Australian Open Betting / Sean Calvert / 15 January 2011 /

Before the first Grand Slam of the season gets under way on Monday, Sean Calvert highlights five matches where he believes we could see an upset...

Lukasz Kubot [4.5] v Sam Querrey [1.29]

Sam Querrey has an abysmal Grand Slam record, including nine first round losses from 17 played, which mathematically speaking, makes him around [1.53] to do it again.

But, as he's number 18 in the world, with six titles to his name and is on his favourite hard-court surface, the American is actually priced up at [1.29] to defeat world number 72 Kubot and actually win a match at a Slam.

Kubot can play a bit as well. The Pole has a win over Andy Roddick on hard-courts to his name and reached the last 16 of the Australian Open last year before losing to Novak Djokovic, so this guy is no mug.

Querrey on the other hand has never bettered the last 32 in Melbourne, has lost in the first round twice in a row and since losing an epic to Stan Wawrinka in New York last year, has lost six from seven, including to Alexandr Dolgopolov in Sydney last week.

Back Kubot to pile on the misery for Querrey.

Tobias Kamke [4.0] v Philipp Kohlschreiber [1.3]

This all-German clash could prove to be a lot closer than Kohlschreiber would like, against a 24-year-old opponent who is on the rise.

Kamke was voted the ATP 2010 World Newcomer of The Year after rising from outside the world's 250 to number 67 and if he can add a bit of pop to his serve, he could make the top 40 this year.

Kohlschreiber has slipped back down the rankings from 22 to 34 in the last year and the addition of Miles Maclagan as coach hasn't been successful so far in terms of results.

All the pressure will be on Kohlschreiber against his up and coming countryman. He's beaten Kamke twice previously, but those were tight matches and Kamke has since beaten the likes of Tomas Berdych so he could well turn it round this week.

Kohlschreiber has three recent first round losses to his name and also lost to Ivo Karlovic in Doha two weeks ago - the big Croat had been off the court for nine months beforehand, so Kohlschreiber's brittle confidence will be low. Back Kamke to make it even lower.

Somdev Devvarman [5] v Tommy Robredo [1.25]

This one is more about the decline of Tommy Robredo than anything else, but Devvarman can play a bit, as he proved by beating a then in-form Marin Cilic on hard-courts in soaring temperatures in Washington.

The United States based Indian Davis Cup player turned pro a couple of years ago and is on the upgrade, whereas Tommy is now ranked outside the world's top-50 after a lean couple of years and Devvarman's greater desire might be enough to cause a big upset.

Other than at the US Open, where he benefited from two retirements, Robredo hasn't won more than two matches at any tournament since Bastad on clay last summer and he also has four first round defeats at the Australian Open from nine starts, so I wouldn't be wading into the [1.25] about the Spaniard here.

Lay Robredo then manage in play, or have a small wager on Devvarman.

Rainer Schuettler [5.25] v Fernando Verdasco [1.22]

This time last year in this very column I advised people to back Schuettler to beat Sam Querrey at around [5.5] and he duly obliged and there's half a chance that he could do the same to another out of touch odds-on shot here.

Verdasco is in woeful form, having lost seven matches out of nine since the US Open last year - and two of those were to Benjamin Becker!

The Spaniard hasn't won a match this year and if he's having a day where he's spraying it around, then the consistent German veteran will beat him.

Their only previous match on outdoor hard was a tight win for Verdasco, but he was in much better form then and Schuettler often over-performs in Grand Slams - memorably reaching the Wimbledon semis from a rank of 94 (he's 84 right now).

Trust in Schuettler to give Verdy a big scare.

Bernard Tomic [2.25] v Jeremy Chardy [1.83]

The Australians need something to shout about after their Ashes drubbing and there's more than half a chance that their young hope Tomic could provide a bit of cheer against Chardy.

The 18-year-old has long been vaunted as a star of the future, but he needs to take advantage of his wild card this year, as his progress has been disappointing thus far.

He tends to come alive at Melbourne Park though and almost knocked out eventual semi finalist Marin Cilic in the second round here 12 months ago.

Chardy has been poor lately, losing in the first round of his last four tournaments and he was thrashed 6-2, 6-2, 6-0 by Denis Istomin in the opening round here 12 months ago.

Those bare stats alone are enough to avoid adding Chardy to any multiples at [1.7] and if Tomic makes a good start he could win with something to spare.

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