Kevin Anderson (1.73) v Leonardo Mayer (2.2)

Anderson has come through qualifying to set up a third meeting with Mayer. The Argentine prevailed in their first two meetings but on those two occasions Anderson was ranked outside the top 130, while recent improvements have seen him climb to 84. In addition, their last meeting, which was on hard courts back in February, was only settled by two tie-breaks in further evidence that Anderson was not far off the pace even then.

The big South African was ranked 161 at the start of the year and notably led Davydenko by two sets in the first round at Wimbledon. However, he’s bounced back from that set back to reach the semis in Atlanta where he took a set off Isner, then won a set from Querrey in LA (who went on to win the title) and was a comfortable winner in his two qualifying matches. Moreover, he’s won his last eight matches against players now ranked 51-100 since losing to Mayer.

In contrast Mayer has lost seven of his last 12 matches this year against current 51-100 ranked players as he also lost the first set seven times. More generally Mayer has lost his last six matches back to his French Open exit.

Furthermore, qualifiers have won only 21/49 first round matches against non-seeds and non-qualifiers (or WC/LL) they have won the first set on 26 occasions suggesting their match practice gives them an advantage early on. Despite this, Anderson is longer to win the first set than to win the match.

Recommendation: Mayer to win the first set at 1.80, Betfair

Dominika Cibulkova (1.83) v Alona Bondarenko (2.2)

This is a third meeting for these players with the previous two having been split one apiece and both going the distance.

Cibulkova reached the third round at Wimbledon where she put up a creditable performance against Serena Williams and has had some past success during the US hard court swing having reached the Rogers Cup final in 2008. The Slovak has also won eight of 12 completed matches on hard courts against current 26-50 ranked players since 2009, including five of seven this year.

Bondarenko has just returned from a month off after getting married, and lost to Safina in the first round in San Diego. After starting the year superbly the Ukrainian has done little of note. In fact she has lost five of her last six matches against players currently ranked 26-50, including four defeats in straight sets, and since 2009 has lost eight of 13 such matches on hard courts.

Recommendation: Cibulkova to win at 1.83, Stan James

Shahar Peer (1.4) v Olga Govortsova (3.6)

Peer and Govortsova meet for a sixth time with the Belarussian holding a 3-2 advantage although Peer won their last meeting. The Israeli was thrashed in her last match in San Diego by Agnieszka Radwanska but had recorded two good wins against Ivanovic and Shvedova to reach the quarters and has generally been excellent this year. Moreover, she’s won 12 of 13 first round matches this year and also 12 of 14 matches against players currently ranked 26-50 with eight wins in straight sets.

Since reaching the final at Ponte Vedra Beach earlier this year Govortsova has been in a slump and has lost 12 of 15 matches. Moreover, she’s lost 13 of her last 16 matches against players currently ranked 11-25 with all five of her defeats not on clay coming in straight sets. Further increasing the sample, she’s also lost 10/12 matches against players ranked 11-50 this year.

Recommendation: Peer to win 2-0 at 2.0, 888 Sport