Rome Masters Series 1000 Daily Tips: Spain v Spain as clay court masters do battle

Events / Ben Caudell / 02 May 2010 /

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David Ferrer could prove a tough opponent for Nadal today

"Although Nadal defeated Ferrer recently, 6-2, 6-3 in the semi-finals of Monte Carlo, the court surface in Rome is slightly faster and I believe this will be a tighter match than last time, and therefore will be backing Ferrer in the handicaps."

Rafael Nadal takes on David Ferrer in the Rome Masters final this afternoon. Ben Caudell searches out the best bets

Rafael Nadal (ESP) v David Ferrer(ESP)
Rafael Nadal will today challenge for a 17th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy to equal the record Andre Agassi has held since 2004.

Nadal takes a 10-3 career lead over David Ferrer into this match which will be the first all-Spanish final in Rome in the Open Era. But whoever triumphs here today will guarantee a Spanish Champion in Rome for the eighth time in the past ten years. Nadal himself is a four time winner, holding a hat-rick of titles from 2005-2007 before reclaiming the trophy last year with victory over Novak Djokovic.

Saturday's match with Ernests Gulbis represented Nadals stiffest test this year on clay, The Mallorcan came out the eventual winner after a tense 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 battle with the Latvian and looked nervy at times as he had to withstand a barrage of Gulbis winners - 50 in total. Against Ferrer, a player he has the upmost respect for, there will undoubtedly be less winners passing him. Ferrer is a similarly tenacious, the rallies will be a lot longer and points will be won by mistakes rather than outright winners.

Ferrer, in my book, is the second best clay court player in the world at the moment. He has outperformed many fans' expectations this year and has gone about his business, at times off the radar, with alarming self confidence, maturity, determination and doggedness.
The Valencia resident, aged 28, is probably the best prepared player on the tour for the European clay court swing. During February, when most players on the tour were playing either on indoor or outdoor hard courts, Ferrer decided to test himself on the South American clay courts at the less prestigious Acapulco and Buenos Aires events. Winning one and losing in the final of the other has given Ferrer the confidence to compete against anyone on his favourite surface and he has so far been reaping the rewards having reached three semi-finals and a final in the space of just one month.

Although Nadal defeated Ferrer recently, 6-2, 6-3 in the semi-finals of Monte Carlo, the court surface in Rome is slightly faster and I believe this will be a tighter match than last time, and therefore will be backing Ferrer in the handicaps.

Recommended Bets:
Back Ferrer +5.5 Games @ [2.0]
Lay Nadal 2-0 @ [1.45]

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