Shanghai Masters Betting: Haas to get the better of Almagro

Tommy Haas is Sean's strong first round pick
The showpiece event in the Asian swing of the ATP Tour begins in the early hours of Monday morning so we asked Sean Calvert for his pick of the first round wagers...
The Shanghai Rolex Masters is the penultimate Masters 1000 event of the season and Andy Murray is back to defend his title in an event generally voted by the players as one of the most enjoyable on tour.
They clearly enjoy playing in front of about six spectators then, as that's what usually happens here, but I digress.
Monday's play, which begins at around 6am UK time features the likes of Sam Querrey, Richard Gasquet and Alexandr Dolgopolov on the schedule, but the match of the day should be Tommy Haas vs Nico Almagro.
This clash of the one-handed backhands should be a good one to watch and it's the night match, so it's on at a reasonable hour - around lunchtime in the UK.
I advised Hass as one of my long shots to follow in my tournament preview this week and he is a tempting 2.021/1 underdog to win this match and I like his chances.
Almagro has never done well in China, with a 3-7 record and he really didn't look too interested in a poor defeat to Tatsuma Ito in Tokyo last week.
I can't see him getting anywhere near qualifying for the end of season tournament at the O2 in London so one would have to question his motivation at the moment.
Almagro has won just one match on a hard court between the US Open and the end of the season in each of the last three years and he has one of the worst end of season records going.
I would expect him to be focused solely on the Davis Cup and Haas should take full advantage on Monday.
After losing first up to Mikhail Youzhny in Beijing last week Haas should have enough left in the tank to go on a run in Shanghai and on a hard court I would expect him to have too much for a de-motivated Almagro.
They've met just once in the past and that was way back in 2005 on clay, which Haas won and he's worth a bet today at odds-against in conditions that suit.
Recommended Bet
Back Haas to beat Almagro at 2.021/1