The Overrule

By Sports Magician

ATP/WTA EASTBOURNE & 's-HERTOGENBOSCH

ATP EASTBOURNE

Who would have thought Nicolas Almagro would ever be number one seed at a grass court event? Eastbourne hosts its first men's event on the ATP Tour, replacing Nottingham. Michael Llodra and Feliciano Lopez are both big servers who reside in the bottom half of the draw and the Overrule is siding with the Frenchman. Llodra has won four events in his career, including an indoor title in Marseille in 2010.

PICK: 1*MICHAEL LLODRA TO WIN EASTBOURNE @ 13.0 (BETFAIR)

ATP 's-HERTOGENBOSCH

Marcos Baghdatis has the chance to enter Wimbledon on a high note by winning the grass court event that most people will probably name by its sponsor - the Unicef Open. Ivan Ljubicic is the top seed but has never exuded that much confidence on grass despite having a strong serve and it’s doubtful he will justify his position as joint tournament favourite. In first round action, Jarrko Nieminen is overpriced to take out German Benjamin Becker. The head to head is 1-1, with Nieminen beating Becker at Delray Beach earlier this year.

PICK: 2*MARCOS BAGHDATIS TO WIN ‘s-HERTOGENBOSCH @ 5.00 (BETFRED / LADBROKES)

PICK: 1*JARRKO NIEMINEN BEAT BENJAMIN BECKER @ 2.80 (BOYLESPORTS)

WTA EASTBOURNE

A very strong field is present at Eastbourne despite being the week before Wimbledon, when most top players prefer to spend the build up solely on the practice courts. In fact the field is so strong that a friend of mine has been at Eastbourne for a couple of days to watch qualifying and practices, as well as trying in vain to get Sorana Cirstea’s number. During the clay court season the Overrule came unstuck a few times backing Victoria Azarenka, who we have tipped for big things in the not too distant future. I’m glad to report that my Eastbourne source has seen Vika fighting fit and looking comfortable in practice, so much so that she has been doing double sessions.

With that in mind, Azarenka’s price is absolutely huge and we have no hesitation in backing her in the each-way market. There are a number of early round matches that appeal, Azarenka is priced up as the underdog against her close friend Agnieszka Radwanska, which is absurd. Alisa Kleybanova is 0-2 against Svetlana Kuznetsova but stands a fair chance of breaking her duck against Sveta at Eastbourne. Aravane Rezai has already been in action on grass in Birmingham last week and faces Caroline Wozniacki on Tuesday. The two have never met and Rezai’s power could be difficult for Caro to handle so early in the tournament. Jie Zheng has surprisingly been made an underdog against Shahar Peer. Zheng made the semi-final of Wimbledon in 2008 and is a strong doubles player, her game matches up well with Peer. And finally, Cirstea can overcome French Open champion Francesca Schiavone in what would be the upset of the day. Schiavone should never be that short on a grass court and I’m not talking about her size.

PICK: 1*(EACH-WAY) VICTORIA AZARENKA TO WIN EASTBOURNE @ 23.00 (1/2 ODDS 1-2 PLACES) (BET 365)

PICK: 3*VICTORIA AZARENKA BEAT AGNIESZKA RADWANSKA @ 2.38 (WILLIAM HILL)

PICK: 1.5*ALISA KLEYBANOVA BEAT SVETLANA KUZNETSOVA @ 2.2 (VC BET / WILLIAM HILL)

PICK: 1.5*ARAVANE REZAI BEAT CAROLINE WOZNIACKI @ 2.62 (BET 365)

PICK: 2*JIE ZHENG BEAT SHAHAR PEER @ 2.30 (BOYLESPORTS)

PICK: 1*SORANA CIRSTEA BEAT FRANCESCA SCHIAVONE @ 4.00 (BET 365)

WTA 's-HERTOGENBOSCH

One of the biggest motivations for Justine Henin’s return to tennis was to add the one missing Grand Slam to her collection - Wimbledon. Henin begins her preparation in Holland against a very weak field, in contrast to Eastbourne. The Belgian has already negotiated her first round and it would be a major surprise if she were to leave Holland without a winner’s cheque. Yaroslava Shvedova should be able to handle Arantxa Parra Santonja in first round action. The Russian-born Kaszak has a stinging serve and the Spaniard, more suited to clay courts as you might expect, will have trouble getting into Shvedova service games.

PICK: 4*JUSTINE HENIN TO WIN ‘s-HERTOGENBOSCH @ 1.60 (BETFAIR)

PICK: 2*YAROSLAVA SHVEDOVA BEAT ARANTXA PARRA SANTONJA @ 1.53 (BOYLESPORTS)

Sports Magician