Thursday, August 10, 2006

I have been waiting for ......


...... Thomas Johansson to show a return to form.

The 31 yo Swede has missed much of this season following an operation to repair a detached retina, caused in warm up by a stray tennis ball.

Today he meets Xavier Malisse, a tough opponent who has started the tournament well, with wins over Davydenko and Srichaphan.

However, this match is less about the player from Belgium and more about Johansson's fitness and general well being. In the first round he beat Feliciano Lopez, despite the Spaniard banging down 19 aces and Lleyton Hewitt yesterday, the Aussie retired a set and 3-2 down. At the odds on offer, that is enough for me to side with the former Australian Open winner.

Thomas is a former winner of this title and holds a 15-6 record in Toronto, even including his two wins this week, Xavier is still only 4-5 here.

H2h is 4-1 in Johansson's favour, last meeting was in the Australian Open early this year, the Swede winning in 5 sets.

3 points Johansson to beat Malisse 2.40 betfair.

Good Luck.

2 comments:

doelyn said...

Beesrule,

Today only 2 posts for soccer is it? Anyway, good luck to you as well today...

The Natural said...

Hi Doelyn,

Yes, sorry, forgot to say, was going to go for 3 , CSKA -1.5 was the other, but the line moved, so decided to leave it.

Should have mentioned that.

Regards