Yesterday’s play at the Cincinnati Open was suspended leaving our bet on Nick Kyrgios to beat Ivo Karlovic open. That means there is some bonus action as well as the quarter-finals to look ahead to later today and there is enough football also to keep us interested.
Remember that a Lucky 15 combines four separate bets into one four-fold accumulator, four trebles, six doubles and four singles to maximise returns from one, two, three, or four winning bets.
Here are today’s bets – you can tailor these to play safer or riskier as you see fit, of course:
- Tennis: Dominic Thiem to beat David Ferrer 2-0 at around 11/10
- Tennis: John Isner to beat Jared Donaldson 2-0 at around 10/11
- Football: Burton Albion & Birmingham City to draw at around 11/5
- Football: Monaco -1.5 to beat Metz at around 9/10
Dominic Thiem to beat David Ferrer 2-0
Both of these players have sprung something of a surprise by getting this far – Thiem because he begins to tire at this stage of the season and Ferrer because he looked to be on the slide before a recent resurgence. This is the second meeting in their careers, Thiem getting the job done on clay last year. Thiem is yet to drop a set this week, while Ferrer had two three-setters before beating compatriot Pablo Carreno Busta yesterday. Thiem anywhere near his best should be too good and a straight sets win is favoured. The safer option is to back him to win at 1/2.
John Isner to beat Jared Donaldson 2-0
After a blip last week in Montreal, Isner is back to the form that saw him win titles in Newport and Atlanta a few weeks back. He has yet to drop a set in beating Viktor Troicki, Tommy Paul, and Frances Tiafoe and has held every single one of his service games. Donaldson is having a great run but lost their previous meeting in straights two years ago, and Isner is a former runner-up here, so has to be favoured to see off his younger compatriot once again in short order. The safer bet is backing him to win at 4/11.
Birmingham City v Burton Albion
Burton Albion have made a poor start to the Championship season, losing all three matches so far and only finding the net once. Birmingham, meanwhile, lost their opener against Ipswich, beat Bristol City and then drew with Bolton Wanderers. They come into this with the better form and are boosted by the return of a number of players from injury. Burton have won the last three meetings between these sides 2-0, but a repeat seems very unlikely. However, Birmingham are vulnerable away from home, and I think there is value in backing the draw at around 11/5.
Monaco -1.5 to beat Metz
Monaco put 12 goals past Metz in their two league meetings last year and have started this season in a similar vein of form. They put three past Toulouse and then hammered Dijon 4-1, so taking them on to win by two clear goals or more in this one seems like a decent bet. Metz have opened their campaign with defeats to Guingamp and Bordeaux and if they go behind early, could collapse against Monaco’s attack. If you are even more confident than I am, take on alternative handicap lines such as Monaco -2.5 or -3.5 at higher odds.