ATP Santiago (Day 1)

Eduardo Schwank   v   Igor Andreev | pick: Igor Andreev (1,690) @ Pinnacle

Altough Schwank lead 1-0 H2H that match was played two years ago in Brazil and shouldn't weight to much when looking at today's match. Schwank is clay player, very limited outside of his favourite surface, he is 1-9 L10 with every match being played in hard court. You would think returning to clay would be ideal for him to get back on winning ways, but in my view that's not the case. Igor Andreev is a player who is very capable even in clay despite his game being built on power. I predict Schwank will struggle against a higher quality player and he will have to wait another week to win a game.

Tommy Robredo v Frederico Gil | pick: Robredo (1,457) @ Pinnacle

After managing his first win in Grand Slam tournaments Gil will be much more motivated for the rest of the season, today he faces an opponent he beat last year in Sweden but he won't have an easy task today. Robredo seems to be up for another season, age doesn't seem to be a problem and he had a very convincing performance in the AO. I believe that step by step Gil will have a good season but no this week, Robredo was great in hard court and on his first match of the year on clay a win is the only predictable outcome.

CH Burnie

Samuel Groth v Bernard Tomic | pick: Tomic 2-0 (1,720) @ Bet365

I have no doubt Tomic has ATP quality, but why does he only perform to that level in the AO? Only him and his father can answer that. Despite that I strongly believe that this season will be great for him but for that to happen he needs to get good results in the Challenger Circuit. He will be facing Samuel Groth, a mediocre player who would probable loose to his own sister in straight sets, therefore what's expect from Tomic here is an easy win, and I am confident he will deliver

Gulldén

Isn't she cute? That's why I love women's sport

Thank you all for welcoming me

Quote Originally Posted by BurningPlanet26:

gl and welcome to the forum.

with you on Robredo and Igor. Loved the writeups. your challenger play looks good too but i cannot at my book bet those. what book are you using? (and why do I have a feeling it is one we Americans cannot)

anyway I hope we hit today and you keep posting quality writeups like these.

Not many bookies provide betting options for challengers, Bet365 is the one I normally use for challengers, I tought Bet365 was allowed in the US.

Perfect Start !!

Record: 3-0 | + 1,867

ATP Santiago

Ricardo Hocevar v Horacio Zeballos | pick: Zeballos (1,556) @ Pinnacle

Zeballos leads the H2H by 3-1 which is not a surprise giiven that the argentinian is 130 places ahead of the brazilian in the ATP Ranking. I am taking Zeballos here because I feel he is being overpriced, he is a terrific clay court player and altough 2010 wasn't a good year for him this is a good match to boost his confidence and morale becuse he is a facing a player he knows well, and a player who he knows he can beat. The difference in quality is just to big on this one.

ITF Coimbra

Margarida Moura v Silvia Fuentes Perez | pick: Margarida Moura (1,720) @ Bet365

I'll have to go with the portuguese girl on this one. Match between teenegers in one of the few ITF tournaments played in Portugal. Marggarida Moura said she wanted to try a pro-tennis career and the 17yr old portuguese knows she needs to have good results here in Portugal in order to gain support from sponsors to go outside and play tournaments in other countries. The 15yr old spanish is a good player but I think she's a bit out of range in this tournament and since this means a lot to Margarida I trust her to take the win.

Margarida's game is yet to be played.

Record: 4-0-0 | +2,423