ATP Match Tips Dubai 03/03

Hard Court – Best Of three sets – R32

Mikhail Youzhny RUS (ATP Ranking 12) - Fabrice Santoro FRA (47) 

Youzhny leads the head to head 4-2 and should be able to prevail here against the French magician. Santoro had to retire from his last match with an elbow injury and there are some doubts over his fitness however he should never be written off and this could be closely contested. 

Predicted Winner :: Youzhny 

Jan Minar CZE (197) - Igor Andreev RUS (34)

Jan Minar is at his best on clay and despite not dropping a set in the qualifiers this will be a bridge too far against the talented Russian. Andreev’s form has not been brilliant of late however he will look to get back on track with a straight forward win here.

 Predicted winner :: Andreev

Stanislas Warwrinka SUI (33) – Jan Hernych CZE (188)

Warwrinka has one of the best backhands in the game and this should help to overcome a very average player in Hernych who tends to rely on opponents mistakes. Hernych came through the qualifiers without dropping a set and I cannot see this trend continuing and is in for tough match against the Swiss number two. 

Predicted winner :: Warwrinka 

David Ferrer ESP (4) – Tommy Haas GER (35) 

Ferrer is a big favourite in this match against an out of form Haas. Haas had shoulder surgery at the end of last season and has not found his confidence this year with some notably poor losses against Becker and Hartfield. Ferrer will make him play every ball and should come through unscathed.

 Predicted Winner :: Ferrer

 Rainer Schuettler GER (88) – Fernando Verdasco ESP (30) 

Schuettler has gone out in the first round in his last two tournaments and this could be case here. The wild card had a few decent wins las year however his form has slumped and will find it difficult against the in form Verdasco. The left hander can be erratic but betters Schuettler in every department. Providing Verdasco is not fatigued from last weeks tournament he should win. 

Predicted winner :: Verdasco 

Mohammed Al Ghareeb KUW (431) – Nikolay Davydenko RUS (5)This should be an easy win for Davydenko against largely unknown wildcard Al Ghareeb.

Predicted Winner :: Davydenko

Roger Federer SUI (1) – Andy Murray GBR (11)

This is Federer’s first tournament since his semi final defeat in the Australian Open and he will be fresh but will he be match fit? Murray’s last match was a disappointing defeat to Robin Haase which proves he is not quite on top of his game yet. His first serve is also unreliable and he would need to correct this if he was to push Federer here. Murray will be hungry for this one and an upset wouldn’t surprise me.

Predicted winner :: Murray

Richard Gasquet FRA (8) – Dmitry Tursunov  RUS (36)This will be a closely contested match with both players demonstrating vastly different styles. Gasquet has a brilliant repertoire of shots while Tursunov uses brute force to muscle out his opponents. Tursunov leads the head to head 2-0 and has been on good form as of late and this match will depend on how well Gasquet can counter the Tursunov power play. 

Predicted Winner :: Gasquet