Dubai Tennis Picks: Cilic and Tipsarevic begin campaign

Dubai, UAE – Croatian Marin Cilic has been one of the hottest starters on the Tour this season and he will be looking to extend his sensational form when he guns for his third title on the season in Dubai. Meanwhile, Serbian Janko Tipsarevic will aim to find his game, a game he seems to have misplaced since losing to Marin Cilic in the Chennai Open semis.

Tennis Betting Line: Arnaud Clement +600 Marin Cilic -1200
First Set Line: Arnaud Clement +400 Marin Cilic -700

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time Tuesday February 23, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Marin Cilic is an impressive 15-1 on the season with two-titles in Chennai and Zagreb. Important highlights: an Australian Open semi-final appearance – his first-ever Grand Slam semi, and two top ten victories against Andy Roddick and Juan Martin Del Potro.

Arnaud Clement, interestingly owns a 2-1 edge lifetime over Cilic, and he started the season with a runner-up finish in Auckland, lost to Isner. Before tennis bettors are suckered by the seasoned veterans’ odds, keep in mind that since the impressive start, Clement has completely lost his game and boasts a four-match losing streak.

Cilic to win this match is hands down the only play in the market. Clement beating Cilic would be the biggest upset of the tournament, heck, of the season. I don’t think Clement has it in him.

Tennis Free Picks: Cilic in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Andreas Seppi +115 Janko Tipsarevic -155

First Set Line: Andreas Seppi +105 Janko Tipsarevic -145

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time Tuesday February 23, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: No.45 Seppi and No. 39 Tipsarevic roll into this matchup on a relatively tight market; Tipsarevic owns the 2-0 lifetime edge and the better ranking, so he is the bookies fave, offered at -155. Make sense? The market is however confounded by Tipsarevic’s lopsided season. He started with a semi-final finish in Chennai and followed up with a second round exit in Melbourne and back-to-back first round exits in Zagreb and Rotterdam. His negative trend was so concerning he entered a Challenger event in Belgrade to find his game. Found it he did, until he lost it in the semis to No.120 Karol Beck that is.

Seppi, is only six ranking points off Tipsarevic and his two losses to the Serbian were tight contests that could have gone either way. Listed at +115, Seppi is a curious underdog. His season has been moving along in an even way – a second round appearance his personal best on the season, which he has accomplished in four of five events. Seppi has been better at overcoming the first hurdle at an event than the second hurdle. His trend might continue in Dubai, especially considering Tipsarevic is off his game lately.

Tennis Free Picks: Seppi in three sets

Sign up HERE to start winning some cash today!