Preview of matches on May 9, 2010

Serbia Open in Belgrade, Serbia

Final:

(#3 seed) Sam Querrey  vs.  (#2 seed) John Isner

Isner surprised me when he beat Wawrinka in the semifinals.  Although I still believe Querrey is the better clay court player, so I think he will have the slight advantage in this one.  This match will be very competitive and close.  Slight nod to Sam Querrey in this all American final.

Pick- Querrey

RESULT:  Sam Querrey 3-6, 7-6, 6-4.

BMW Open in Munich, Germany

Final:

(#1 seed) Marin Cilic  vs.  (#2 seed) Mikhail Youzhny
Cilic isn't in the same form that he started the year with.  He has been struggling the last couple months to put together a string of wins on clay.  Youzhny is at home in Munich.  This will be the 3rd time he has reached the finals of this event, so he is comfortable with the surface and how the tournament is ran.  With Youzhny's experience in Munich and Cilic's lack of good form on the clay, I have to pick Youzhny in a minor upset.
Pick-  Youzhny
RESULT:  Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 4-6, 6-4.

Estoril Open in Estoril, Portugal

Final:

(#4 seed) Albert Montanes  vs.  (unseeded) Frederico Gil

Montanes shocked the world with his semifinal win over Roger Federer.  That win just showed how much Federer really cares about the smaller events.  He is the Tiger Woods of tennis.  Shows up for the grand slams or majors and rarely plays the other events, and if he does, he shows no care in the world and loses to people he would normally destroy.  Not taking anything away from Montanes.  Montanes plays well on clay and is a solid enough player to be a top 30 player on the tour.  Frederico Gil is the home countryman and will be the crowd favorite in this match.  That is probably the only thing he has going for him.  I'm not impressed with Gil's game at all.  Montanes should win this one easily.

Pick-  Montanes

RESULT:  Albert Montanes 6-2, 6-7, 7-5.