ABN AMRO 2nd Rd Betting: Djokovic and Chiudinelli

Rotterdam, Netherlands – Newly minted world No.2 Novak Djokovic is aiming to underscore his lofty ranking with a title this week in Rotterdam. Leading an impressive field of players at the ABN AMRO World Tennis tournament, Djokovic is the market short-odds-on favourite to clean up. In fact, if the market is to be believed, the Rotterdam title is all but his, just a mere formality the coming rounds are.

Djokovic’s section of the draw is relatively favourable with Gael Monfils, Tommy Robredo and Mikhail Youzhny as potential threats down the road.

Before Djokovic can look ahead to a scrap against any of the aforementioned trio, he has a tough match to get ready for against Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland. The match appears to be straightforward in the market. Is it going to be, really? Chiudinelli, after all, stripped Djokovic off a set at the Aussie Open second round. And, had he not suffered an injury in the second set, who can say what might have happened then?

Here is a look at the markets developing on this encounter between Djokovic and Chiudinelli.

Tennis Betting Line: Novak Djokovic -2000 Marco Chiudinelli +800

First Set Line: Novak Djokovic -1000 Marco Chiudinelli +500

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday February 10, 2010

Djokovic -2000 vs Chiudinelli >> Join to Bet Now

Tennis Betting Verdict: Djokovic met Chiudinelli as recently as the Aussie Open second round. Chiudinelli surprised Djokovic by taking the first set off the Serbian. Chiudinelli couldn’t make the strong start count as injury hampered he went on to lose in four sets.

Interestingly, it was their first-ever encounter at an ATP level event. Prior to that meeting, Chiudinelli had beaten Nole in the lower circuits – Belgrade 2004. Only the main circuit mark counts, so Djokovic is the one to take a 1-0 edge into this match. That it is current underscores his favourite tag further.

Nole enters this match as the solid -2000 favourite; and knowing the spotlight ham as I do, with all the confidence of a world No. 2 against a minnow like No.54 Chiudinelli. The tennis-betting trend will buy into his new ranking, and definitely buy what the bookies are selling. I would urge caution here and advise bettors backing Djokovic not to go overboard on these odds because a) they don’t promise a huge return and b) more importantly, Chiudinelli might surprise.

The Swiss No.3 player Chiudinelli, ranked behind Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, is not without hope in this match. He knows he started well against Djokovic in Melbourne and had he not suffered a foot injury the outcome might have been different. One of those what if’s. He might have won (long shot) or at least made the last three sets more competitive.

Well, he will get his second shot against Djokovic soon and he could make something of it. Bookies tip him at +800 to win outright and +500 to take the first set. The former risk has a small chance of paying out but the latter risk is reasonable. In my opinion, both are worth a cautious wager. This is a best of three sets match and as such, the odds are better for an underdog like Chiudinelli to mastermind the upset here than they were at Melbourne.

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