Yuichi Sugita could benefit from calmer prep for Masters

ATP Madrid
Sky Sports Arena, 11am & 7pm Monday
WTA Madrid
BT Sport 2, 11am

Philipp Kohlschreiber took no prisoners in his beloved Munich Open last week, but it may be a different story in the Madrid Open.

The seasoned German is a fine player who has been enjoying a pretty decent campaign. But a busy schedule in Bavaria, where he contested the final against Alexander Zverev on Sunday, may not aid his cause against Yuichi Sugita.

The Japanese 29-year-old, a 7-6 7-6 loser to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in Barcelona two weeks ago, knows his way around a clay court and Sugita, whose preparation for the Masters Series 1,000 tournament in the Spanish capital could be more settled than Kohli's, may be worth an interest on total-games handicaps.

Most oddsmakers afford Sugita a start of 4.5 games, for which he is an even-money shot. That can be considered, but the 4-7 that Coral and Ladbrokes are quoting about the outsider with a start of 5.5 may be a safer proposition.

In the all-French clash between Lucas Pouille and Benoit Paire, Pouille should oblige but Paire is producing the odd magical performance so punters should be cautious.

In the women's action, Lara Arruabarrena is playing well this season and the Spaniard could be fired up on her homeland clay for her clash with Julia Goerges.

But the German, who is having one of the best seasons of her career, is playing on her favourite surface so will probably be tough to beat.

Recommendation
Y Sugita +5.5 games
1pt 4-7 Coral, Ladbrokes

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