Preview and Picks for matches on Saturday, May 8, 2010

Serbia Open in Belgrade, Serbia

Semifinals:

(unseeded) Filip Krajinovic (SRB)  vs.  (#3 seed) Sam Querrey

I am unfamiliar with Krajinovic's game.  I do know he had taken a one set lead over Novak Djokovic, when Djokovic then "pussed" out and retired from the match.  Sam Querrey is arguably the best American player on clay.  So with my limited knowledge of Krajinovic and knowing that Querrey is a solid clay courter and top25 player I have to pick Querrey in this matchup.

Pick- Querrey

Result:  Sam Querrey 6-1, 6-2.

(#4 seed) Stanislas Wawrinka  vs.  (#2 seed) John Isner

Wawrinka is a gamer, and a decent clay court player.  Isner relies on a big serve and his groundstrokes which aren't that great are getting better.  The serve of Isner will be nullified by the slow clay surface, and that will open the door for Wawrinka to out work the big American and move into the final.

Pick- Wawrinka

RESULT:  John Isner 7-5, 7-5.

BMW Open in Munich, Germany.

Semifinals:

(#1 seed) Marin Cilic  vs.  (#5 seed) Marcos Baghdatis

Too bad this is match isn't being played on hardcourt.  Both of these guys are fun to watch and have an assortment of shots, but neither has been doing well during the clay court stretch.  Baghdatis hasn't really been playing a lot on the dirt, and Cilic has struggled while he has.  This is a tough match to call, but for some reason I feel that Baghdatis will tweak an injury or not play his best and Cilic will be playing in the final on Sunday.

Pick- Cilic

RESULT:  Marin Cilic 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

(unseeded) Philipp Petzschner  vs.  (#2 seed) Mikhail Youzhny

This is Youzhny's tournament to lose.  He seems to always play well in Munich, making it to 2 previous finals there and looking to make it to a third.  Petzschner is always a tough competitor who will spring the occasional upset, but not this time.  Youzhny advances to another final in three sets.

Pick- Youzhny

RESULT:  Mikhail Youzhny 7-5, 7-6.

Estoril Open in Estoril, Portugal

Mens Semifinals:

(#1 seed) Roger Federer  vs.  (#4 seed) Albert Montanes
Federer should be embarrassed to have entered this tournament.  This is probably the weakest of the three this week.  The guys confidence isn't real high right now, and that is why he probably decided to go to the Estoril Open and beat up on a bunch of "no-name jobbers".  Fed is just pissing his pants trying to avoid Rafa on the clay, and seems to be doing a good job of doing it....Montanes has no chance in this match.  He's a good little clay court player, but he has nothing that will put Federer in danger.
Pick- Federer
RESULT:  Albert Montanes 6-2, 7-6.

(#5 seed) Guillermo Garcia-Lopez  vs.  (unseeded) Frederico Gil
Two clay court specialists who will battle it out to see who will get their ass handed to them by Federer in the final.  Garcia-Lopez has been having a pretty solid clay court season, and before this week Gil has done pretty much nothing this whole year.  Gil will be at home and have a little home court advantage, but it will take more for him to get the final.  Something he doesn't have.  Garcia-Lopez will win a tough 3 setter.
Pick- Garcia-Lopez
RESULT- Frederico Gil 6-2, 5-7, 6-3.

Womens Final:

(unseeded) Anastasjia Sevastova  vs.  (unseeded)  Arantxa Parra Santonja
I am not sure if the womens final of the Estoril Open will be on Saturday or be on Sunday with the mens final.  So I'll just pretend it is on Saturday.  Well I don't know a whole lot about each of these girls.  Parra Santonja is from Spain and probably does well on the clay.  Sevastova has been winning some matches this clay court season, so she looks to do well on the dirt as well.  Sevastova seems to be the more consistent player, so I will go with her.  Parra Santonja has an excellent chance of winning this match as well.  Its 50-50.  I'm just taking a guess.
Pick- Sevastova
RESULT:  Anastasjia Sevastova 6-2, 7-5.

Internazionali BNL D'Italia in Rome, Italy

Final:

(#7 seed)  Jelena Jankovic  vs.  (unseeded) Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez

This is a WTA premier event, an event that is just below the Grand Slams.  Ask yourself if you can picture Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez as a Premier Event Champion.  I say "no".  Jankovic does well on clay with her defensive style and has the intangibles and experience needed to beat a player who is not used to being in the spotlight of big events.  So based on premonition I am picking Jankovic to be the champion of Rome.

Pick- Jankovic

RESULT:  Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez 7-6, 7-5.