Open 13 Tennis Betting Picks: Monfils eyes quarterfinals

Marseille, France – Home favourite Gael Monfils is set to bid for a spot in the Open 13 quarterfinals. He will be hoping to join compatriots Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Michael Llodra, who already booked their passage into the final eight on Wednesday. Standing in Monfils way is Andreas Seppi of Italy who already dashed French hopes once by taking out veteran Frenchman Arnaud Clement.

Elsewhere, lucky loser Illya Marchenko will look to bank on his second chance into the main draw and extend his winning streak at the expense of Olivier Rochus.

Tennis Betting Line: Olivier Rochus -150 Illya Marchenko +110

First Set Line: Olivier Rochus -140 Illya Marchenko Ev

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday February 18, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Belgian Olivier Rochus recorded his 200th career win when he beat Gilles Simon of France to advance into the second round. That he reached the milestone upsetting a tournament favourite in fifth seed Simon makes the win even that much more special to him I am sure. It certainly has been taken notice of in the market as he enters his second round encounter against Illya Marchenko as the favourite at -150.

The favourite cast is in tune to his better ranking, which is at No.58 compared to Marchenko’s No.88, but it goes against his form on the season. Rochus arrived in the negative on the season at 2-5. Heck, even his opening victory doesn’t put him in the positive nor does it suggest he has hit a fine run of form. We are yet to see whether he can make it count.

By contrast, Marchenko arrived 3-2 on the season. Whereas Marchenko is in the positive on the season, he does lack in overall ATP experience, especially at this level – a match away from a quarterfinal. He did make it into the Zagreb quarters for the first time early this month. However, a one-time quarterfinal is hardly a screaming recommendation, which would probably be why he is the underdog in this match. However, he is only listed at +110 odds – a rather fair price and indicative of a perceived ability to potentially vex, if not upset Rochus. If I were playing with house money, I would risk it on Marchenko.

Tennis Betting Line: Andreas Seppi +275 Gael Monfils -450

First Set Line: Andreas Seppi +225 Gael Monfils -350

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday February 18, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Gael Monfils is looking to make a quarterfinal appointment in Marseille at the expense of Andreas Seppi. The market favours him to do so with encouraging odds of -450; the market also favours him to take the first set with equally encouraging odds of -350.

Monfils just edges Seppi in head-to-heads 1-0 having beaten the Italian in 2007 in Doha 6-3, 6-4. They also met at the Challenger circuit and Monfils took that victory 6-3, 1-6, 6-1.

I cannot imagine anyone betting against Monfils when he has all the on paper edge over Seppi to suggest the match is on his racquet. Seppi might try to back up his win over Clement yesterday with a credible performance but I think Monfils will prove to be too much for him.

If you enjoyed this article then get full access to all our other features plus a 50% bonus when you sign up with us by clicking on this link