ATP Auckland predicitons
Posted by Handyman on January 11, 2010
ATP, Sydney, 1st Round
Julien Benneteau (FRA, 46) versus Dudi Sela (ISR, 43)
Israelian Dudi Sela played very well last week in Chennai where he won 3 matches and before being stopped from
Wawrinka in 1/2 final losing in three sets (4:6,6:2,5:7). The end of last season was really bad for him when managed to
lose seven matches in a row. But, in Chennai he confirmed that crisis is behind him and he plays great tennis again.
Dudi likes to play on hardcourts, where he achieved the best results in his career, winning 7 Challenger title on this
surface, still waiting for his 1st ATP title. His opponent, Frenchman Julien Benneteau didn’t play this year yet. He is
very solid on hardcourt surface, last year he made a 11-12 record. In his career he won 1 Challenger on Indoor hard in,
6 years ago in Andrezieux, France. Like Dudi, he also is still waiting for his 1st ATP title. In this match Frenchman is set
for a favourite and I can not find any good reason for that except he is leading 2-0 in mutual matches. Benneteau won
2:0 here in Sydney back in 2008. 7:6,6:4 and 7:5,6:1 on clay last year in Kitzbuhel. Besides that I really dont see other
reasons to set a Benneteau as favourite. Perhaps Sela can be tired but I doubt cause he had 3 days for recovery.
Julien Benneteau is a player which I not appreciate very well, player which is prone to fluctuations and I almost never
bet on him. I believe Dudi Sela will not lose for the 3rd time in a row versus Benneteau. Still, in the absence of better
offer, I’m choosing a bet that Sela will win at least one set.
Betting prediction: Dudi Sela wins at least 1 set@ 1.45
Stake: 10
