ATP Bank of Austria: Cilic and Lopez bid for a spot in the quarters

Vienna, Austria – Top seed Marin Cilic and sixth seed Felicano Lopez will be attempting to land a spot in the quarters when the Bank of Austria resumes action on Thursday in the second round. Cilic will take on Daniel Brands while Lopez will take on home favourite Daniel Koellerer.

Tennis Betting Line: Marin Cilic vs. Daniel Brands

Match Time: 06:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday October 29, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Croatian Marin Cilic has enjoyed a standout season to reach a career high ranking of No.13. He is after a quarterfinal appearance at the US Open and picking up two titles on the season – Chennai and Zagreb. Most recently, he was a runner-up in Beijing (l. to Djokovic) after beating Rafael Nadal 6-1, 6-3 in the semis.

It will be the first time Cilic and Germany’s world No. 125 Daniel Brands go head-to-head but as their ranking indicates, there is a huge drop off in talent between these two players. Cilic simply is at a higher level and he should take this match easily.

Tennis Free Picks: Cilic in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Feliciano Lopez vs. Daniel Kollerer

Match Time: 06:00 AM Eastern Time Thursday October 29, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Austria’s Daniel Koellerer will hope to give home fans something to cheer about when he takes on Spaniard Felicano Lopez. The temperamental Kollerer is never easy to play against, especially not when he unleashes his vicious temper and indulges in various on-court tantrums – something that is in my opinion a blatant stalling tactic used to get an opponent off their game but more often than not though it only distracts him. As such, Koellerer hasn’t met with a whole lot of success over his career. Only this season, at the age of 26, has he reached a career high ranking of world No.55. He arrives in Vienna with a 9-15 mark on the season.

Former Vienna champion and world No. 45 Feliciano Lopez has had his share of struggles this season but recently he seems to be enjoying a positive trend. Nothing a coaching change and a little hair cut couldn’t change apparently. Lopez is after finishing in the in the Beijing semis (l. to Nadal) and a second round finish in Stockholm. He reaches the second round with a victory over Austrian wild card Andreas Haider-Maurerer 6-4, 6-4. Lopez takes a 6-2 mark into the second round.

Going on current form one has to give the edge to Feliciano Lopez in this match. Koellerer might have home edge and the support of home fans but he because he is such a hothead he is an unreliable play.