Roddick finally shows promise as the season enters final weeks

It’s been a torrid time for Andy Roddick on the hard courts recently, a third round defeat at the US Open followed by tournament exits to lower ranked players has seen him slip out of the world’s top eight.

Roddick faces David Nalbandian on Friday in a tie that will confirm whether or not Roddick is finding his form as the season draws to a close.

Roddick is 10/11 to beat the Argentine and holds a 3-2 head-to-head record, but since winning the first three ties against Nalbandian on the hard court, Roddick has subsequently lost the last two meetings in straight sets.

It has been a while since the two have played each other, the TMC Shanghai tournament in 2006 was the scene of Nalbandian’s most recent victory over his opponent, and the Argentine is in a similar run of form to Roddick.

Nalbandian is 4/5 to beat Roddick but with both players striving to find form, this match is likely to be tight with Nalbandian available at 11/4 to win 2-1 and Roddick is 3/1 to win 2-1.

Viktor Troicki vs Richard Gasquet

First up on the Basle courts on Friday are Richard Gasquet and Viktor Troicki and the two will face each other for the first time.

Both are playing off a career high world ranking and so are in great form, but Gasquet is five places ahead of his opponent and is worth backing at 10/11 to beat Troicki.

Roger Federer vs Radek Stepanek

Radek Stepanek can boast two wins over Roger Federer in the ten times they’ve faced each other, but both of those wins came on clay and Federer is the overwhelming favourite at 1/20 to beat Stepanek and it’s hard to picture an upset.

A win for Federer would enhance his position at the top of the winners market where the Swiss star is 5/4 to win the Swiss Indoors.

Andy Roddick is 12/1 to win the Swiss Indoors. See the full Swiss Indoors betting odds here.