Men's French Open Betting: Exhausted Robredo's only chance is early against Ferrer

The men's quarter finals begin today at the 2013 French Open and the all-Spanish affair between Tommy Robredo and David Ferrer looks one way traffic, but Sean Calvert has unearthed some potentially profitable betting options...

Monday was a winning day for this column, but it wasn't a great one for my nerves, as I had to sit through another four hour plus marathon at Roland Garros.

I said yesterday that the clash between Stan Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet would most likely be entertaining and long, with the Swiss coming out on top and that was the case, but I underestimated the entertainment factor in what was an outstanding match.

Wawrinka had to come back from two sets down, but it was always likely that Gasquet, once again, would choke and somehow find a way to lose and so it was, but anyone that witnessed it on TV or live on Court Suzanne Lenglen would have been enthralled by over 150 clean winners - 92 from the flashing blade of the Swiss.

It was the second time in two days that the French crowd had seen their player beaten by a Swiss from a dominant position, but it won't have done Wawrinka any good to play four hours ahead of a quarter final clash with Rafa Nadal, who eased past Kei Nishikori.

That's for tomorrow though and first up is another marathon man, Tommy Robredo, who takes on David Ferrer on Court Suzanne Lenglen at around 3pm UK time today.

Having backed Tommy Haas as one of my back-to-lay outsiders pre-tournament I'm clearly hoping that Robredo can somehow summon up some more energy from his exhausted limbs to beat Ferrer, but it seems highly unlikely.

Having to come from two sets down three sets down in hardly great preparation for facing the indefatigable Ferrer and in any case Robredo has taken just one set from the last six contested against his countryman.

A fit Robredo would be an outside bet, but a tired one seems destined to fail and the last set or so could be a complete capitulation unless Robredo has been studying at the Nadal/Djokovic school of recovery.

The first set will be vital and really Tommy's only chance lies in the opener, which is the logical place for a bet in a match with few realistic options unless you fancy piling in on Ferrer at 1.07 or hoping for a physical miracle from Robredo at 14.5.

Tommy has started so slowly in his last three matches that he'll be very aware that that needs to stop today and he'll surely be coming out of the blocks fast to take advantage of any nerves from his opponent, who does suffer from nerves on the big occasion - and a Roland Garros quarter final is certainly that.

The Robredo +2.5 games is available to back at around 2.1 and that seems like a good wager and the set three total games at under 9.5 is a good option at around 1.7 as well, with Tommy surely being cooked by that stage of the match.

Recommended Bet
Back Robredo +2.5 games in set one at 2.1

Bet HERE

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