Yokkaichi Challenger 1/16-Finals
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Taguchi – Shimabukuro: 26.11.2024 02:00 CEST
H2H: first meeting
Ryotaro Taguchi has won three of his last five matches. Here in Yokkaichi, Taguchi successfully qualified for the main draw tournament. In the first qualifying round, Taguchi defeated Motoyama in straight sets. After that, in the final qualifying round, Ryotaro won against Shiraishi in straight sets. Last week in Yokohama, Taguchi failed to qualify for the main draw tournament. This week, he is looking for a solid result to get into the top 500 in the rankings.
Sho Shimabukuro has lost three of his last five matches. Last week in Yokohama, Sho lost in the opening round against Hassan in straight sets. The Japanese had a somewhat turbulent season so far. He had his most significant results on the Challenger Tour level, where he had some decent success. His biggest result was winning the challenger title in Shanghai earlier this season. This week, he is looking for a solid result to cement his top 200 status. With his skill set, we believe Shimabukuro will fight for a top 100 place next season.
Best Bet to Make
According to the bookies, Shimabukuro is the big favorite in this matchup, and we agree with that. He is a better player than Taguchi, and we expect him to dominate from the start. Taguchi has yet to face a top 500 player in this tournament, so we have yet to see his true potential. On the other hand, Sho is a proven player.
That being said, Shimabukuro covering the games handicap is a value bet.
Value bet/ the best odds: Sho Shimabukuro -5.5 games handicap @1.83 @bet365
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Nishioka – Moriya: 26.11.2024 03:30 CEST
H2H: 2-1
Yoshihito Nishioka has lost three of his last five matches. The last match he played was in Shanghai, almost two months ago, where he retired mid-match against Zhou in the opening round. Nishioka battled with cramps and minor injuries, so he has not played for the last two months. Nishioka is looking to regain his form and gain momentum before the season ends. He spent most of the season playing at the highest level. His most significant result this season was winning the title in Atlanta, where he defeated Thompson in the final.
Hiroki Moriya has won four of his last five matches. Two weeks ago, Moriya played in Kobe, where he lost his opening match against Bolt in three tight sets. Here in Yokkaichi, Moriya successfully qualified for the main draw tournament. In the final qualifying round, Hiroki defeated Merino in straight sets.
Best Bet to Make
According to the bookies, Moriya is the big underdog in this matchup. We believe that Nishioka will win this match. However, he has not played for a while now, so we expect him to be slightly rusty on the court tomorrow. On the other hand, Moriya played many matches under similar conditions, so we expect him to keep this match tight.
That being said, Moriya covering the games handicap is a value bet.
Value bet/ the best odds: Hiroki Moriya +5.5 games handicap @1.83 @bet365
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Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
