Jeremy Chardy - Nicolas Almagro

Jeremy Chardy was nearly unknow for most people and now he's the biggest hope for home crowd as he's playing his best tennis ever, being in amazing form. He has already showed some good signs in Marrakech, where he reached a final and now he's in fourth round, winning with Frederico Gil (63 62 76), David Nalbandian (36 46 62 61 62) and Dmitry Tursunov (76 63 64), playing just excellent and brilliant. Nearly everyone was surprise as he won with one of the biggest favourites in here, Nalbandian and Argie looked just like an ammateur in last three sets, being helpless with such in form opponent. I'm sure that today Jeremy will do anything to win this one, especially with such great crowd.

Nicolas Almagro is of course great claycourter, one of the best claycourter at the moment, really consistent and stable player, but still I think he isn't in his best form in here and an easy 3-0 win for him isn't as clear and predictable as it ought to be. So far he won with Boris Pashanski (64 75 61), Sebastian Decoud (76 62 61) and Andy Murray (63 67 63 75), but he didn't impress me. I know that 29-5 record on clay this year is amazing and probably Spaniard will win this game, but it should be tight and +7.5 games handicap for fighting home player, must be a good choice.

4 units* Jeremy Chardy +7.5 games @ 1.80 at 10Bet

Fernando Verdasco - Rafael Nadal

Fernando Verdasco is of course solid claycourter, but nothing more and in normal circumstances it ought to be an easy loss, but at the moment I believe that he could be a tight opponent for Rafa and I give him even a chance for a win. Popular 'Nando' has already won with Santiago Ventura (46 63 64 67 61), Juan Ignacio Chela (75 46 63 75) and Mikhail Youzhny (76 57 75 61) and he showed some decent tennis, being in quite good form. He's 17-9 on clay this year and unfortunately 0-6 with Nadal, but I think he's able to win at least nine games in here.

Rafael Nadal isn't in best form at the moment, even if he cruised his previous opponents - Thomaz Belucci (75 63 61), Nicolas Devilder (64 60 61) and Jarkko Nieminen (61 63 61). He has some health issues and his play isn't like in last year, so especially with few injury problems, he ought to play quite safe, with maybe single break for each set. He must be really tired at the moment after such hard season for him and I really don't know why people are thinking that he isn't beatable for such players as he's already lost with Juan Carlos Ferrero (57 16) three weeks ago. For me +9 games handicap for Verdasco with @ 1.89 at Pinnacle is definiteley worth a shot.

4 units* Fernando Verdasco +9 games @ 1.89 at Pinnacle

1 PICK WON

1 PICK LOST

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