Sony Ericsson Open Daily Tips: Opposing Karlovic serves up Friday value

Events / Sean Calvert / 26 March 2010 /

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Ivo Karlovic should not be backed today

"I wouldn’t want to be on Karlovic at [1.22]. His opponent is probably the best [5.5] shot you’ll find today."

After a bad couple of days in Miami, Sean Calvert bids to bounce back by opposing one serving machine and backing another...

It was another strange day at the Crandon Park Tennis Centre on Thursday as both of my bets went down in unfortunate circumstances. First, Victor Hanescu blew a 4-1 first set tie-break lead before winning the second and going on to lose the decider, then Leonardo Mayer was all over Mardy Fish, but a shocking eight double faults cost him the match.

One of the first matches on court today features a [1.22] favourite, who is yet to win a main draw match in the Sony Ericsson Open in six years. Ivo Karlovic hates it in Key Biscayne - the courts are too slow and the weather too humid for him, as his results have shown.

The 6ft 10in serving machine lost in straight sets to Frederico Gil last year and before that to Julien Benneteau, Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, Fabrice Santoro, Oliver Rochus and Jurgen Melzer - all in the first round.

Today he faces what on paper should ordinarily be an easy enough task in Daniel Gimeno-Traver, but I wouldn't want to be on Karlovic at [1.22] in these circumstances.
The Spaniard is probably the best [5.5] shot you'll find today, or consider a lay of Karlovic 2-0 at around [1.56].

Another giant serving machine with hugely different prospects today is John Isner, who should have way too much game for fellow American Michael Russell.

Isner beat Russell on his least effective surface of clay last year and also way back in 2005 when Isner was nowhere near the player he is today, so this looks a safe bet at [1.33] for the number 17 seed.

Another potential upset today could take place in the David Nalbandian v Viktor Troicki clash, where the rotund Argentine has been installed as the [1.6] favourite. Nalbandian had a poor record here when he was fit, with five first round exits from nine starts, so now that injuries have taken their toll he could be ripe for the taking.

The former world number three was dumped out of Indian Wells in straight sets by Jurgen Melzer last week and Troicki beat Nalbandian here in Miami last year 6-1, 6-3, so either a back of Troicki at around [2.62] or a lay of Nalbandian 2-0 at [2.4] looks the call.

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