All articles by: Elliott Jackson

The Aegon Championships (Queen’s Club) – Final Preview

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The Aegon Championships final is today, where either Martin Cilic or Feliciano Lopez will lift the trophy. The game starts at 2pm, with neither player wanting to lose, just a week before Wimbledon.

Cilic beat Gilles Muller in yesterday’s semi-final, winning in three sets, 6-3,5-5 and 6-4.  The world number seven, who is a previous US Open champion, can win Queen’s for the first time. Cilic was fourth seed for the competition, and will be hoping to use his good performances as a spring board to compete in Wimbledon.

Martin Cilic will want to go into Wimbledon with a win at Queens Photo Credit: skysports.com

Similarly, Lopez dispatched of Grigor Dimitrov in three sets, 7-5, 3-6,6-2. The world number 32 goes in to the final in a rich vein of form, but is the underdog for this duel. By beating Dimitrov, who is world number 11, Lopez has shown that ‘underdog’ is a tag he is more than comfortable with.

Lopez is the underdog in the final but not to be underestimated Photo Credit: skysports.com

With London’s main event just a week away, there is no doubting that both men will want to do everything possible to win. Understandably, given his higher world ranking, Cilic is huge favourite to lift the trophy.

His dominating serve could be a defining factor in the game, as he racked up an impressive 20 serves in yesterday’s semi-final. The Croatian star also has experience in the big occasion, after winning his only grand slam back in 2014. Compare this to Lopez who is without a grand slam to his name, and this could be pivotal factor as the two face off.

 

SKYBET MATCH RESULT: CILIC TO WIN- 2/5

SKYBET MATCH RESULT: LOPEZ TO WIN- 2/1

SKYBET: CILIC TO WIN AND SERVE THE MOST ACES- 8/11

SKYBET: LOPEZ TO WIN AND OVER 26.5 GAMES- 4/1

SKYBET PRICEBOOST: CILIC TO WIN 2-0(SET BETTING), SERVE MOST ACES AND LEASTS NUMBER OF DOUBLE FAULTS- 4/1

The Aegon Championships (Queen’s Club) – Tournament Preview

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The Aegon Championships, more commonly known as Queen’s, starts on the 19th June, with the final being played on the 25th. Queen’s is the traditional curtain-raiser for Wimbledon and represents a chance for the competitors to fine tune their form ahead of what is one of the most prestigious competitions of the year.

Andy Murray will hope to defend his title Photo Credit: skysports.com

Andy Murray

Murray will be hoping to break records with a sixth Queen’s win as he looks to successfully defend his title. The Scot claimed success here last year, weeks before winning Wimbledon, and will be hoping to do the same again this year. Murray hasn’t won a grand slam since winning Wimbledon almost a year ago, but did manage to make the semi-finals of the French Open, narrowly losing out to Stan Wawrinka. These were encouraging signs for Murray, who is hoping to hit form at just the right time in order to win a third Wimbledon title. He goes in to Queen’s as the huge favourite, despite his indifferent form.

 Skybet Outright Winner – Andy Murray – 11/8

Wawrinka has been in good form going into the tournament Photo Credit: skysports.com

 

Stan Wawrinka

Wawrinka will be hoping to lay down a marker as he looks to challenge for a third grand slam title. After losing out in straight sets to Rafael Nadal in the French Open final, Wawrinka will be hoping to go one step better. The world number three is the second highest seeded player at Queen’s and after beating Murray in the semi-finals of the French Open, he will feel confident of doing the same again.

Skybet Outright Winner – Stan Wawrinka – 12/1

Raonic reached the final last year at Queens Photo Credit: skysports.com

Milos Raonic

After losing out to Murray in last year’s final, Raonic will be even more determined to win his first Queen’s title. Now ranked sixth in the world, the Canadian will see Queen’s as an opportunity to make a statement, with Novak Djokovic, Rodger Federer and Nadal not competing. Raonic is yet to win a grand slam, and will be hoping Queen’s can set himself up for Wimbledon glory.

 Skybet Outright Winner – Milos Raonic – 11/2

 Dark horses

If you’re looking for a well-priced long shot at Queen’s, then Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Tomas Berdych are great value. Ranked 11th and 14th in the World respectably, both have shown in the past they are more than capable of going the distance. Tsonga reached the quarter finals of Wimbledon last year, and the semi-finals in both 2011 and 2012. Berdych by comparison was beaten in the semi-final of the competition by last year’s winner, Murray.

Skybet Outright Winner – Jo-Wilfried Tsonga – 20/1

Skybet Outright Winner Tomas Berdych – 16/1

Roland-Garros – Men’s Singles – Tournament Preview

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Roland-Garros- Men’s Singles – Tournament Preview

 

The eagerly anticipated Roland-Garros kicks off on the 22nd of May, with the battle for the title expected to be closely fought. More commonly known as the French Open, the Roland-Garros finishes on the 11th June, a mere four weeks before the start of Wimbledon. The competition represents a good chance for players to fine tune their form, and add another grand slam to their trophy cabinets.

 

Rafael Nadal
Rafa Nadal

Rafa Nadal Photo Credit: skysports.com

Fresh from his win in the Madrid open, Nadal will be hoping to give another strong showing, following his sensational start to 2017. After narrowly missing out in the final of the Australian Open, the Spaniard dispatched of World number two Novak Djokovic in straight sets on his way to picking up his fifth Madrid title. Nadal has won the French Open nine times, which is the all-time-record. Often referred to as ‘the king of clay’, Nadal goes in to the tournament as huge favourite to win.

SKYBET: NADAL TO WIN OUTRIGHT- 8/11

 

Novak Djokovic
Novak Djokovic

Novak Djokovic Photo Credit: skysports.com

Reigning champion Djokovic will hope to avenge his semi-final defeat in Madrid by retaining the French Open. Djokovic won the competition for the first time in 2016, and will be keen to lay down a marker before he goes in search of his fourth Wimbledon title. Victory would also see Djokovic pick up his first grand slam of 2017.

 SKYBET: DJOKOVIC TO WIN OUTRIGHT- 4/1

 

Andy Murray
Andy Murray

Andy Murray Photo Credit: skysports.com

Reigning Wimbledon champion and world number one Murray goes in to the French Open looking to recapture his best form. Last year’s beaten finalist has never won the French Open, and this year he will be looking to go one step further. The Scotsman has struggled since winning Wimbledon last year, but this competition represents a final opportunity to impress before the London showcase.

SKYBET: MURRAY TO WIN OUTRIGHT- 7/1

 

Stan Wawrinka
Stan Wawrinka

Stan Wawrinka Photo Credit: skysports.com

World number three Wawrinka is also a favourite for the title in France. After picking up the US Open in 2016, Wawrinka has leap-frogged both Nadal and Federer in the world rankings. The Swiss has firmly established himself as a major force in Tennis, and won the French title back in 2015, beating then world number one Djokovic in the final.

SKYBET: WAWRINKA TO WIN OUTRIGHT- 10/1

 

Dominic Thiem
Dominic Thiem

Dominic Thiem Photo Credit: skysports.com

Thiem recently lost in the final of the Madrid Open to Nadal, and will be desperate to win his first ever grand slam. Currently ranked seventh in the World, the Austrian has drawn praise from his peers. After beating Thiem in Madrid, Nadal said: “The truth is I was up against an opponent who, in the next five to 10 years, will be fighting for the most important titles, so I’m very happy to have won.” High praise for Thiem, and I fancy him as a dark horse to win the competition outright after coming so close before.

SKYBET: DOMINIC THIEM TO WIN OUTRIGHT- 12/1