Berlocq v Mayer: (clay)
Berlocq is a decent claycourter and won a Challenger event on clay last week.
I am a little surprised that Mayer chose to play this event rather than in Metz on hard courts. He hasn’t played since the US Open where he reached the third round losing to Ferrer in straight sets. He does have a good record on clay though and perhaps he feels he has a chance of picking up some points as he only reached the second round last year.
Berlocq will be full of confidence and this should be a close match. Mayer will need to improve on his recent form and I think he is at a disadvantage in the early games as he needs to get back to “claycourt mode” whereas Berlocq doesn’t. So I expect Berlocq to get the better start and probably take the first set.
Mayer may take a set but I have to go with the in form claycourter.
(1.74)
Mahut v Clement: (hard court)
Clement beat Llodra in straight sets yesterday but I don’t think too much should be read into that result. Lllodra said before the match that is it difficult to find motivation when playing a friend. He didn’t put much effort in at all. Maybe the only thing to take from that match was that after long points Clement was almost on his knees and begging for oxygen.
Mahut leads the head to heads 6-1 although Clement won their most recent match in July this year.
Clement still has the skills that raised him to world number 10 back in 2001 but his body just can’t take it. He had a long week a couple of weeks ago when he reached the final of a Challenger event and I’m sure he hasn’t stopped aching from that.
He will make a match of it but will fade more and more as the match progresses. Half stake on Mahut from the start. I feel its possible Clement makes a decent start and may catch Mahut cold. Mahut was in good form in his last match though so I don’t want to miss out if Clements legs are like jelly after a few games.
(1.64)
