Tennis Picks August 14th (Cincinnati)

It was a fairly windy day at times in Cincinnati yesterday, but it looks much better conditions for tennis today as we move into the Second Round for some of the players.

The big names in the Women's event will begin today as Serena Williams, Sam Stosur and Petra Kvitova (coming off her win in Montreal yesterday), although the likes of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray will not begin their week until tomorrow.

The picks went 1-1 for a small profit yesterday, but hopefully that will be the start of a productive week.


Tommy Haas - 3.5 games v David Nalbandian: This is the second week in a row that these two veteran players will be meeting and you have to like Tommy Haas' chances to make it 5 wins from 5 against David Nalbandian considering the recent form of both of these players.

Haas has had some many injuries in his career that it is a real testament to his strength of character that he continues to come back from them and fight his way up the Rankings. He has moved up to 23 in the World after reaching the Final in Washington and backing that up with a Quarter Final appearance last week in Toronto.

He has also won a tournament in Halle and could cause a few problems at the US Open for one of the higher seeded players depending on the draw. The German's game matches up very well against David Nalbandian's and he has the edge when it comes to service games and I can't see a result too different from the one last week.

Tommy Haas is playing at the higher level and Nalbandian has not won a match on the Main Tour since his disqualification at Queens in June, something that also has to be playing on his mind a little bit.


Ekaterina Makarova v Nadia Petrova: This is a pick 'em match between two players that will come down to which of them can get the first strike in the point.

Usually these are the types of matches I would steer well clear of as it can come down to the smallest details, but Ekaterina Makarova does have the mental edge having beaten Nadia Petrova in three straight matches.

That includes two wins on the hard courts, and it is on this surface that Makarova has enjoyed most of her success this season having reached a Quarter Final in the Australian Open and the Fourth Round in Miami. On the other hand, Petrova is just 5-5 on the hard courts this season even though she did enjoy a very productive North American hard court swing last Summer.

It should be close no matter what, but I am going to back Makarova to move through to the Second Round.


MY PICKS: Tommy Haas - 3.5 games @ 2.10 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Ekaterina Makarova @ 1.92 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 1-1, + 1.10 Units (3 Units Staked)