Not a very original choice but at puntinplay.com we think Robin Soderling can go in again this week and win the Marseilles Open to follow on from his success in Rotterdam.
The filed in France doesn't look at strong as was assembled in Holland and the first four seeds have a free bus ticket to the second round. This does make for each-way possibilities outside the favourite, Soderling, but the bottom half of the draw is very tough, whilst the right handed Swede should have an uneventful trip to the final.
Soderling didn't have to do to much in yesterdays final to win but it was his performance against Davydenko that marked him down as back to form. As long as he wins his second round match he would face Baghdatis in the quarters and then either Youzhny or Robredo in the semi. There has to be a fitness doubt about Youzhny, he pulled out on Sunday and had previous form in Melbourne, whilst Robredo has made a start to the season that is on the poor side of unsatisfactory.
Tsonga is the number two seed and favourite to come through from the bottom section. He won the event in 2009 and played great tennis to make the semi-final in Australia. Problem for “Tsonga for Europe” is that he has a potential quarter final against Simon and a semi against Monfils. Both Frenchmen will be up for the title, so it will be a tough route. If he makes it Soderling holds a two zip on the head to head stats and has yet to drop a set to the Frenchman now resident in Switzerland.
We won't get rich on 3.25 but boy wonder looks the bet. Giles Simon looks over priced at 15 with Skybet.
