Federico Delbonis could show there's a lot left in the tank

Start Sunday

ATP Lyon Open
Natural clay-court talents from Spain and Argentina regularly bounce back to title-winning form in lesser main-tour events and Federico Delbonis has been handed the chance to do that in the Lyon Open.

Delbonis is a fine player on most terrain at his best, but he was slow to mature on hard courts. It was a different story on clay, however.

The Argentinian helped his country to win their only Davis Cup in 2016. Juan Martin del Potro took the plaudits for his performance in the final, but in earlier rounds Delbonis was a rock for his country.

Delbonis looks likely to be second seed John Isner's first opponent in Lyon, but the selection may also need to find a way past Gael Monfils, so if he wants to take the title he will have to do it the hard way.

Dominic Thiem is the top seed and while the Austrian could have done with a break before the French Open, which starts next Sunday, we can only presume the world number eight is keen to win the tournament in Lyon.

Delbonis's compatriot Nicolas Kicker could also figure, while Frenchman Adrian Mannarino and American Taylor Fritz may also enter calculations.

Recommendation
F Delbonis
1pt each-way 14-1 bet365

WTA Strasbourg International
The usual raft of qualifying and lucky-loser berths in the main draw make outright punting difficult on the Strasbourg International and bookmakers should appreciate the more random nature of this event.

Fortunately there are some decent players who are already in the draw by virtue of their higher rank and seeds Ashleigh Barty, Daria Gavrilova, Dominika Cibul­kova and Danielle Collins could all go well.

However, slight preference is for Mihaela Buzarnescu. The Romanian fourth seed is in the easiest-looking quarter of the draw and should make the semis at least unless Lucie Safarova returns to form with a bang.

Recommendation
M Buzarnescu
1pt 16-1 general

WTA Nuremberg Cup
Sloane Stephens is the top seed in Nuremberg but she could be worth taking on at the available odds.

Kiki Bertens could go close to retaining the title but may have to toil against Alison van Uyt­vanck, so Julia Goerges may be the wiser option.

Recommendation
J Goerges
1pt 11-2 bet365

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