Monte Carlo Masters Tips: Melzer the enigma

Events / Sean Calvert / 15 April 2011 /

" class="free_bet_btn" rel="external" onclick="javascript: pageTracker._trackPageview('/G4/inline-freebet');" target="_blank">

Jurgen Melzer was superb against Federer on Friday and will believe he can beat dirt rat David Ferrer

"The Austrian mixed up the play very well against Federer, hitting drop shots at the right time and out-hitting Federer from the back of the court with some impressively powerful ground strokes on Friday."

He's one of the great enigmas of the ATP Tour and when he's good, he's very good. Jurgen Melzer beat Roger Federer in straight sets on Friday and his stay in Monte Carlo may not be over just yet.

Taking the positives out of yesterday at the Monte-Carlo Country Club, at least my outright back-to-lay tip David Ferrer has proved to be a good investment at [25.0].

Roger Federer's insipid effort in the howling wind in Monaco led to a shock straight sets defeat to Jurgen Melzer, who had previously failed to even take a set from the Swiss maestro.

Not many saw that one coming and even less so when the Austrian disappeared for treatment on a bad back after just one game.

On to Saturday then and we're just two games away from the final that I predicted - Rafa Nadal v Ferrer - but Melzer, who has been causing me angst all week, stands in the way of that particular outcome.

And he stands a puncher's chance against Ferrer, who for me is a bit skinny at around [1.48] to defeat the world number nine.

If the prices were almost level, I would have to side with Ferrer, but [3.2] on Melzer, who has won his last two clashes with the Spaniard, is worth taking on Saturday.

Melzer, as I mentioned earlier in the week, came into this tournament on a poor run of form throughout 2011, but he's found something in Monte-Carlo this week and after beating Federer, who's to say he can't score against Ferrer again?

The Austrian mixed up the play very well against Federer, hitting drop shots at the right time and out-hitting Federer from the back of the court with some impressively powerful ground strokes on Friday.

And if his radar is on again on Saturday, he might well cause Ferrer the same amount of problems that he did when beating the Spaniard in straight sets on clay at Roland Garros last year.

You're never going to be totally comfortable backing Melzer, as he can go AWOL at any time in a match and that back injury is a worry, but at the prices, it's worth taking that chance.

Recommended bet:

Back Melzer to beat Ferrer at [3.2]

'.$sign_up['title'].'

'; } } ?>