Australian Open Tips Day Two: Side with home favourite Hewitt

Australian Open Betting / Ben Caudell / 19 January 2009 / Leave a Comment

Ben Caudell picks out three selections from day two of the Aussie Open where he expects home support and the street-fighting qualities of Lleyton Hewitt to be too much for 2007 Australian Open finalist and the man they call "hands of stone" - Fernando Gonzalez.

Yesterday's match between Anne Keothavong and Anna Chackvetadze was a strange affair!! After Anna Chakvetadze's blistering start, winning the first set 6-1, Keothavaong started to find the form that has seen her on the brink of a top 50 ranking and clawed back to win the second set tie break.

This meant that both of yesterdays tip's came in (lay Chakvetadze 2-0, back Keothavong and lay off when she wins a set) Keothavong then went on to lose the third set and the match after a mix-up which can only be described as farcical, She was meant to be serving first at the start of the third set; however it was the Russian who served first, winning the first game and leaving the Brit confused about the shambles going on around her. This obviously played on Anne's mind throughout the set and unfortunately for us, lost it 6-1.

My other tip of the day Jarkko Nieminen retired injured in the second set against Paul Henri Mathieu, meaning the Frenchman progresses through to the next round.

Today's selections

Kei Nishikori v Jurgen Melzer: These two players have never played against each other on the ATP Tour and this match could turn out to be quite a battle. Jurgen Melzer finally succumbed to Andy Murray in a five set thriller at last year's US Open. One thing we do know about the Austrian is that he's a mercurial player and can blow hot and cold .

Melzer has been known not to take some of his matches seriously enough in the past; however this is a Grand Slam event and he has no excuses about not giving 100%.

Kei Nishikori on the other hand is a star of the future, and at 19 he is still learning his trade. He recently pulled out due to injury against Juan Carlos Ferrero and may struggle with the injury, not to mention the heat, so expect Melzer to take this match if it goes all the way.

Selection: Back Jurgen Melzer @ [2.0]

Lleyton Hewitt v Fernando Gonzalez: This will probably be one of the best matches of the day and with the home crowd rooting for their man Leyton Hewitt, we can expect to see a lot of passion and determination to win this one. Having already lost to the Chilean at the 2007 Aus Open, the Australian will be out to get his revenge and equal their head to head record which is in favour of Gonzalez at 3-2. Hewitt lost a close match against David Nalbandian last week and I can see him beating Gonzalez today

Selection: Back Lleyton Hewitt @ [1.95]

Jie Zheng v Camille Pin: This match should be a straight forward win for the Chinese lady, who loves playing on hard court

Selection: Back Jie Zheng 2-0 @ [1.8]

Good Luck