Tennis Picks August 10th (Toronto and Montreal)

It was a frustrating day for all those that were waiting patiently for the Masters tournament in Toronto to have play, any kind of play, and it ended with a couple of doubles matches being played on an indoor court.

That means plenty of the players left in the draw are due to put in a double shift in the office today, although the weather forecast is calling for another rain-filled day (in fact the next three days looks tough to get any action on the court).

With Cincinnati's Masters Event starting on Monday, there is going to be some pressure on the organisers here to get the matches completed and I would not be surprised if they decide to move the Singles matches indoors as well as they do have access to at least two courts. There is no way they can allow this tournament to extend into next week, but the weather isn't showing any signs of breaking enough to allow play to be completed.

Speaking of Cincinnati, Rafael Nadal has revealed that he will not be taking part at the tournament despite Toni Nadal saying he did expect his nephew to be back in action at the second Masters of the North American hard court swing.

His absence does make his participation in the US Open uncertain and, further to that, the rest of the season might now see Nadal take a leave of absence in a bid to get ready for the 2013 season.

It also, once again, raises real questions about the Spaniard's knees and whether he has much time left at the top of the Men's game with his grinding out style meaning he is working much harder on his body than someone like Roger Federer.

First things first though, let's see how Nadal gets on with his recovery and whether he makes it back to Flushing Meadows having reached the Final in New York in each of the last two seasons.


Sam Stosur - 3.5 games v Lucie Safarova: I am going to take Sam Stosur to win her Third Round match against Lucie Safarova today and I think the Australian will take the match in straight sets to cover this spread on offer.

Stosur didn't play that well during the grass court season, but she has historically struggled on the surface (a surprise considering the serve she possesses) and she should be much more in tune with the North American hard courts having won the US Open last season as well as reaching the Final when this event was held in Toronto in 2011.

The added advantage for Stosur is she is facing Safarova who has been in very poor form recently and has been struggling for any kind of consistency this season.

Safarova does hold the 3-2 head to head edge, but she has lost the last two meetings against Stosur, both on the hard courts and that includes a 6-1, 6-7, 6-1 loss earlier this season in Dubai.


Na Li - 2.5 games v Sara Errani: It has been a great season for Sara Errani as she has already recorded 43 wins on the Main Tour as well as reaching the Final at the French Open and she was also a Quarter Finalist at the Australian Open.

However, she is 3-8 in matches played on the hard courts of North America since the beginning of 2011, including two early losses in Indian Wells and Miami and the extra bounce on these courts makes it a little easier for her opponents to take advantage and hit through the Italian.

Na Li is one of those players that can do that as shown by her 4-0 head to head against Errani, winning the last eight sets, and that includes 2 wins on the hard courts.

The Chinese player does have a 30-11 record in 2012, but she hasn't reached the heights of winning the French Open in 2011. She has been very consistent and clearly favours the hard courts having compiled a 17-4 record so far, including reaching the last eight at both Indian Wells and Miami.

Li didn't have the easiest match in the Second Round against the young Canadian Eugenie Bouchard (who has big things expected of her), but that should have her ready for the conditions here and I think she will be a little too strong for Errani in this one and keep the Indian Sign over the Italian's head.


MY PICKS: Marin Cilic @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units) Advised yesterday and rain delayed
Tomas Berdych - 2.5 games @ 1.83 Ladbrokes (2 Units) Advised yesterday and rain delayed
Sam Stosur - 3.5 games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Na Li - 2.5 games @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 3-5, - 4.64 Units (14 Units Staked)