If he stays injury free, which is a big if, I expect Gael Monfils to start fulfilling his potential and have a huge year on tour.
The Frenchman looks attractively priced for his encounter with Mikhail Youzhny today. I did not see his opening round 6-3 6-4 win over Seppi, but read that it was a scrappy affair. Not too bothered by that, at this stage of the season and he would have been helped by a very long doubles match yesterday.
Along with Grosjean, he defeated Johansson and Ljubicic, 10-8 in the third. I think we can forget any lingering ankle injury concerns, as he would not have put his tournament life at risk in an extended doubles tie.
Gael made the final here last year, losing to Roger Federer, the conditions suit him well and we can take a chance, at the odds on offer.
Elsewhere, El Aynaoui, at the ripe old age of 36, is also competing in Doha. He beat Thomas Johansson 7-6 7-6 in his opening match, to record his first ATP Tour win in 10 months.
He also likes it here, winning in 2002 and making the final in 1996, I told you he was old !
Last year he defeated Sebastian Grosjean, in a season which produced very few highlights. On his day he has a strong serve and is difficult to break. He will struggle to get past Ivan Ljubicic, who won 60 matches and ended the year, with a career high, season end ranking of number 5. But he is capable of extending the match and a lay of Ljubicic 2-0 in sets, or a buy of total games, could pay dividends.
Nikolay Davydenko should dispose of Jonas Bjorkman in double quick time, albeit at very low odds, he dropped only four points on his first serve and did not give up a break point, in a first round win. He appears to have picked up this year, where he finished last. Looks like married life will not change him either, having played a Tour high 32 weeks last year, he is on the go from week one.
3 points Monfils 2.27 to beat Youzhny.... pinnacle sports
LAY 4 points Ljubicic to beat El Aynaoui 2-0 sets 1.40 betfair ( exposure 1.6 points )
2.5 points Davydenko to beat Bjorkman 2-0 sets 1.36 betfair
Good Luck.
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