The Olympics 2016 – Tennis event kicks off on the first day of proper action at the 2016 Games on Saturday and it does so with plenty of matches in both singles events and both doubles competitions on a day where there is lots of action on all five courts.
Most of the very big names have been saved for Sunday’s action but that doesn’t mean that we have no big names on show on Saturday. The likes of Kei Nishikori, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, Venus Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska and Heather Watson all kick off campaigns on Saturday.
Men’s Singles
As you would expect on the opening day of a tournament such as this, there are a number of one sided matches on the card and taking handicaps early on in a tournament is risky at the best of times let alone in an event like this where conditions are a little unknown.
Kei Nishikori takes on Albert Ramos-Vinolas to begin the event on Centre Court with Gael Monfils vs Vasek Pospisil, Grigor Dimitrov vs Marin Cilic and Borna Coric vs Gilles Simon the matches likely to get the most attention on the day.
I’ve had a good look at the men’s schedule and there isn’t a lot I like on the day. It is the nature of the beast in this tournament that surprises will come but I can’t find one that stands out so I’ll leave the men’s event alone on Saturday.
Women’s Singles
It is much the same in the women’s draw too with the likes of Serena Williams, Angelique Kerber and Garbine Muguruza being saved for Sunday which leads Agnieszka Radwanska, Venus Williams and Roberta Vinci as the star attractions on the opening day.
Again I’m in no rush to take handicaps early on in this event so I’m largely going to stay out of the women’s draw too but there is one bet that I like and it comes in what could be one of the matches of the day – Eugenie Bouchard vs Sloane Stephens.
These two have met four times in the past with two wins each to their name but it could be significant that Bouchard won their most recent meeting which came in Indian Wells earlier in the year when the Canadian won 7-5 7-5.
That isn’t the only thing that is positive for the Canadian here. Bouchard has been in pretty decent form in recent times whereas the last time Sloane Stephens won a match against a meaningful opponent was back in Charleston but that was right back at the start of April.
Stephens has challenged some half decent players since then but Bouchard recently thrashed Dominika Cibulkova and that is decent form at the minute and a repeat of that should see her safely into the second round. I’ll take her to continue her rise back to the higher echelons of the game with a confidence boosting win here.
Doubles
I’m looking to get involved in the doubles the longer the week goes on but with some different teams about given that this is nationality based I’m probably going to watch a round or two and get a feel for things before I get too stuck in.
Nothing stands out on the opening day in either the men’s or women’s doubles so I’ll play safe and just go with Bouchard as my only bet on the first day of tennis action in Rio.
Tips
WON – Back E.Bouchard to beat S.Stephens for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Betfair
Back her here:
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