Events / Sean Calvert / 04 July 2011 /

Following a splendid fortnight at Wimbledon, there are plenty of good bets to be had in Rhode Island, especially when you consider the Casino Curse, says Sean Calvert.

It was a great fortnight for followers of this column last week at Wimbledon, culminating in Novak Djokovic's stunning win in the men's singles final, advised at [5.1] on these pages.

The grass-court tennis isn't quite over though, as there's another week on the green stuff to be had at Newport, Rhode Island at the Hall of Fame Championships.

This tournament is better known for inducting tennis legends into the Hall of Fame, but it's also known for it's 'Casino Curse', whereby no number one seed has won this event since 1976.

Last year Sam Querrey failed and this year his doubles partner John Isner has a go at beating the 35-year-old hoodoo.

Isner has a great chance of doing so at around [4.0], with a draw that has seen the big American paired with Alex Bogomolov Jr, Ryan Harrison, Arnaud Clement, Igor Kunitsyn and Tobias Kamke.

But I'm not backing against a 35-year-old curse and Isner's opening match against Karol Beck is no gimme.

Americans tend to do well here and Bogomolov Jr, who's been playing well on grass, lately is not without a chance at around [34.0], but I like the look of Harrison to perhaps cause an upset at around [28.0].

The 19-year-old showed some decent grass-court form at The All England Club, where Harrison just lost out to David Ferrer in five sets and a repeat of that level could see him become a factor here.

Harrison has a potentially tough first rounder against Clement though, but if he gets through that he could give you a run for your money on a back-to-lay basis.

The bottom half of the draw has a few likely long shots in it, with Olivier Rochus, Grigor Dimitrov, Ivo Karlovic, Dudi Sela, Nicolas Mahut, Mattias Bachinger, and Tommy Haas all capable performers on grass on their day.

Dimitrov has been talked about constantly for a while now as the 'next big thing' in men's tennis, but he hadn't shown a great deal on the main tour until pushing Jo-Wilfried Tsonga close at Wimbledon last week.

That match should give him confidence and he should be starting to show us a bit more of what he is allegedly capable of in the next 12 months and this low-key event could be the perfect start.

Dimitrov is still to pass the quarter finals of an ATP Tour level event though and while he stands a good chance this week, his price of around [8.0] looks a little on the short side.

At twice the price, last year's finalist Rochus represents better value for money in my view and the little Belgian's quarter looks the most inviting of all the contenders in the bottom half of the draw.

Rochus showed against Juan Martin Del Potro at Wimbledon that he is a tricky customer on grass and in his two visits here 'The Mighty Atom' has reached the semi-final and the final, so he enjoys this tournament.

Karlovic is second favourite in the betting, but he looks a fading force at 32-years-old and has only won one match on grass this year - and that was by retirement. His price of [6.5] looks very short as well.

Recommended Bets
Back Rochus at [16.0]
Back to lay Harrison at [28.0]

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