RICHARD GASQUET had me making a racquet yesterday after he beat Gilles Simon 2-1 in Dubai – bringing up a fav 4-1 Bonkers Bet.
Bookies had unseeded Gasquet as the 5-4 underdog against his fellow Frenchman (4-6) despite taking a 4-0 record into their quarter-final clash at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.
I urged you to “get your money on Gasquet” not only to win the match but to do so in three sets. Merci Monsieur Gasquet!
Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Tomas Berdych also all won yesterday, completing my quarter-final clean sweep. The trio, as predicted, advanced in straight sets.
Unfortunately for Gasquet his victory is certain to be his last in Dubai. Standing in his way ahead of Saturday's final is top seed and world No.2 Federer, an opponent the Frenchman has beaten just once in eight meetings.
The Swiss maestro is the favourite for this one and the “best” price you will get is 1-12 with Boylesports. Gasquet is a big outsider at 8-1 (Skybet, Sportingbet).
I can't see this one going the distance either so 2-0 Federer, chasing his fifth title in the UAE, is 3-10 with Betfred and Paddy Power.
Defending champ Djokovic, looking for three Dubai titles in a row, tackles Czech No.3 seed Berdych in the opening semi-final.
At the start of the week I backed a Federer/Djokovic final and obviously I'm not going to change my forecast now.
Serb No.2 seed Djokovic leads his opponent 5-1 in previous match-ups and is 1-4 (Skybet, Paddy Power) to win again. Berdych is 4-1 with Sportingbet.
Berdych has only taken one set off Djokovic in his five defeats but he's yet to lose one in Dubai and I fancy he may take one here.
Bonkers Bet
- Djokovic 2-1 (16-5, William Hill)
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