These are being played on grass which seems a strange choice when they’re trying to be ready for the tour to get going on hard courts. I’m sure they know what they’re doing.
EXHIBITION = REDUCED STAKES
ATP
Bautista Agut (1.66) v Struff (2.4)
Due to start at 11 am
Bautista Agut leads their previous matches 3-1. Their most recent meeting was in February this year on a hard court in Dubai. Struff won in 2 very tight sets.Their only grass match was in Halle, Germany in June 2018. All Bautista Agut’s wins were in straight sets.
Overall results favour Bautista Agut in the last 12 months and also in 2020. Struff has a poor record on grass. Bautista Agut has won 35 of his last 50 on this surface. He reached the semi finals at Wimbledon.
Struff served well on clay last week but his return game wasn’t great. Grass isn’t going to improve that situation.
Back Bautista Agut around 1.85 to 1.95.
WTA
Sevastova (2.5) v Goerges (1.5)
Due to start at 1 pm
Goerges leads their previous matches 5-4. Their last match was in August 2018 in Canada. Sevastova won on a hard court in 2 sets. They have met once on grass. That was in Mallorca in June 2017. Sevastova took that one in 3 sets. Only 2 of their matches went to a deciding set.
Their 12 month results slightly favour Goerges. Sevastova has been poor in 2020 winning just 1 from 7.
Both players have not placed since Doha in February.
It could be an untidy match. Goerges reached the final on grass in Birmingham last season. She lost to Serena Williams in the third round at Wimbledon.
Sevastova made the semi finals in Mallorca where Kenin beat her in 3 sets. She lost to Danielle Collins in the second round at Wimbledon.
I favour Goerges for this one but it could be close with a few price swings. Back her around 1.80 or wait for her to be broken before backing her.
ATP
Haas (4.1) v Sinner (1.22)
Due to start around 3 pm
This will be their first meeting which isn’t really a surprise as Tommy Haas has not played for 3 years.
Sinner has not played a match during the pandemic.
Haas’ were around 10 years ago. He reached the semi finals at Wimbledon in 2009 and the fourth round in 2013. He beat Roger Federer to win the title in Halle on grass in 2012. He is likely to be drastically out of shape.
Sinner is a very promising young player. He had a very strong season in 2019 though most of his best results were in Challenger tournaments. He has only played 5 matches on grass as a pro. He won 2 of them.
We could try a small lay on Sinner around 1.15. However if a fat old man walks onto court claiming to be Tommy Haas I wouldn’t bother.
WTA
Kvitova (1.22) v Petkovic (4)
Due to start at 5 pm
Petkovic leads their previous matches 6-5. They last met at the US Open last year. Petkovic won on a hard court in 2 sets. They have only met once on grass which was in Hertogenbosch, Netherlands in 2010 and Petkovic won in straight sets. Their only 3 set match was at the Australian Open in 2018.
Kvitova has stronger results in the last 12 months. She has had an excellent 2020 so far winning 15 of her 20 matches. Petkovic retired from her last match which was in Luxembourg in October.
Kvitova played a hard court exhibition event in May beating Muchova, Siniakova and Krejcikova in straight sets. Two weeks ago she played another exhibition but seemed to be struggling with injury. She lost to Vondrousova 6-4, 6-1.
It is very hard to know what shape Petkovic is in and we are not certain that Kvitova is fit. Happy days!! As Kvitova has performed well already during the lockdown I am thinking that her problem against Vondrousova was nothing serious.
Kvitova’s price at the start certainly isn’t one I will be taking. We could try a small lay around 1.15 and remove liability at 1.30 or we can wait to see if Kvitova loses set 1 before backing her.
