Fresh from his Grand National winning tip on our sister site Football365.com, Deggsy Bilton is back to look at this week’s Monte Carlo Masters.
In case you missed it, Deggsy had the 12/1 Tiger Roll to win the Grand National in his Cheeky Punt column.
Back to the tennis and Rafael Nadal has 10 tournament victories to his name at the Monte Carlo Masters but could be worth taking on this week.
The brilliant Spaniard has dominated on the red clay of Monaco in recent years and unsurprisingly goes off as a 4/6 shot to do the business again.
Historically this is the time of year that Nadal normally hits his stride but he’s not played a great deal of tennis in 2018 and for all we know could still be miles away from his best form.
He’s the most likely winner for sure given his 63-4 lifetime win-loss record at the event but he has yet to truly prove he’s over those injury niggles and it could pay to take a risk on some other names at bigger prices.
With no Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic clearly struggling, Dominic Thiem could be worth siding with at 16/1. Thiem is one of the best players in the world on clay and posed the biggest threat to Rafa on red dirt last season.
For whatever reason it’s not quite happened for him at this particular tournament so far in his career but this could be the week when all that changes. Thiem has made back-to-back semi-finals at Roland Garros so clearly has the game and he won’t be fazed by anyone in this draw.
In the opposite half of the draw Alexander Zverev could easily have a big week but the young German can blow hot and cold on clay so looks short enough at 10/1.
One outsider who could be worth an each-way interest though is Lucas Pouille. He brings a respectable 7-3 record to the event and has enjoyed some notable wins already this season. Pouille was excellent in helping France see off Italy in the Davis Cup recently and the world number 11 should be looking to really make a statement this week.
He made the last four here in 2017 before losing to Albert Ramos. Most of Pouille’s best results have come on clay and so there’s plenty to like about current 28/1 quotes.
Bilko’s Banker: Dominic Thiem to win the Monte Carlo Masters at 16/1 (Boylesports)
Best of the Rest: Lucas Pouille to win the Monte Carlo Masters at 28/1 (Coral)
Deggsy Bilton
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