The shiny clay of the second Grand Slam of the year - the French Open 2017 in May is a long way away from the balmy Brazilian, Sao Paulo clay, where it's predicted that Spaniard Inigo Cervantes will defeat 24 year old Argentinian, Renzo Olivio on the ATP tour.
Clay Court season is kicking in
The transition from hard court to clay is going to be more difficult for some than others. In the women's game, it will not be difficult for Elina Svitolina, whose recent victory in Dubai, can give her momentum to take into the clay court season and looks a decent bet for the French Open at tasty odds.
Back to Sao Paulo - a tournament that represents an opportunity for seasoned clay courters such as 27 year old, 105th ranked Inigo Cervantes to establish himself on the ATP tour this season. He will be keen to chase down that all-time career high ranking of 56 (achieved March 2016), as he is capable of better. Especially on clay where he has won several challenger events.
Head to Head
Inigo Cervantes leads the head to head over Olivo 1-0, by courtest of a 6:3, 6:2 drubbing on clay in Seville in 2015.
Rankled 92 in the world Renzo Olivio holds an advantage in ranking and age over Cervantes, but the Spaniard is a clay court specialist and will be fresh, making his seasonal debut in Sao Paulo. He has big occasion experience relatively recently, having contested a clay court doubles final with partner Lorenzi, in February 2016, in Buenos Aires.
This first round clash is a great opportunity for him to double his head to head superiority over Olivio.
At 11/10, in a two outcome event, Cervantes represents good value betting and is a punting opportunity not be missed, especially if you are part of the dying breed of value-seekers still left out there.
No such thing as easy money
You definitely don’t need to be Einstein to know that following a woeful tip of odds of 1.31 (just over 3/10) in a banana skin of a La Liga football game between Granada and Las Palmas: upon the say so of Ryan Betting, is the definition of stupid, rather than easy money. One thing’s for sure, you aren’t going to recoup much backing Paris Saint-Germain against the tricky Lille, either.
Don’t get me started on the Schalke and Bayern Munich (by at least two goals) selection, in a round of Bundesliga matches earlier this season. I won’t harp on anymore, but surely there must be an better approach? There is - value betting.
First round of a great tournament
Clay court specialists, such as the winner of the tournament for the past two seasons: Pablo Cuevas and potential dark horse at the French Open 2017: Pablo Careno-Busta are a few of the quality players at this tournament, who Cervantes will be keen to pit his clay court prowess against, as he seeks to make the most of his belated season debut.
Recommendation: €10 Inigo Cervantes a great bet to beat Olivo @ 11/10 (Paddy Power)
