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Time looks right to side with improving Khachanov

Russian starlet at home on clay

Karen Khachanov thrives on clay
Karen Khachanov thrives on clayCredit: Adam Pretty

ATP German Championship
Sky Sports Arena & Main Event, 10am Monday
The German Championship has an open look to it with Albert Ramos-Vinolas and Philipp Kohlschreiber at the head of the betting but neither man is in decent form and they should be opposed.

There are a number of strong clay-court players in the Hamburg field and Kohlschreiber faces a tough opener against Umag finalist Andrey Rublev, so the home hope may not even make it past the first round.

Fiery Frenchman Benoit Paire would have a chance if he brings his A-game but that is seldom the case with the 28-year-old, while second seed Pablo Cuevas will be tested in his opener against Andrey Kuznetsov.

Kuznetsov’s compatiot Karen Khachanov is making progress and the 21-year-old looks worthy of support.

Khachanov played well at the French Open before finding Andy Murray too strong but he possesses a powerful game and counts clay as his best surface.

He is likely to meet Bastad champion David Ferrer in the quarter-finals but the Spanish veteran may struggle to put together strong back-to-back performances at the age of 35.

Recommendation
K Khachanov
1pt each-way 16-1 Coral

ATP Swiss Open Gstaad
David Goffin returned from injury in Croatia last week but the Belgian crashed out in the quarter-finals against Ivan Dodig when long odds-on and he could be worth taking on in Gstaad.

The Belgian was not up to speed on his comeback and his coach believes he will need time to regain confidence in his movement – one of Goffin’s greatest attributes – after his freak French Open ankle injury.

Roberto Bautista Agut looks an obvious alternative to Goffin.

The Spaniard exited Wimbledon at the hands of Marin Cilic and he will appreciate a return to clay. He has a decent draw but that is factored into his price and punters can instead consider backing Fabio Fognini.

The enigmatic Italian captured three of his four ATP Tour titles in July and clearly targets smaller tournaments between the grass season and the North American hard-court season.

Recommendation
F Fognini
1pt 8-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

ATP Atlanta Open
Jack Sock and John Isner top the bill in Atlanta and the American pair look likely contenders in opposite sides of the draw.

This is only Sock’s second tournament since the French Open. He crashed out in the first round at Roland Garros and then made it to round two at Wimbledon.

He’s hard to trust at present and three-time champion Isner looks a more sensible option.

He does most of his winning at this time of the year while the big guns keep their powder dry for the more prestigious events on the autumn schedule.

Isner’s biggest challenge could come from Gilles Muller.

Muller conquered Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon and won the Sydney International title on a hard court at the beginning of the year but Isner is taken to record the victory on a court where he has been hugely successful.

Recommendation
J Isner
2pts 7-2 Betfair

WTA Ericsson Open
BT Sport 1, 2pm Monday
Caroline Wozniacki is the top seed in Bastad and the Danish world number seven should be backed to claim a 26th WTA Tour title given her favourable draw.

Injuries held back Wozniacki for much of 2016 but she has been back to her consistent best this year, despite failing to win any of the four finals she has contested.

She has been beaten by Karolina Pliskova (twice), Elina Svitolina and Johanna Konta but there is nobody of that class in the draw this week.

While clay isn’t her favourite surface, Wozniacki proved she can handle it by making the quarter-finals at Roland Garros. She is worth backing to take the title.

Recommendation
C Wozniacki
1pt 5-1 bet365

WTA Jiangxi Open
The WTA Jiangxi Open starts in the early hours of Monday morning with several home hopes holding chances, notably Shuai Peng and Qiang Wang.

Kristyna Pliskova will hotfoot it to China after she contested the final of an ITF event in the Czech Republic but she will struggle to acclimatise in time.

That could open up the draw for Jelena Jankovic and the 2015 champion, who is aiming to bounce back to form, could show her class in a part of the world where she tends to perform.

Recommendation
J Jankovic
1pt 10-1 bet365, Ladbrokes


The lowdown

ATP German Championship
Venue Rothenbaum Club, Hamburg, Germany

Prize money €1,499,940 (€323,145 to winner)

Ranking points to winner 500

Surface Outdoor red clay (centre-court roof closeable)

Ball Tretorn Series +

When to bet Starts 10am Monday

Where to watch Daily live coverage on Sky Sports

Weather forecast Showers forecast for most of the week, High 24C

Time difference One hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

ATP J Safra Sarasin Swiss Open Gstaad
Venue Roy Emerson Arena, Gstaad, Switzerland

Prize money €540,310 (€85,945 to winner)

Ranking points to winner 250

Surface Outdoor red clay

Ball Tecnifibre X-One

When to bet Starts 9.30am Monday

Weather forecast Rain likely for opening three days. High 28C

Time difference One hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

ATP Atlanta Open
Venue Atlantic Station, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Prize money $720,410 ($114,595 to winner)

Ranking points to winner 250

Surface Outdoor DecoTurf hardcourts

Ball Wilson Extra Duty

When to bet Starts 4pm Monday

Where to watch Live coverage on Eurosport from Friday

Weather forecast Showers forecast all week. High 32C

Time difference Five hours behind the UK and Ireland

WTA Ericsson Open
Venue Bastad Tennisstadion, Sweden

Prize money $250,000 ($43,000 to winner)

Category International (280 ranking points to winner)

Surface Outdoor red clay

Ball Tretorn

When to bet Main-draw action starts 2pm Monday

Where to watch Daily live coverage on BT Sport

Weather forecast Showers likely for most of the week. High 19C

Time difference One hour ahead of the UK and Ireland

WTA Jiangxi Open
Venue Nanchang, Jiangxi, China

Prize money $226,750 ($43,000 to winner)

Category International (280 ranking points to winner)

Surface Outdoor DecoTurf hardcourts

When to bet Starts 10am Monday

Where to watch Live coverage on BT Sport from Tuesday

Weather forecast Sunny and hot all week. High 41C

Time difference Seven hours ahead of the UK and Ireland

Joe ChampionRacing Post Sport

Published on 23 July 2017inTennis tips

Last updated 12:50, 29 July 2017

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