Djokovic Looks To Avoid An Upset Against Golubev

Novak Djokovic will continue his pursuit of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships title this afternoon (15:00) as he takes on 27-year-old Russian Andrey Golubev. In the first round, the Serb world number one took down Vasek Pospisil 6-4, 6-4 whilst Golubev saw off Frenchman Fabrice Martin 7-5, 6-4.

Today`s meeting will be the fourth time the two men have met in ATP competitions, Djokovic running out the winner on all three previous occasions. As a result, the 27-year-old, who is only two months older than his opponent, can be backed at odds of 1/66 with most bookmakers to progress through to the third round with a win this afternoon. Golubev is looking for only his second ATP title, his first being earned in the International German Open. boylesports have the best price on his springing a surprise on the Serb, that being 25/1.

This price is so massive because the 6` Russian has never managed to scoop a set against the number one seed in all three of their previous on-court meetings. He has even failed to force the Belgrade-born star to play a 13th game in a set. Consequentially, the resident of Kazakhstan is available at 11/2 with william hill to even pick up a set.

The last time the pair met was in the first round of Wimbledon 2014. Djokovic`s straight sets victory was swift, his rival failing to win a game in the first set before the second set was completed 6-1 and with the third finishing 6-4.

Prior to this clash, the men hadn`t met on-court since 2012 where they faced off in their second successive Indian Wells second round match. This ended as another straight sets success for Djokovic, the result reading 6-3, 6-2. In the Indian Wells of 2011, Golubev was against swiftly dispatched, failing to win a game in the first set of their first ever encounter before putting up a better fight to lose the second set 6-4.

Spreadex have the best price on a fourth consecutive straights sets win for the Serbian, that being 1/7. No bookmakers are currently offering odds on a 6-0 appearing in the match though it might be worth looking out for change in this market, what with the frequency with which Djokovic has dispatched Golubev without the latter even winning a game. Could he do it for a third time in four matches tonight?

As you would expect, the favourite, who is looking to secure his 50th ATP title in Dubai this week, is also the favourite to take the first set in their fourth successive meeting. betfair have the best price on this happening at 1/25.

Indeed, punters can also place wagers on how the first set will finish. Djokovic has twice beaten Golubev 6-0 in the first set and is 1500/100 (sportingbet) to do this once again this afternoon. Their other first set encounter ended 6-3 to Djokovic and this outcome is 10/3 with Coral to happen again.

The 10-time Grand Slam champion beat the Russian by a margin of 13 games when regaining his Wimbledon title last year. Whilst this could not happen again, there are odds of 6/1 at paddy Power on the two men being separated by 10 or more games.

In their initial Indian Wells meeting, the pair were separated by a margin of eight games, this being reduced to seven in their second encounter in the US. paddy Power have 10/3 on one of the men defeating the other by a seven game margin whilst a victory by eight games can be backed at odds of 4/1.

Go To bet365

#Ad

25/02/2015     © Frixo 2024