Tennis
2010-01-22 - Evgeny Korolev vs Fernando Gonzalez
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Tennis: Australia, Australian Open Men 2010
Thursday, 22nd January 2010 - Start 01:15
Preview
Evgeny Korolev will be hoping to improve on his World Ranking Number 53 at this tournament and he is going the right way about it as he progressed through to the 3rd round here. He has already caused a stir by knocking out Tomas Berdych, one of the potential dark horses in this tournament, without dropping a set.
He played in 2 tournaments before this event begun and was knocked out twice in the 2nd round- one loss to Federer can be explained away, but the other to Mardy Fish in straight, comfortable, sets was much more disappointing.
Korolev has recently moved nationality, now representing Kazakhstan instead of Russia. He was 5-3 on the hard courts last season on the main tour, his first winning season on the circuit. Korolev was a 2nd round loser here last season, being comfortably beaten by Roger Federer.
This is the best performance for Korolev so far in his young career.
Fernando Gonzalez has looked solid in coming through the first 2 rounds here. He dropped a set in the 1st round, and he won 3 tough sets in the 2nd round.
The courts here really play to the strengths of Gonzalez, his groundstrokes have real penetration and the hard courts here play faster than some of the others around the World.
Head to Head
The two players have met on 4 occasions, 3 on the main tour and 1 on the Challenger circuit. Fernando Gonzalez is currently leading 3-1.
3 of the meetings have taken place on hard courts with Gonzalez leading that head to head 2-1.
These 2 actually met here in Australia in 2007 with Gonzalez winning in 4 sets. The first 2 were very close, both ending in tie breaks, before the Chilean comfortably won the last 2 sets.
Prediction
Evgeny Korolev could be in line for a big breakthrough season but consistency is going to be the key to this. He played well in his loss to Roger Federer but was easily beaten by Mardy Fish which underlines the inconsistency in his game.
He has all the tools to be a real threat on this surface but it will be hard for him to get on his game against Gonzalez who will like to dictate the points which his powerful groundstrokes.
Fernando Gonzalez has a strong chance to reach the 4th round now that Tomas Berdych has been eliminated but he must focus here as Korolev will be confident after coming through 2 rounds. Gonzalez will attack the second serve of Korolev and look to dominate the match behind his forehand.
Fernando Gonzalez to go through 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
The Pick :
Fernando Gonzalez 7-5, 6-7, 6-2, 6-4
BEST BETTING TIP :
Fernando Gonzalez WIN
Gooner’s Statistical Value Bet
Fernando Gonzalez -6.5 games @ 2.0 (Bet365)
