Sam Querrey and Fernando Gonzalez go head-to-head in Acapulco

Acapulco, Mexico – Sam Querrey and Fernando Gonzalez are gearing up for a big clash in the first round of the Abierto Mexicana tonight. At least some would have their clash big. If you ask me, I don’t think it will live up to the hype.

Gonzalez is a threat wherever he goes (so all good there) but Sam Querrey has been elevated in the market esteem only recently after winning the Memphis title on the weekend. Minor detail though, Memphis is a hard court event, a surface he is his best self on. Acapulco however is a clay court event. I am sure you noticed that these are two different surfaces entirely. More importantly, clay favours Gonzalez; Querrey not so much.

In fact, think Querrey will be at such a disadvantage, that Gonzalez will make to look quite average on the red stuff, so much so that Acapulco fans might be left wondering what all that hype was for.

Tennis Betting Line:

Sam Querrey +4 -110 +350 21 O -135 U -105
Fernando Gonzalez -4 -130 -600 21 O -135 U -105

First Set Line: Sam Querrey +250 Fernando Gonzalez -400

Match Time:10:00 PM Eastern Time Tuesday February 23, 2010

Tennis Betting Verdict: Fernando Gonzalez is a solid favourite to win outright at -600. Recommending the Chilean superstar Gonzalez on the money line is his ranking, at No.12, and his form on the season, which is at 6-2 mark and includes a semi-final finish in Santiago two weeks ago. Oh, there is also the matter of a small 1-0 edge over Querrey but that is out-of-date as it was earned in 2006 in Indianapolis when Querrey was very much a greenhorn.

The most important edge Gonzalez has over Querrey however, surface edge is. Gonzalez is tough to beat on clay, especially when his forehand is working and he is firing winners from all sides of the court, running around his backhand just to tee-off on his forehand side.

Querrey had an impressive week in Memphis and won the title over his friend John Isner, who incidentally is also competing in Acapulco. Whereas I would buy Querrey on a hard court, I wouldn’t invest in him on a clay court. I just can’t buy what he is selling yet. He has a long way to go before he can be called an all-surface player.

Tennis Free Picks: As such, Gonzalez to win at -600 is the best play as well as to take the first set at -400. I also expect a relatively one-sided contest so I would recommend Gonzalez on the spread at -4 -130 and the Under 21 -105.

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