Rome Masters Tips: Tomas can pop the Gasman's bubble

Events / Sean Calvert / 13 May 2011 /

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If Berdych can control the mind games he can win

"We know Berdych can do it in these conditions, as he showed at Roland Garros last year, the only concern, as usual, being his mental attitude, but the same can certainly be said of Gasquet."

Two players with dodgy temperaments meet in Rome today - which one is Sean Calvert backing?

We came out on the wrong end of a thrilling three setter last night at the Rome Masters when Nicolas Almagro just failed to get over the line against Robin Soderling.

And prior to that there was a pulsating encounter on Centrale that saw Richard Gasquet bring his 'A' game to the table and beat Roger Federer, who had traded substantially at [1.01] when a set and 4-2 ahead.

The Gasman, aided by that mesmeric backhand, scored one of the best wins of his career and is the subject of today's wager.

But it's the Frenchman's opponent that I'll be backing in a clash of the underachievers between he and Tomas Berdych.

As well as Gasquet played yesterday, it's hard to see him bringing the same level to Pietrangeli court this afternoon after such a big win - the biggest since his famous Wimbledon comeback against Andy Roddick in 2007.

His record against top-10 opponents though is 15 wins and 43 losses in his career and he's lost his last two matches against Berdych, with the only one on clay being a 6-2, 6-0 win for the Czech in Monte Carlo last year.

They also met at the Australian Open in January this year, with the result being another straight sets win for the world number seven.

Berdych has been going about his business quietly and efficiently at the Foro Italico this week with wins over Juan Monaco and Jarkko Nieminen and he should have more in the tank than Gasquet today as a result.

This is the first time that Gasquet has made it past the last 16 in Rome, while Berdych has been here before and this slow surface favours his heavy, flat hitting which will enable him to get the ball through the court more effectively than his opponent.

We know Berdych can do it in these conditions, as he showed at Roland Garros last year, the only concern, as usual, being his mental attitude, but the same can certainly be said of Gasquet.

The playing conditions added to Gasquet's likely comedown from yesterday mean that at around [1.8], Berdych is the sensible bet in this one.

Recommended Bet
Berdych to beat Gasquet at [1.8]

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