Dubai Tennis Championships Final: Youzhny vs. Djokovic
Dubai, UAE – Top seed Novak Djokovic has punched at his weight class to negotiate a path into the Barclay‘s Dubai Tennis Championships. That he has reached the final is a relief for tournament organizers that watched as the carefully assembled draw fell apart on sub-standard performances by some of the top seeds.
Namely Andy Murray, who not only fell to Tipsarevic on the back of a poor effort in the second round but added insult to injury when, with a backhanded jibe he claimed, he didn’t care about his loss. Apparently, defeat here wasn’t the end of the world because events of this nature are an opportunity to experiment and practise different tactics.
Dubai organizers that paid Murray handsomely for attending the event (requisite $1 million+ guaranteed fee to turn up) and put him up in lap of luxury in a $2,300 a night duplex suite at the 7-star Burj al Arab hotel since arriving in the Gulf a week ago were not too pleased with the Scott let us just say. Justifiably so.
They expected a lot more from the third seed, at the very least a more concentrated effort to reach the latter stages of the tournament. Such scandalous disinterest and disregard for what he would consider mundane (over a mil on the table are you serious?) doesn’t breed respect for the Scot nor will it win him any fans methinks. Think you he might be getting an invite next year? I am going to hazard a no.
Thankfully, Djokovic has taken his commission in Dubai seriously and he reaches the finale with aplomb. He is set to take on Mikhail Youzhny for the title in what should be a very interesting match. The market certainly is so.
- Tennis Betting Line: Mikhail Youzhny +190 Novak Djokovic -275
- First Set Tennis Line: Mikhail Youzhny +175 Novak Djokovic -225
- Tennis Match Time: 10:00 AM Eastern Time Saturday February 27, 2010
Tennis Betting Verdict: Djokovic enters this match as the -275 favourite to win outright and the -225 favourite to take the first set. He is the defending champion, the newly minted world No.2 and in good-from this season. Tennis bettors could not ask for a better recommendation. Youzhny, however, is a dangerous threat to Djokovic.
The Russian is capable of vexing Djokovic, if not outright beating him. In fact, he beat him only a few weeks ago in Rotterdam in the semis 7-6(5), 7-6(6). Lifetime, Youzhny and Djokovic are 3-3 but the Russian has the1-0 edge on him in 2010. Trading at +190 to win outright and +175 to take the first set, Youzhny is a value play. Question is can he repeat his Rotterdam performance or will Djokovic have his revenge. Seems to be there is value whichever way you slice this match.
For my part, and I am not the biggest Djokovic fan I will admit, I am strangely rooting for him to win. If only to restore back, some of the faith lost in the top five by Murray’s selfish behaviour and poor representation.
