[Wittmann 44]

Only Vienna has anything like a full card tomorrow. There are a few games in the other venues but qualifying still going on in most. Vienna is a slow court.

The shift to carpet in Moscow will be worth watching as some players won’t handle the switch well.

A number of players need good results to qualify for Shanghai. I’ll point out any that jump out.

Vienna

Fish-Almagro

Nice price on Mardy Fish here against a player who has very little gametime on this surface and who retired in his last game with an elbow injury. Fish won their only meeting (indoor hard in Madrid qualifying) in 3 sets. Fish has struggled this year with a long running back injury compounded with knee problems but he showed some decent if patchy form immediately before Flushing Meadows and even on a slower surface his solid serve should ensure he has less pressure on his own serve. Almagro is 6-8 on indoor and with the retirement I can oppose.

1.50Units Fish @ Evens (Bet365)

Wawrinka-Gicquel

The wheels are well and truly of Gicquel’s wagon in the last few months as he has struggled badly for form – Wawrinka should have closed out against Tsonga last week in Metz when serving finals set at 4-2 up but left the Frenchman back into it. Gicquel was the same day getting badly spanked by Korolev. The h to h is 2-1 for Wawrinka (1-1 on indoor) but the Swiss is in far better form and made the QF here last year. The slower court should neutralise what is Gicquels main weapon his serve and Wawrinka if he avoids the concentration issues should have this fairly comfortably. I’d make the Swiss a much warmer jolly than the Betfair price.

2.25 Units Wawrinlka @ 1.70

Chela-Lopez

Chela looks far too solid here. Lopez has lost 10 of the alst 12 and has a dire indoor record and has been muddling in claycourt events for the last few months while the hardcourt season was in full swing which shows where his priorities lie. Chela’s inactivity since the US Open the only reason I’m not maxing out at 5 units here.

2.75 Units Chela @ 1.30

Eschauer-Lopez

A very small interest in opposing Lopez here against the Austrian Eschauer. He played Bangkok on Friday and jet lag might be an issue with the Austrian ogranisers not giving him any favors with a later start. – Escahuer retired in Metz but this is the very definition of speculative.

Lay Lopez @ 1.22 (0.25 Units Risked)

Koubek-Moya

Moya looks like he might be feeling all the matches he has played this year with a tame exit in Metz last week to Becker – Kobek has a solid record against him – he is W2 L3 but has nicked a set in 2 of the defeats. Koubek after a poor start to the year has rallied in the last few months and he was bossing Grosjean last week prior to his bizarre dismissal for foul language. He has a better indoor record than Moya although the Spaniard has always done well here in the slower conditions. I’d still fancy Koubek worth a punt at the odds with the crowd behind him and a hopefully a sense of injustice keeping him fired up.

1.25 Units Koubek @ 2.80

Ginepri-Dkjokovic

Djokovic pulled from Bangkok last week as his back injury flared up – I’m not even sure he will start this as noises from his camp suggest that he is not 100%. As top seed he will probably want to cash his appearance fee and not piss off the sponsors in Vienna but he will also have an eye on next weeks masters in Madrid with its massive purse and a chance to renew rivalries with Fedrer. Ginepri will push the self destruct button if Djokovic turns up in any shape or form willing to play but at 1.11 with question marks over both Novak’s fitness and his motivation here I can oppose.

Lay Djokovic @ 1.1 (0.25 Units Risked)