The Olympic tennis event continues on Monday with the baulk of the action in the women’s draw although there are still some decent matches in the men’s event as well as the various doubles competitions which are all warming up nicely.
Sunday was a day of carnage for the seeds as some big names went by the wayside especially in the doubles draws so there will be a lot of nervous players on show on the courts on Monday.
Sunday Recap
It wasn’t the best day for us betting wise. It began well with Gilles Muller and Jerzy Janowicz going the distance but it didn’t get any better than that despite Lukas Rosol winning the first set. He ended up losing as did Federico Delbonis and Yaroslava Shvedova so we’ve got some catching up to do on Monday.
If there was a boost for us on Sunday it came late at night when Juan Martin del Potro produced a fantastic display to see off Novak Djokovic and open the top half of the draw right up for our outright bet David Goffin, who had cruised into the second round earlier in the day.
After a delay to the start of play due to the winds Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber, Andy Murray and Garbine Muguruza all made it safely through to the second round to set up intriguing matches later in the week.
In the doubles the seeds clattered out as the number 1, 2 and 4 seeds exited in the men’s draw while the Williams sisters were shot out of the women’s doubles. The carnage I anticipated in the doubles certainly came to fruition on Sunday.
Men’s Singles
There aren’t too many singles matches on the schedule for the men on Monday but of the matches that are to be played the likes of Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Kei Nishikori are in action. They face Gilles Muller and John Millman respectively and both should come through.
British eyes will be on Kyle Edmund first up as he bids to make it into the last 16 when he faces Taro Daniel of Japan. Juan Martin del Potro’s reward for beating Novak Djokovic on Sunday night is an immediate return to the courts to take on Joao Sousa. Gael Monfils and Marin Cilic are also on Monday’s card.
I’m tempted to take on del Potro given the length of time he spent on court on Sunday night in humid conditions but Sousa isn’t exactly consistent so I will leave that one alone as I will the entire men’s draw on a day where there are a lot of heavy favourites.
Women’s Singles
With the women’s event finishing a day before the men there are a lot more women in action on Monday and some of the matches look really good on paper not least the opening game on Centre Court when Petra Kvitova takes on Caroline Wozniacki. Eugenie Bouchard vs Angelique Kerber is another good match too.
As well as those four big names the biggest two in the women’s game are also in action when Serena Williams opens up the night session against Alize Cornet. Garbine Muguruza is also back on court and she goes up against Nao Hibino who is unlikely to give her too many troubles.
Jo Konta will look to make it into the third round when she faces Caroline Garcia out on Court 2. She should come through that but Heather Watson has a much stiffer task when she goes up against Elina Svitolina out on Court 4.
There are two bets I like in the women’s draw on Monday and they are both outsiders and both at big prices. The first is Eugenie Bouchard against Angelique Kerber up on Centre Court.
These two have met four times in the past and Bouchard has a 3-1 lead including their meeting in Rome earlier this year and that could be a key statistic. We know how well Kerber is playing this year but I believe she is much better on faster courts but this Centre Court one is pretty slow which plays into the hands of Bouchard.
Kerber’s power could well be negated in this match and if that is the case the better variety and range of skills that Bouchard possesses could lead her to another win over the Australian Open champion.
Lucie Safarova isn’t in great form at the minute and she is another one who could have her key weapon – her serve – blunted. If that is the case I’m not sure her all-round game is enough to beat Kirsten Flipkens who showed us all of her fighting spirit against Venus Williams on Saturday night.
You could really tell how much Flipkens wanted to come through against Venus and she adjusted to the slow conditions and used her variety really well. That variety could get Safarova on the move and from there the Belgian would have a significant advantage. At 9/4 I’m with Flipkens here.
Doubles
I’m not expecting as much carnage in the doubles on Monday as we saw on Sunday, the amount of seeds that bombed out will have focused the mind of those left in, but I think I’ll let the events settle down a little before I get too involved in them.
Tips
Back E.Bouchard to beat A.Kerber for a 3/10 stake at 3.40 with Ladbrokes
Back her here:
Back K.Flipkens to beat L.Safarova for a 3/10 stake at 3.25 with Bet365
Back her here:
