Tennis Picks (February 25th)

It is the start of a new week and hopefully that means we will see a continuation of the last couple of weeks when there has been a lot of success following the disappointing Australian Open. With some big names in action, it should be another fun week, although it will once again be one where matches are ranging across the time zones.

I only have the one outright pick this week from the tournaments taking place which can be seen here

The Monday in a new tournament is usually a quieter day as a lot of the tournaments will finish their qualifying Round on this day, but these are my picks from the day.


Roger Federer - 6.5 games v Malek Jaziri: This is a slight risk considering Roger Federer is giving up a lot of games and hasn't started 2013 in the same manner he started 2012, but I do think the former World Number 1 will have too much for his Tunisian opponent who is down at Number 130 in the World Rankings.

It is hard to get a real grip on how someone like Malek Jaziri will react to being up against someone of the stature of Federer- will this inspire him to play his best tennis of his career to make a match of things or will he freeze up a little and allow Federer to dominate from the beginning and be defeated fairly comfortably?

The issue I have for Jaziri is that he hasn't had much success outside of the Challenger events and it'll be tough for him against an opponent that will want to erase the memories of his last performance against Julien Benneteau in Rotterdam.

I expect Federer to come out firing and I imagine he may come through with a 6-1, 6-4 win in this one.


Alejandro Falla v Xavier Malisse: This is one of the pick 'em contests at Delray Beach today and I do believe that the Colombian should be able to come through against Xavier Malisse.

I like the way Malisse plays tennis, but he is clearly a player on the slide and although he holds a win over Alejandro Falla here in Delray Beach, I do think Falla is slightly better at this point of their careers.

Falla isn't the most consistent player in the ATP so this is no gimme at all, but I do think he can have just enough about him to see off Malisse, a player that was forced to retire with a lower back injury last week in Memphis which could affect his service if he is not back to full fitness. Malisse has said he is not feeling so bad and should be fine here, but I think Falla can pressure him enough to take the win, even if it takes three sets to get it.


MY PICKS: Roger Federer - 6.5 Games @ 2.00 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Alejandro Falla @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)