Madrid Masters Tuesday Tips: Davydenko can roll over home favourite

Events / Ben Caudell / 03 May 2011 /

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Despair no more - Davydenko is returning to winning ways

"The former world number three will definitely fancy his chances against Granollers and is the worthy favourite at [1.35]."

The one-time world number three is back and Ben Caudell anticipates another victory for him in the Spanish capital on day two...

Marcel Granollers (ESP) v Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)

Nikolay Davydenko looks to have finally put to bed his dire run of form after recording an impressive tournament win in Munich last week. The German clay court surface has similar playing conditions as Madrid due to the faster flight of the ball in the air at altitude.

Soon after the Russian's first round defeat to Florian Mayer at the Australian Open at the start of the year, Davydenko went on to record a paltry two wins from six tournaments; but since Barcelona, where he finally strung together two consecutive wins, the body language and determination of the former ATP World Tour Finals Champion resurfaced and the Russian went on to win five matches in a row and a first tournament since Doha, January 2010.

The former world number three, will definitely fancy his chances against home favourite Marcel Granollers here today and is the understandable favourite priced at [1.35] in the match odds, he has won five in a row on clay, four in a row when priced as a moderate favourite, and has a higher match and surface rating.

Granollers has struggled at the Madrid Masters in the past having never been further than the second round. He went out in the first round in 2010 to Stanislas Wawrinka in straight sets and in the same round to Marin Cilic in 2009. The Spaniard's recent form on clay has been relatively poor by his own standards, highlighted by a below par performance in his third round match to journeyman Filippo Volandri in straight sets at the Belgrade Open last week.

Another important fact to take note of is that Granollers' last nine losses have all been in straight sets, therefore there's definitely value in backing Davydenko to win 2-0 at [1.96] and continue his ascent in the world rankings.

Recommend Bet
Back Nikolay Davydenko 2-0 @ [1.96]

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