The ATP tennis lines are out and the tournaments continue as we lead to the Australian Open.
Twelve matches are set for this evening, and the time has come to see where we can squeeze some funds out of the sportsbooks.
First, let’s put up the ATP Tennis lines, and see who is taking the court.
ATP – APIA INTERNATIONAL @ SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
T GABASHVILI +3-117
vs
L MAYER -3-103
O/U 22.5
N MAHUT +2-115
vs
A MANNARINO -2-105
O/U 22.5
A DOLGOPOLOV -3.5 -102
vs
T BELLUCCI +3.5 -118
O/U 22.5
J CHARDY -1.5 -116
vs
M KUKUSHKIN +1.5 -104
O/U 22.5
I CERVANTES +2.5 -107
vs
J DUCKWORTH -2.5 -113
O/U 22.5
B CORIC +2-115
vs
G MULLER -2-105
O/U 23.5
_____________________
ATP – ASB CLASSIC @ AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
L ROSOL +2-110
vs
G GARCIA LOPEZ -2-110
O/U 22.5
M VENUS +5-115
vs
B PAIRE -5-105
O/U 20
R BAUTISTA-AGUT -3.5 -103
vs
J VESELY +3.5 -117
O/U 22.5
A BEDENE +1.5 -107
vs
S QUERREY -1.5 -113
O/U 23
F FOGNINI -1.5 +105
vs
J SOUSA +1.5 -125
O/U 22
P KOHLSCHREIBER -4-105
vs
B BECKER +4-115
O/U 22
_______________________
We see six contests on the board for the Apia International, and six for the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.
I actually want to start with the last match listed, because I think the line setters are showing a bit too much respect towards Kohlschriber and not enough to Becker.
These two last met in Vienna during the 2014 season, and Kohlschriber took a straight set victory, although it wasn’t as clean and easy as a two-set victory may sound. With a 6 – 4 first round and a 7 – 6 tie-breaker to finish the match, I imagine that Becker will be looking to exact some revenge for the loss. Also, Kohlschriber has not played an event on tour as of yet, this being his first tournament of 2016 to prep for the Major on deck.
I think Becker is going to make a game of it and give Kohlschriber a battle, so this +4 to me seems worthy of some action, so let’s put that in to start the article.
Play 1: Kohlschriber vs Becker ~ Becker +4 Handicap @ -115
Anyone out here want to explain to me why Sammy Querrey is favored? Because he is American? Querrey does not impress me at all and he finished 2015 as a complete mess.
I am not even going to bother overanalyzing this match, because I simply do not believe that Querrey is going to take out Bedene. At +115, why bother with a +1.5 when we can just go ahead and grab Bedene to take out Querrey?
2nd Play: Bedene vs Querrey ~ Bedene ML @ +115
Staying in New Zealand, Fognini and Sousa are going to be getting into an epic match, in my opinion. I see the two going back and forth in a 3-set thriller that comes down to someone simply making a costly mistake at the wrong time that will eventually cost someone the match late.
The two met twice last season and split wins, although Fognini holds a 2 – 1 overall edge with his win over Sousa in 2014.
Even though no one really wants to expend a ton of energy before a Major, these two will likely hit this total, and that is hopefully what we see.
Play 3: Fognini vs Sousa ~ Over 22 @ -115
Okay, lets scootch over to the Apia International and dish out a couple of plays in Australia.
Is 22.5 supposed to make anyone think that is an intimidating number to expect in the Gabashvili vs Mayer match?
Gabashvili already got his revenge on Mayer for being knocked out of the French Open in 2014, with his win last year at Basel late in the season, and I am hoping that the two of them once again have some fun with each other on this night.
4th Play: Gabashvili vs Mayer ~ Over 22.5 @ -115
The Bellucci vs Dolgopolov match has me intrigued , simply because Bellucci only got to play one match in Brisbane, and he really needs to have a bit of a better showing before the first Major comes next week.
The two of them got into a nice tussle in Miami last year, despite the two-set victory for Dolgopolov. 7 – 5 and 6 – 4.
I like this +3.5 offer we are seeing towards Bellucci, because I believe we will see a nice bit of back-and-forth action. Both can hold serve, and as we know, the one or two breaks that we will see will be what determines the winner of this contest.
I believe that Bellucci can win this somehow, but I think I will offer both the total and the handicap on this match.
5th and 6th Plays: Bellucci vs Dolgopolov ~ Over 22 @ -115 and +3.5 HC on Bellucci @ -115
Let’s grab one more to make it seven.
Jeremy Chardy and Mikhail Kukushkin make for another interesting match and, obviously, we know Kukushkin had to get through qualifying to get here, and Chardy comes in favored at -135 ML.
I see this as a nice little contest that will provide the crowd with some entertainment value, so the Over 22.5 at -115 seems worth a play to me just because I expect the two to want to progress a little deeper here to prep for the Aussie Open.
I see a three-setter here, and the line setters do as well, with a -215 on the +1.5 set line. There is no room for that type of play to serious bettors out here, so let’s hope they are right in juicing that set handicap, as it pertains to the total.
Play 7: Chardy vs Kukushkin ~ Over 22.5 @ -110
Enjoy the action on the court, and we will see you next time!
