Shahar Peer v Magdalena Rybarikova

This is the first meeting between these two which is somewhat surprising considering that both perform well on the hardcourt.

Neither player has any ongoing injury concerns and neither should be considered a worry in terms of retirement with Peer having retired twice this season but both times before the first set was over. Rybarikova has not retired all season.

Peer has been in fine form this Autumn, including a run of 12 consecutive wins that saw her collect two titles. Her ranking of 31 probably reflects more her Grand Slam performances rather than a true reflection of her abilities, which she seems to be rediscovering after a year or so of indifference. She drew Wozniacki in the 1st round of the Aus Open, was injured for the French, got Petrova in the 2nd round at Wimbledon and finally got Kuznetsova in the 3rd round at the US Open. In my opinion her true ranking is somewhere in the 10-15 range.

Rybarikova has done well this year and shocked quite a few with her maiden tour title in Birmingham. While she seems to be a late bloomer compared to modern standards I just feel that she has reached the level at which she will stay with maybe the odd foray into the top 30 ahead of her.

As a match up. Peer has to be fancied as the odds of 1.5-1.6 would suggest. Rybarikova lost 6-4 6-4 to Bartoli yesterday so is effectively out of the competition. Just need to watch out that she doesn't suddenly have an awesome serving day! Peer knows a win would see a shoot out with an injury carrying Bartoli for a place in the semi's,

Verdict: Peer win @ 1.54

Gilles Simon v Tomas Berdych

Went in on a straight punt from the of on this. Very shaky first set from both players but Simon edged it. Berdych nicked the 2nd set but Simon in control in the 3rd decided to take the profit and run.

£4.95 on Both


Simon Wins 6-4 4-6 6-3
Profit: £4.95

WTA Tournament Of Champions - Bali Day 1

Well as I had a bit of time on my hands I thought I'd do a quick write up on tomorrows matches. It will hopefully help me focus on where I should be putting my hard earned money and where I shouldn't. Not offering tips as such just listing information so that I can easily reference it tomorrow.

Sabine Lisicki v Aravane Rezai 6.00am GMT

Head to head is 1-0 which was in this years US Open 1st Round 7-6(4) 6-7(4) 6-1
As you can see 2 Tiebreaks in that match which suggests the 1.32 on Lisicki is a lay for value.
Lisicki got to the final of Luxembourg 2 weeks ago with a couple of good wins most notably a 6-3 4-6 7-6(5) victory over a resurgent, but perhaps fatigued, Peer in the semi finals.
Lisicki has retired 3 times this year, all after the 1st set is completed, and is listed as having numerous injury niggles throughout the season so may be worth watching closely. She has won 22 lost 7 when favourite this year.
Rezai has not had that many good wins off the clay but notable scalps include Safina in the summer on hard court. Not been having great results of late but they have been indoors.
Rezai has not retired in any matches this year. She has no injury worries I am aware of. Rezai has won 5 lost 13 when underdog this year.
Verdict: I would be looking to lay 1.32 on Lisicki for the trade here.

Yanina Wickmayer v Kimiko Date Krumm

These two have never played each other before and Date Krumm turned professional in the game 7 months before Wickmayer was born!!!!
Wickmayer has had a very good year imho and that has carried through to the last few weeks with a win in Linz followed by a semi final appearance in Luxembourg. She had hamstring trouble after the US Open but that seems to be behind her from recent results. She has not retired in any matches this season. However there was that bizarre default in the Clearwater Challenger where she went berserk. Won 23 lost 6 when favourite.
Date Krumm is, quite frankly, a legend for being here! At the age of 39 she is the grandma of the tour ;) Her win in Seoul a few weeks ago was completely out of the blue but this is her favourite surface. She has no injury worries that I am aware of. She has retired once this season and it was after the 1st set was complete. Won 6 Lost 8 when underdog.
Verdict: Wickmayer should be far too good here.

2nd set of matches up in the morning.

Marion Bartoli v Magdalena Rybarikova

The head to head is 2-1 in Bartoli's favour with all 3 being played on hard this year. The two most recent have gone to 3 sets with one win each coming from them however Rybarikova's win came as Bartoli retired the week before the US Open so maybe should be ignored. Bartoli has once again had a very good season with two titles on the hard courts. Bartoli's biggest concern will be her, apparently ongoing, right shoulder injury which forced her retirement in Osaka a few weeks ago. She has retired 5 times this season 3 of which have been after the first set is complete. She has won 37 lost 14 when favourite this season.
Rybarikova has had a mediocre season and ignoring her win in Birmingham but did so some promise in the Summer US hardcourts. She has no injury worries I am aware of and has not retired this season. She has won 9 lost 15 when Underdog.
Verdict: If you must bet then Bartoli @1.43 is probably a small lay due to injury problems and probably not wanting to be here she should win but may retire.

Samantha Stosur v Agnes Szavay

The head to head is 1-0 to Szavay but has no relevance here in my opinion despite being on hard it was over 2 years ago when both players were very different. Stosur has had an incredible year really rocketing up the rankings and only getting beaten, on the whole, by other quality players. She had an abdominal strain a few weeks ago but showed in Osaka she is over that. Stosur has had no retirements this season. She has Won 27 Lost 8 when favourite.
Szavay has not performed that well off the clay this year. She has no injuries I am aware of and has not retired this season. She has won 5 lost 12 when Underdog.
Verdict: Sam Stosur should win easily and the odds of 1.3 are a gift.