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Vliegen an unworthy favourite against Starace

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Perefecseun picks out the best bet of the afternoon as Starace and Vliegen clash in St Petersburg

There are quite a number of matches on the ATP tour today but none feature two players with such contrasting fortunes this year. Starace has found a form that catapulted him into the top 30 from just inside the top 100 whereas Vliegen has dropped down to 85 from a season high of 31.

During the mid-season, Vliegen looked like he had found a new lease of life and he had some brilliant results that suggested real promise. Since Wimbledon, he has been in some kind of decline and had to drop to the Challengers last week to find a tune to his tennis game. The Belgian is not looking confidet enough and the decision to move down one class can only be an admission of crisis and he should not be backed on his first return to the ATP tour.

Potito Starace gained a lot of ground by playing some breathtaking tennis on clay this season. He made the most of playing on his best surface by accumulating a lot of points in the run up to the French Open. He is showing promise and moving in the right direction with a lot of improvement still to come.

There has only ever been one meeting between the pair and Vliegen won in two sets. This was 3 years ago when Starace was still trying to find his rhythm on tour. He has found it and cutting through the field as opposed to Vliegen sliding down the ladder. Common sense points good money in the direction of Starace.

Suggested Bet: Lay K. Vliegen to win 2-0 sets @ 2.44 and Lay K. Vliegen to win the match @ 1.52

To read more about the St Petersburg Open go to:

http://www.spbopen.ru/eng/