We are heading towards the business end of all the tournaments in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics tennis event and more matches will be played out at the Ariake Tennis Centre on Thursday as we get closer to determining the medallists from the competition.
We have all four men’s quarter finals, the two women’s semi-finals and another round of each of the three sets of doubles competitions on a very good schedule out in Japan on Thursday, one where you feel the intensity could crank up a notch.
Men’s Singles
We are down to the last eight where half of the runners were expected to reach this far and they all take on players who weren’t expected to reach this stage and who will be looking to cause another upset so that they can fight for a medal over the remainder of the competition. Realistically though, Novak Djokovic, Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev will be expected to win their matches.
I’m not convinced it will be such an easy ride for Zverev though. I say that because Jeremy Chardy looks to be serving very well this week so he can lay a challenge down to the German here and at the very least run him close. Matches between these two generally do go close and we’re getting to the stage of the event where Zverev might flatter to deceive. We might get a couple of tiebreaks here or we might get a third set but either way I think we’re getting more than 20.5 games in this one.
Special Offer
OPEN AN ACCOUNT WITH 888SPORT AND BET £10 TO GET £30 IN FREE BETS PLUS A £10 CASINO BONUS! PERFECT OFFER TO USE ON THE OLYMPICS! CLICK THE IMAGE BELOW TO JOIN. USE CODE 30F. NEW ACCOUNTS ONLY. 18+ T&Cs apply (See image for significant terms). Gamble Aware.
Women’s Singles
It is the women’s semi-finals which are on the schedule on Friday with the opening match seeing Belinda Bencic taking on Elena Rybakina and then Elina Svitolina goes up against Marketa Vondrousova. While there will be a desperation for all four women to win and face off for the gold medal, the comfort blanket that they will play for a medal in their next match might help them relax and play some decent tennis.
Belinda Bencic looks a big price to me. I think Elena Rybakina is a cracking player who is already announcing herself ahead of the US Open but this might just come slightly too soon whereas Bencic is experienced enough to come good in these surroundings. Both women have seen off some good challenges to make it this far. Bencic has beaten Jessica Pegula, Barbora Krejcikova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova while Rybakina has beaten Garbine Muguruza, although the Spaniard helped her out with a ridiculous 28 unforced errors. This is going to be a match with a lot of clean hitting but the slightly better all-round game of Bencic makes me think she’s value here.
Doubles
We are at the business stage of all three doubles competitions heading into the action on Thursday but once again everything looks to be priced up about right which isn’t ideal from a punting point of view. Hopefully the medal matches offer up some better opportunities as I’m going to keep my money in my wallet as far as the doubles is concerned.
Tips
Back A.Zverev vs J.Chardy – Over 20.5 games for a 3/10 stake at 1.83 with Boylesports
Back it here:
Back B.Bencic to beat E.Rybakina for a 3/10 stake at 2.38 with William Hill
Back her here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2021
