Will be the last days betting in Rome given how hard it will be to get any edge in a game featureing Nadal. He will steamroll Davydenko who struggled to beat both Strace and Robredo and who lost to OLivier Patience a few matches ago. Nadal is unbeaten on clay since April 2005 and is 89-2 in since January 2005. Question really is who will stop in Roland Garros (bar himself and injury).
The other match between
Gonzo and Volandri has more potential. Amazed by Volandri's progress beating Gasquet, Federer and Berdych (1, 12 & 13 rankings) en route to his first Masters semi. I keep thinking the wheels will come off but Berdych was dire yesterday by all accounts and I'm hoping the Gonzo who turned up last night in a hugely impressive performance will turn up again today. The Chilean is 1-1 in the H to H but has far more pedigree at this level. The crowd of 15,000 baying Italians is a worry but I thought Gonzalez might be around 1.7 so I've hoovered up the 1.80 on
Betfair.
2 Units Gonzalez @ 1.80
In
Prague Azarenka goes off at around 1.40 against
Morigami who is not a clay specialist but who is no mug at this level either. She should win but Morigami is her practice partner and the Belarussian has done enough for me to leave well alone this week.
InGemrany Ivanovic faces Vakulenko who dumped out and unfit Mauresmo in the 2nd round and Safina previously. The Ukrainian is having a decent little season but she's played 11 in 14 days now as she played qualifiers in Warsaw (where she retired in the SF) and fatigue will be a major issues. Ivanovic beat an in form Schynder yesterday in what seems to have been an ugly match. I think she will have too much power for the Ukrainian today.
2 Units Ivanovioc @ 1.5