ATP Picks: Valencia and Basel

There is a lot at stake at this ATP 500 tournament for any player with a shot at reaching the London Finals.

The Spanish Armada are in full force and although we’re not on clay, the local support will carry them an extra round or two. The enigmatic Feliciano ‘F-Lo’ Lopez is well suited on this surface to do some damage in the draw and Juan Carlos ‘ The Mosquito’ Ferrero has been playing well of late, almost taking down Ferrer in Shanghai.

Plenty of great looking 1st round matches here and some French flair on display with Gael ‘Force’ Monfils and Jo Willy Tsonga, so this tournament will be one to enjoy!

Let’s break it down:

Surface: Indoor Hard
Defending Champion: David Ferrer
Dark Horse: Feliciano Lopez
My pick: Jo Tsonga

Roger Federer returns! It will be interesting to see how he is playing with a long lay off as well as Djokovic, who has not played for a few weeks. Late entrants include Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Marco Chiudinelli & Donald Young, which makes for a loaded field.

Plenty to play for as well, with Tomas ‘T-Berd’ Berdych and Mardy Fish looking to lock up their places for London.

Let’s break it down:

Surface: Indoor Hard
Defending Champion: Roger Federer
Dark Horse: Novak Djokovic (that’s right)
My pick: Andy Murray (that’s right)