The Olympic Games tennis tournament has reached the penultimate day of action with the medals to be decided in the women’s singles and doubles while the men’s singles and the mixed doubles semi-finals will be played on a huge Saturday out in Rio.
Friday Recap
There was good and bad news for us on Friday. The good news was that both our match bets won. Monica Puig saw off Petra Kvitova in three sets to land a nice priced match bet while Juan Martin del Potro won two close sets to cover the over line in games against Roberto Bautista-Agut. Sadly Madison Keys couldn’t see off Angelique Kerber so our outright fell at the final hurdle before a payout.
Elsewhere there was gold medal success for Rafael Nadal. He followed up a three set win in the singles with a doubles win alongside Marc Lopez as they saw off Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea in an epic final. Jack Sock and Steve Johnson won the bronze.
Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori were both made to work hard before coming through to set up a juicy semi-final in the men’s singles while Martina Hingis kept her hopes of Olympic gold alive where she and partner Timea Bacsinszky came through in three sets.
Men’s Matches
Murray faces Nishikori in the first semi-final on Centre Court before Rafael Nadal goes up against Juan Martin del Potro who is back in the big time again after all his injury issues.
I’m expecting a couple of really close semi-finals here and I would be surprised if either are won in straight sets. Both Murray and Nishikori showed all their battling qualities in the quarter final coming through in a tight third set while Nadal and del Potro have shown likewise throughout the tournament.
The games line in the Murray vs Nishikori match is 22 which looks a little low given they went five monstrous sets in the Davis Cup earlier in the year. Murray tends to have the better of their matches but he doesn’t look on top form this week so that looks destined for three sets.
The games line in the other match is 23 and that also looks quite low. Every del Potro match in the tournament has had at least 25 games while you would think that the amount of energy Nadal has played will mean he doesn’t win this in straight sets. Even if he does del Potro has the ability to keep it tight so I like overs there too.
Women’s Matches
On paper the battle for bronze looks the better match as Petra Kvitova takes on Madison Keys in a match where the serve is likely to dominate. Monica Puig goes for gold against Angelique Kerber later in the day.
As well as Puig has played this week I don’t believe Angelique Kerber is for beating here. The Australian Open champion has played in two of the three biggest matches of the year including the Wimbledon final and acquitted herself well in both matches. She is a big match player now.
Whether that means she covers a handicap I’m not completely sure and wouldn’t want to put money on it but I do believe she is the one to beat in that final.
In the other match I like the better movement of Madison Keys but that is reflected in the odds so I’m not going to play on that match either. I wouldn’t put anyone off the Kerber/Keys double which pays safely above even money but there isn’t a need to push the boat out.
Doubles
All eyes will be on Martina Hingis to see if she can land another gold medal. I happen to think that Elena Vesnina and Ekaterina Makarova will win the final. They are regular doubles partners and a very good team in their own right and that can prove the difference.
Sadly at the time of writing there are no odds up on that match so we won’t be able to offer an official bet but at a solid enough price if one appears the Russians should deliver the goods if the match is priced up.
Olympic Games Tennis – Tips
Back A.Murray vs K.Nishikori – Over 22 games for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with TitanBet
Back it here:
WON – Back J-M.del Potro vs R.Nadal – Over 23 games for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Winner Sports
Back it here:
