Melzer hasn't had much success since that win and is unseeded this year. He faces a tricky tie against Igor Sisjling in the opening round and it's hard to see him going very far this week. We should have a new champion this week and the top seed for the event is Croatian Marin Cilic. Cilic is on a six game winning streak after winning the title in Zagreb two weeks ago and will fancy his chances of winning a second title of the season here this week.
Another man looking to win a second title is Canadian Milos Raonic. Raonic was very impressive winning in San Jose and has always enjoyed this part of the year. The indoor courts provide him with a huge advantage because of his massive serve and ground strokes. Raonic has made steady improvements each year he's been on the tour and this year looks like the time for him to make his move into the top ten. To do so he will need to produce his best tennis on the big occasions, majors and masters 1000 events. He's been beaten in the final here for the last two years and will be hoping to go one better this week.
Tommy Haas is the second favourite for this event in my opinion. He played fantastic last week and against anyone else in the final he would have won. His serve was great all week and until the final he hadn't been broken. Raonic is a player who will always cause problems for the German but if he could get over the Canadian this week then I think he could win the title. He has always played well here and has won the titles three times (1999, 2006, 2007). No matter what happens it's clear that Haas won't fall away this season and will be looking to improve on his great 2012 season.
American John Isner lost out to Haas last week but I did like the way he was playing until then. Isner missed out on the Aussie Open with a knee injury and I don't think he's fully fit right now. These events will get him in shape for the upcoming Masters 1000 events. Once he starts firing like we know he can then I think he'll be back in the top ten again. I think another semi final appearance is on the cards this week but can he beat an in form Raonic? Or gain revenge on Haas? I don't think so. Not just yet.
2010 champion Sam Querrey would love to be back playing the way he was when he won this title. Injuries have played their part in stopping the Americans progress but there were signs last year, mainly at Wimbledon, that he could return to his best. He hasn't been good this year and I really do worry he might be set for a slide down the rankings. A good run this week might be ease my worries. Kei Nishikori's career has stalled somewhat in the past year. He looked set for a charge at the top ten but it hasn't materialised. I hope he can get back to his best because he is a really exciting prospect on the tour.
Not surprisingly the bookies make Milos Raonic the favourite this week at 11/4. They place Cilic as second favourite at 5/1 which is good value because he is in the easier half of the draw and is playing well. Nishikori is too unreliable to confidently back him but 7/1 is great value as he is also in the easier half. If you fancy Haas to get past Raonic then 10/1 is a very generous price. Aleksandr Dolgopolov hasn't been at his best but he can't be ruled out at 12/1, and neither can Fernando Verdasco at 18/1. Cilic might be a safer bet but indoors it's hard to look past Raonic. I fancy him to finally get his hands on this trophy and at 11/4 there is plenty of value in him.
No comments:
Post a Comment