Best Bets for Cincinnati Day 1 | Thebigtip

The ATP World Tour moves onto Cincinnati this week with the Western & Southern Financial 1000 Masters taking place. Here are TennisMan’s selections for Day 1:

Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v Nicolas Almagro (ESP)
A tricky match to start the tournament. They have played twice on a hardcourt with one win apiece, but I will side with Wawrinka. The Swiss No. 2 has been travelling better in recent times whereas Almagro has looked patchy away from his beloved clay. It may go the distance, but look for Wawrinka to take this one out.

Paul-Henri Mathieu (FRA) v Victor Hanescu (ROU)
Another match hard to tip a winner in, but Mathieu looks the more logical choice. The Frenchman has had a horror year, but looks to be coming good while Hanescu has fallen away after the European clay season. They have played once in ’08 with Mathieu winning convincingly so he will like his chances once more.

Taylor Dent (USA) v Feliciano Lopez (ESP)
A battle of the net-rushers here and I will be selecting Lopez. Dent will want to perform well at home but he has shown he struggles against top 50 players. They have split both their career meetings but I think the Spaniard will not lose two first rounds consecutively after his early exit in Toronto last week.

Juan Monaco (ARG) v Thiemo De Bakker (NED)
Hard to see Monaco winning this one. The gritty Argentine has been out for a few months and first up here against the talented De Bakker will be a big ask. The Dutchman has been a big improver in 2010 and the fast paced hardcourts will suit him much more than the underdone Monaco.

Radek Stepanek (CZE) v Viktor Troicki (SRB)
The Czech was won all three of their previous meetings but I can’t have him this time around. He has looked all at sea since his injury layoff and recent marriage while Troicki has been travelling OK with some unlucky draws. The Serb always looks hungry and with age, form and class is on his side, he looks a sure winner.

Sam Querrey (USA) v Philipp Petzschner (GER)
Can’t go past the American here. Querrey loves playing at home and will surely have too much game for the German here. Petzschner defeated Querrey in Montreal last year but will be hard pressed to produce a similar result in this match. The young American will be looking for a big week in Cincy and should win with ease.

David Ferrer (ESP) v Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR)
Ferrer looks a certain winner here. The plucky Spaniard has been playing well and will be too mentally tough for the young Ukrainian. Dolgopolov has a huge future and will have his moments of brilliance in this match, but Ferrer will win and is a much better hardcourt player than many give him credit for.

Michael Berrer (GER) v Tommy Robredo (ESP)
Robredo beat Berrer back in ’06 and should come out on top again. His form has been very iffy lately but Berrer struggles at Masters level. He is a handy player but Robredo has a clear class advantage and will like this match-up. The Spaniard is always a risk but he should be the victor in this one.

Jurgen Melzer (AUT) v Santiago Giraldo (COL)
Melzer played a shocker to fall the unheralded Polansky last start while Giraldo has done well to qualify here in Cincinnati. The Austrian has had a standout season and will not suffer a similar fate to last week. Giraldo is nuisance value, but won’t cause a shock this time. Melzer comfortably.

Sergiy Stakhovsky (UKR) v Andy Roddick (USA)
It will be interesting to see how Roddick plays after his short time off through mental tiredness. He smashed Stakhovsky 2 & 1 earlier in Miami this year and while that score line will not occur here, the same result will. Stakhovsky possesses and sound game but up against a hungrier Roddick he will come up short once again.

Thomaz Bellucci (BRA) v Benjamin Becker (GER)
The gifted lefty takes should account for Becker here. The German knows the conditions well but Bellucci will surely get the job done in this match. He has been up and down lately and while Becker is always a dangerous floater in a draw, he should get the W.

Robby Ginepri (USA) v Somdev Devvarman (IND)
Ginepri is always a risk, but he faces Devvarman who is unexperienced at 1000 level. The American is always hot and cold, but he should be hot here. Devvarman has had some strong wins in qualifying but Ginepri is well rested and looks a good thing to end the days play.

BEST BET: Take Lopez to beat Dent. The American has qualified this week but Lopez has a clear class advantage and looks a good price. The conditions will be hot and quick, perfect for the Spaniard.

SUGGESTED MULTI: De Bakker, Troicki, Querrey, Ferrer, Melzer, Roddick, Ginepri. A pick 7 to get you off to a good start to the week.

All the best tennis punters!

Join Betfair now for your $50 risk free bet?