Birmingham

Bookies very slow to price up so I have to use Centrebet prices. I imagine there'll be better lines later as Centrebet have poor margins.

Half units today as grass form very hard to read first-up.


Kremer v Perebynis
Round 1

Both players have been in poor form during the clay season but this is nothing unusual for Kremer as she prefers faster surfaces. Her 34/20 record on grass is very good and compares favourably to the records of much better players. She tends to do well in Birmingham having reached the QF's in 20002 and 2004. Perebiynis is better suited to clay though she's a respectable 11/7 on grass. The quality of the opponents she has beaten however, does not match those of Kremer.

Kremer $1.87 @ Centrebet HALF UNIT
(will probably be better prices elsewhere within an hour or so)


Panova v Washington
Round 1

Two more players who have been in very ordinary form lately. However Panova has the edge on grass with a superior record and better movement on court. Her 23/17 record includes a few wins over good grass-court players plus she beat Washington 6:3 6:4 at Wimbledon last year. Washington has only played Birmingham once before (2002) when she was knocked out in the first round. Most of her wins on grass have come in Wimbledon qualifiers though she only went on to win one first round match in those tournaments

Panova $1.68 @ Centrebet HALF UNIT
(will probably be better prices elsewhere within an hour or so)


NOTES: I'd avoid the very low prices ($1.20 - $1.30) on players such as Stosur and Morigami. While they are deserved favourites, no one should be that short at this point of the season. Past results show quite a few First Round upsets - though they're not easy to pick. Also players like Mirza and Groenefeld have no WTA records on grass to speak of so their favouritism may be based on their hardcourt results. Too much of a gamble for me.