule will be doubling Wawrinka with Mikhail Youzhny who faces a shadow of his former self in the form of Lleyton Hewitt. The former world number one has had a running battle with injury for the past couple of years and the Russian should be able to ease past the Aussie.

PICK: 3.5*(DOUBLE) MIKHAIL YOUZHNY BEAT LLEYTON HEWITT (1.44) & STANISLAS WAWRINKA BEAT JURGEN MELZER (1.44) @ 2.07 (WILLIAM HILL)

WTA STUTTGART
WEDNESDAY APRIL 28TH

The early highlight of the Stuttgart draw is a match-up that would not be out of place as a final as Victoria Azarenka faces Flavia Pennetta. Azarenka has been forced to retire while leading during her last two tournaments but has declared herself fully fit to return. Pennetta spent the past weekend leading Italy to the Fed Cup final and previously won Marbella. It should be a very entertaining match – the first time they have ever met on tour, surprisingly - and a 50/50 encounter, in which case the Overrule will be taking the value on Azarenka. As always the Overrule will be making match bets with bookmakers who void any and all retirements in the event that Azarenka is unlucky enough to have to retire through injury for the third successive tournament. If that were to happen our stakes would be returned.

Pennetta’s Italian teammate Francesca Schiavone also faces a difficult encounter with Belgian Yanina Wickmayer. Schiavone is a tough competitor who won Barcelona without dropping a set, however, Wickmayer has the groundstokes to dictate proceedings and force the Italian to play even further behind the baseline than usual. Wickmayer leads the head to head 2-0, although the pair have never met on clay.

PICK: 4*VICTORIA AZARENKA BEAT FLAVIA PENNETTA @ 2.2 (BET 365)

PICK: 4*YANINA WICKMAYER BEAT FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE @ 2.25 (BET 365)

Sports Magician