ATP Shenzhen / Chengdu: 2nd Round (Thur)

ATP Shenzhen Feature Previews

Alexander Zverev v Steve DarcisIt has been some year for Zverev and he will look to make one last charge in the closing months of the season. He has had a lot of time to reflect on the year and his disappointing loss in the 2nd round of the US Open. His losses have been few and far between this season but Darcis is one of the select few that has been able to claim his scalp, doing so in a Davis Cup battle back in February. Zverev will be slow out of the blocks and with Darcis having notched a win already this week the start looks a big one. Zverev will get over the line but Darcis will make it hard for him.
Best Bet: Darcis +5.5 ($1.70)

Lukas Lacko v Damir DzumhurDzumhur continues to deliver for us and The Wolf says we will continue to back him. He has been playing outstanding tennis, in particularly in his return games. He has generated at least 4 breaks of serve in each of his last 9 matches on tour and The Wolf is predicted just as many against Lacko. Dzumhur has win in excess of 32% of 1st serve return points and that number should be closer to 40% against Lacko – a man who does not possess a dominant serve. Dzumhur at the line!
Best Bet: Dzumhur -3.5 ($2.00)

ATP Chengdu Feature Previews

Marcos Baghdatis v Peter GojowczykThe Wolf couldn’t figure out how Gojowczyk started outsider yesterday and he is again close to even money! Gojowczyk has won 15 of the last 16 sets he has contested and is playing lights out. He is winning in excess of 80% of first serve points over the last fortnight and when you are making 60% or more of 1st serves you are completely shutting the door on your opponents. Baghdatis will go through high and low points throughout this match and the lows will really hurt him. His best tennis at present will be borderline enough to stay with Gojowczyk and if he dips just one level he is all but gone. Gojowczyk to continue on his winning ways.
Best Bet: Gojowczyk WIN ($1.80)

Dominic Thiem v Guido PellaStatistically there is a massive discrepancy between Thiem’s game on clay and hard courts. He is 22-5 on clay this year compared to 22-15 on all other surfaces! He has losses to names such as Coric, Herbert. Basilashvili and Evans on hard courts this year and Pella may very well be added to that list. You can sit 5 metres behind the baseline on clay but you get punihsed for doing so on faster surfaces. We constantly see Thiem hit his backhand off the back foot and until he steps into it he will continue to struggle on this surface.
Best Bet: Pella +3.5 ($2.00)