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Tennis tips

33-1 Nicolas Jarry offers better value indoors than Edmund

Impressive Chilean has the game to go deep in Antwerp draw

Nicolas Jarry on his way to defeating Marin Cilic in Shanghai last week
Nicolas Jarry on his way to defeating Marin Cilic in Shanghai last weekCredit: Lintao Zhang

Tournaments start Monday

ATP European Open
Top seed Kyle Edmund is 6-1 second favourite for the European Open but while the British number one could figure in Antwerp, one or two others offer better value.

A decent field has assembled in the week when the tour returns to Europe and Edmund’s lofty berth is a reward for his efforts in reaching the semi-finals in Beijing and quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters.

Diego Schwartzman is seeded second, title favourite Milos Raonic third and seasoned Frenchmen Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils are respectively the fourth, fifth and sixth best players competing in Belgium this week.

Respected American Frances Tiafoe is seeded seventh and there's a welcome return from injury for Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, but the one they may all have to beat is the increasingly impressive Nicolas Jarry.

Indoor courts tend to suit experienced players more but lofty, big-serving Chilean Jarry is such a mature performer that he could worry anyone if he passes a tough opening test against American Mackenzie McDonald.

Jarry, 23, fought back to upend Marin Cilic in Shanghai last week before Edmund had too much for him in the last 16. The penny is dropping for Edmund outdoors, but this indoor assignment may suit the Yorkshire­man less and it may be Jarry's turn to shine.

Recommendation
N Jarry
1pt each-way 33-1 Betfair, Paddy Power


ATP Kremlin Cup
Second seed Daniil Medvedev could take the beating in Moscow this week, but while the Russian has produced some of the best tennis of his career on the Far East swing in recent weeks he's not the most consistent of performers.

Nick Kyrgios travels to Russia and is clearly good enough to go all the way if in the mood. But the Aussie has become a liability for outright punters and it's difficult to have confidence in him.

Kyrgios meets Andrey Rublev, arguably the most talented of the Russian players, in his opener and with Rublev having played his best tennis since a back injury in recent weeks, there's hope that he could figure prominently in his home capital.

Should Rublev find a way past Kyrgios, compatriots Medvedev and Karen Khachanov would do well to respect him. The selection is due to take part in the Vienna qualifiers at the end of the week, but a decent display in Moscow could lead to a special exemption.

The top half of the draw is a minefield and even Evgeny Karlovskiy, the lowest-ranked player in the field before the qualifiers are added, could make his presence felt.

Recommendation
A Rublev
1pt 18-1 bet365


ATP Stockholm Open
Injury has prevented dual Stockholm Open champion Juan Martin del Potro from attempting a three-peat in Sweden and it may pay title backers not to look much further than the three top-ranked players, all of whom are in the running for ATP Finals berths in London next month.

John Isner, who has enjoyed a superb campaign, Fabio Fognini, in excellent touch in the Far East, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has shown he can keep tabs on many top stars, are the threesome.

There are some talented young­sters in Stock­holm – Hyeon Chung and Taylor Fritz (the pair meet in round one), Alex de Minaur and the Ymer brothers, for example.

But this event has been bossed by the top seeds in many of its stagings and Tsitsipas, who has taken Isner close in two previous meetings, may be the best option.

Recommendation
S Tsitsipas
1pt 7-1 Betfair, Paddy Power


WTA Kremlin Cup
The women's arm of the Kremlin Cup is the week's highest-quality event with seven of the WTA’s top 16 players vying for the crown including world number one Simona Halep.

The French Open champion could take plenty of stopping, but Halep has gone off the boil a little after a long, successful season and others appeal more in Moscow at the prices.

Lesia Tsurenko has achieved more in recent years after working on her fitness, but the Ukrainian is a talented performer in her own right. With experience on her side, she could trouble plenty of top players this week.

She opens against Daria Kasatkina, who has not been at her best in recent months, and can be chanced for an upset.

Elise Mertens will probably play in Russia but the Belgian sustained an arm injury in Tianjin and may not be fully fit.

In the bottom half of the draw, Anastasia Potapova may be good enough to surprise a number of opponents and can be chanced outright.

Recommendations
L Tsurenko
1pt each-way 66-1 bet365
A Potapova
1pt each-way 50-1 bet365


WTA Luxembourg Open
Julia Goerges and wild-card entry Garbine Muguruza are the big names in Luxembourg and both women could play major roles.

Dayana Yastremska, 18, gets a special exemption after her sterling performance in lifting the Hong Kong Open trophy, but this could be tougher for the Ukrainian.

Camila Giorgi will do well to back up her run to the Linz final, so there are opportunities for less-heralded players this week.

Sixth seed Donna Vekic faces a tough opener against Anna Schmiedlova, who was hitting the ball beautifully in Linz until she was pipped by Alison van Uytvanck, while Anna Blinkova, while talented, may not be quite as precocious a performer as Potapova.

Schmiedlova can definitely be considered at the prices, while Katerina Siniakova could also lay claim to the title this week.

The Czech, 22, does not have it easy from the outset, but Siniakova looks like being a serious force in the coming years and she may soon be up to defeating the likes of Johanna Larsson, Andrea Petkovic and Carla Suarez Navarro indoors.

Recommendation
A Schmiedlova
1pt each-way 50-1 Betfair, Paddy Power


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Adrian HumphriesRacing Post Sport

Published on 15 October 2018inTennis tips

Last updated 14:48, 15 October 2018

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