Tennis Betting Advice - May 2020
Two match picks in Florida today...
Friday 8th May 2020
Hello Example Firstname,
In your Ones to Watch email today:
Tennis Point Exhibition Series, Germany…
UTR Pro Match Series, Florida…
Reilly the one to watch...
Good morning. It’s a Bank Holiday, the sun is shining, and we have some tennis to look forward to. My neighbours are mowing their lawn. Dog walkers and joggers are passing by. You could be forgiven for thinking that all's right with the world…
Of course, this is far from a normal May Bank Holiday. And one glance at the tennis calendar tells us that there is no French Open this month, and no Wimbledon this summer.
However, I keep hearing about the ‘new normal.’ And this weekend’s two tennis events are what competitive sport might look like for the next couple of months. No fans, no cheering, no noise but for the umpire calling the score, the shuffle of the players’ feet and the striking of the ball…
After last weekend’s successful first run behind closed doors, the Tennis Point Exhibition Series in Germany continues for a second instalment.
Once again, the favourites have been dominating so far. From the 12 matches played on Thursday, no fewer than 11 went to the favourite in the betting. The sole upset was Constantin Schmitz defeating Jan Choinski at odds of 4/1 (5.00).
One man desperate to overturn the odds must be Jan-Marc Werner. I reported that last week he lost all eight of his matches at this venue. So far this week, Werner has endured another three losses...
The bookies make fellow German, Tim Puetz, a short 1/9 (1.11) to make it 12 defeats in a row for Werner this afternoon.
Over in America, the prices are much more evenly-matched for day one of the UTR Pro Match Series in Florida.
The three matches & prices on the Friday schedule are as follows.
5pm UK time:
Tommy Paul 6/4 (2.50)
v
Hubert Hurkacz 1/2 (1.50)
5.55pm:
Miomir Kecmanovic Evens (2.00)
v
Reilly Opelka 17/20 (1.85)
6.50pm:
Reilly Opelka 3/5 (1.60)
v
Tommy Paul 5/4 (2.25)
Florida resident Reilly Opelka is the man I’d put most faith in today. Standing 6’11” and averaging 22 aces per match so far this year, Opelka has a truly brutal serve (or “annoying,” as his friend Tommy Paul called it recently).
The big American is more than just an ace machine, though. You don’t get two ATP Tour titles to your name at the age of 22 by only having a big serve. Reilly can play, too, with a nice dropshot in the mix in recent times, as well as a ferocious forehand, and a guided two-handed backhand.
Looking at the head-to-head form, which is admittedly limited for a match schedule being played in different to normal tour conditions (‘mini’ first-to-four-games sets, best of three). And with all four competitors clocking in at age 23 and below, there haven’t been many recorded meetings so far in their careers.
That said, while Paul & Hurkacz have never met, Opelka is 2-1 against Kecmanovic and 1-0 v Paul.
Playing near home, and with his huge serve, along with a bit of head-to-head form as an edge, as well as greater experience in ATP trophy matches than his opponents here, Opelka is my one to watch for today’s matches.
UTR Pro Match Series today:
Opelka to beat Kecmanovic is 17/20 (1.85) with Ladbrokes & Coral, Sportingbet, 5/6 (1.83) with Betfred and William Hill, 8/11 (1.73) in general
Opelka to beat Paul is 3/5 (1.60) with 888 Sport & Unibet, and 4/7 (1.57) in general
Latest odds here
Play starts from 5pm UK time. The matches will be available to watch live online, including on the Ladbrokes and Skybet websites.
That’s all from me for today. I’ll be back on Saturday morning with an update, looking again at the latest prices for the matches taking place in Germany & Florida.
Enjoy the tennis...
Best wishes,
Tom Wilson