Tennis Picks April 24th

We have a few tournaments running in Barcelona, Bucharest and Stuttgart this week, with the event at Barcelona being one of the ATP 500 Events, one that has attracted some big names like Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray.

I didn't get involved in the outright markets this week as Rafael Nadal is understandably a short priced favourite in Barcelona and I think there are some real doubts over which players are just going to be using this as a glorified training session.

I will make a few picks where I think I have found some value as there are definitely some bigger events coming up over the next month.


Frederico Gil v Marcel Granollers: I am taking the underdog in this match as I want to oppose Marcel Granollers who has started the season with a 4-7 record and is only 2-2 on a clay court.

Granollers has also never got past the Second Round at the event in Barcelona and he has been beaten in his first match on four occasions.

Frederico Gil hasn't had the best start to the season, but he plays his best stuff usually on a clay court and he also holds a 4-1 head to head record against Granollers, including a 3-0 record on a clay court.

Gil does not have the biggest game, but his consistency could cause problems for Granollers, particularly if his confidence is low and I think this will be worth chancing.


Victor Hanescu - 3 games v Rui Machado: Rui Machado did reach the Final of a Challenger event on the clay courts of Rome last week, but he had lost all 9 matches he had played in the 2012 season before that tournament.

Victor Hanescu didn't have a great 2011 season and his 2012 season has not exactly been stellar so far, but his most favourable results have come on the clay courts in that time and I think he still has too big a game for his Portuguese opponent.

I think Hanescu will have it a little easier on his own service games and that should give him the edge to come through with a little bit of room to spare and cover this spread.


MY PICKS: Frederico Gil @ 2.75 Pinnacle (1 Unit) Playing at Barcelona
Victor Hanescu - 3 Games @ 1.83 Pinnacle (2 Units) Playing in Barcelona