Sugita $1.35 and Mitchell $1.77 at Burnie Challenger

Quarter finals day at the Burnie International and we have four matches as potential betting chances!

To start the day we see Thailand's Udomchoke up against #1 seed Lu. Lu would seem like the obvious choice but his odds of $1.50 (-200) make the bet bad value. On the flipside Udomchoke is capable of beating Lu on his day, and is in fine form this campaign. You might do better than the $2.70 (+170) currently on offer if you wait until closer to match time.

Then we see young Ben Mitchell opening as favorite for the first time this tourney against the little known Jimmy Wang, who has played a grand total of 10 matches over the last 4 years (following injury in late 2007). That said Wang has comeback strongly this campaign, taking a set from Sugita in Chennai in his first match in over 12 months. He did drop a set to love in the first round here but came out and demolished Look 6-1 6-2 yesterday. Almost seems to me this is a bigger tossup then his previous two rounds as underdog, yet the bookies send Mitchell out as favourite today. I'm well ahead on him for this tourney so will keep following, but without conviction.

Then we have the clash of the Aussies, Groth v Millman. Millman is the better player, but like Lu, the odds are too short to take him here.

The last quarter should be the match of the day, with Chinese journeyman Ti Chen sure to make Yuichi Sugita work hard to progress. But progress he will.

D Udomchoke $2.70 (+170) v H-Y Lu at Bovada
Benjamin Mitchell $1.77 (-130) vs Jimmy Wang at 5Dimes
Yuichi Sugita $1.35 (-290) vs Ti Chen at 5Dimes

I am also parlaying Mitchell/Sugita for $2.07 (+107) at 5Dimes

Danai Udomchoke

Ben Mitchell $2.25 v James Duckworth in Burnie Challenger

Australian James Duckworth made headlines during January, particularly in his home country, for stepping up to ATP level to beat Mahut in Brisbane and then Zopp in Melbourne to make the 2nd Round of the Australian Open.

The Duck drops back to his more familiar Challenger Tour stomping ground this week but I think the bookies are putting a little too much import on those ATP level matches.

Duckworth likes clay, or a slow court generally, and his historic performances on the Burnie track are much less than stellar.

By contrast this is Mitchell's ideal surface and reports suggest he is fired up to remind Duckworth he is not the only young Aussie on the cusp of making the jump to ATP level. (having recently beaten Kukushkin and Mayer during qualifying for the Sydney ATP event)



Benjamin Mitchell $2.25 (+125) vs James Duckworth at 5Dimes

19yo Ben Mitchell Is A Strapping Lad