Tennis
2010-01-22 - Andy Roddick vs Feliciano Lopez
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Tennis: Australia, Australian Open Men 2010
Thursday 22nd January 2010 - Start 01:15
Preview
Andy Roddick is quietly and effectively making his way through the tournament, winning both matches so far in straight sets and never being in any trouble in those matches. It suits the American that all the focus is on other players and he has been helped with the exit of Tomas Berdych as well as seeing Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro come through gruelling 5 set matches.
Roddick has now won 7 straight matches this season and has won 16 of 17 sets that he has competed in, a feat that should fill him with confidence as we start entering the business end of the tournament. His big serve and forehand is very effective on this surface while his improved backhand and volleying makes it harder for the lower ranked players to expose any weaknesses.
Feliciano Lopez moved through the first 2 rounds for the loss of just 1 set but the World Number 46 has been falling down the rankings last season.
Lopez was 5-8 last season on the hard courts, his 3rd losing season in the last 4. Much of that success came in Shangai where he reached the Semi Final before falling to compatriot Rafael Nadal and he was 1-7 on the hard courts in all other tournaments. He was a 1st round loser at both the Australian and the US Open so his 3rd round appearance this year will move him back up the rankings.
The Spaniard played in a tournament in Sydney this year to get into shape for this tournament but he was a first round loser there to Richard Gasquet.
The previous best for Feliciano Lopez here in Australia is the 3rd round.
Head to Head
Andy Roddick has won all 5 meetings with Feliciano Lopez, with 4 of those matches coming on hard courts.
The last meeting between them was 2 years ago but Roddick should be full of confidence of winning this match as he has won 10 of the 11 sets these 2 have played in.
Prediction
Andy Roddick has all the tools to be an effective hard courts and has fashioned most of his success on those, the pinnacle being the Grand Slam win in the US Open. I think there is still a fire burning inside of A-Rod who feels that he should have won more Grand Slams in his career.
Feliciano Lopez has started to wind down as a real competitive player although it is still possible that he can put his game together for short period of time to make runs in some tournaments. He has struggled on the hard courts last season and has been fortunate with the draw so far this year. He has a big lefty serve, but will be under pressure as his return game is not his best feature and he will find it hard to break Roddick here.
I see Andy Roddick coming through in straight sets here with relative ease. Andy Roddick win 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
The Pick :
Andy Roddick 7-5, 6-2, 6-4
BEST BETTING TIP :
Andy Roddick WIN
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Andy Roddick -6 games @ 1.80
