WIMBLEDON continues on Saturday. Here tennis analyst Gavin Mair (@gavinnightmair) shares his favourite fancies from Day 6 at SW19.
Wimbledon | Day 5 Recap
Friday had its moments as we scored a couple of winners, and were unlucky not to land another few.
Naomi Osaka comfortably covered the games handicap but came up short of taking a set against Venus Williams, who was spared from falling behind by Osaka’s inexperience at closing out the first set tie break.
Aljaz Bedene was a competitive underdog but he served badly at the business end of the first couple of sets and was punished for his complacency by the steadier Muller.
Dominika Cibulkova led 5/1 in the first set but was pegged back by the powerful Ana Konjuh. The young Croatian was inconsistent and dropped the second set but when her game was working it was too much for Cibulkova gaining us a winner a here.
The most frustrating loss for us today came from Camila Giorgi. The Italian served for both sets but lacked the composure to back up the good work she had done to get into that position.
Milos Raonic v Albert Ramos-Vinolas | Saturday 13:00 | BBC
Last season Milos Raonic made it to the final of Wimbledon in an almost robotic fashion. The Canadian served bombs and was mentally tough on almost every occasion his mettle was tested.
He is not so secure this year, and looked unconvincing in his 2nd Round victory over the ageing Mikhail Youzhny in the last round.
You know what you are getting from Albert Ramos – a lot of tennis balls back on your side of the court and a tireless effort for the duration of the match.
The Spaniard will likely fall short over the course of five sets but he can make Raonic have an uncomfortable ride for his 1/9 start price. He is rarely disgraced, and he should take a set from the overrated Canadian.
Back Ramos-Vinolas +2.5 sets at 23/17 (10Bet).
Tomas Berdych v David Ferrer | Saturday 16:00 | BBC
Tomas Berdych is another that continues to be unconvincing and he finds David Ferrer in far from compliant mood.
The Spaniard upset Richard Gasquet in Round 1 by doing what he does best – making flaky opponents work hard and play a lot of tennis that they don’t want to play.
Ferrer is rested after playing only three games in the last round, and ready for another battle with an old foe.
The pair met for the first time in 2004, and over the past 13 years Ferrer has developed a W9-L7 head-to-head supremacy. Berdych has won the last two encounters but at the start of last year he still looked capable of playing at a decent level.
Whilst Ferrer’s ranking is the most obvious indicator of his decline, the number 11 that is bracketed next to Berdych’s name masks the fact that he is also on a downward trend.
This is set to be a much more competitive match than the oddsmakers would have you believe. Ferrer at 4/1 is too big a price to ignore.
Take him at 43/10 to win with Marathon, and also consider covering your bet by backing Ferrer to cover the +1.5 set handicap at 2/1 with Sportingbet.
Best Bets
Milos Raonic v Albert Ramos-Vinolas – Albert Ramos-Vinolas +2.5 sets (23/17 10BET)
Tomas Berdych v David Ferrer – David Ferrer to win (43/10 Marathon)
Tomas Berdych v David Ferrer – David Ferrer +1.5 sets (2/1 Sportingbet)
