ATP Sao Paulo Predictions

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Golden Swing Concludes With 2018 ATP Sao Paulo featuring Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The ATP 250 tournament in Sao Paulo, Brazil concludes the clay court golden swing in South America. A host of South American dirtballers will be joined by Gael Monfils, Fabio Fognini, and Albert Ramos in the hunt for an ATP title.

Top Half:

Top seed Albert Ramos-Vinolas has not had a great golden swing and really needs to get past Thiago Monteiro (or Guilherme Clezar) in the second round. Monteiro has had some unlucky results lately, and likely loses round 2 to Ramos. Chile’s Nicolas Jarry reached semis in Rio and has had a solid golden swing. He should keep it up against Dusan Lajovic, then defeat Guido Pella or Corentin Moutet in round 2. I’ll back Jarry over Ramos in the quarters given Jarry just beat Ramos in Rio.

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Gael Monfils has posted 2 quarters and a semi in his golden swing efforts. He’ll open with Thomaz Bellucci or Horacio Zeballos. Presuming Monfils wins that and reaches the quarters he’ll face either Rogerio Dutra Silva or Nicolas Kicker. Kicker opens with a fading Victor Estrella, Dutra Silva faces Tennys Sandgren. I’ll back Monfils over both Brazilians (Bellucci and RDS) to reach the semis.

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Bottom Half:

Fabio Fognini reached semis in Rio and should get past Renzo Olivo/Joao Domingues in his first match. Federico Delbonis should follow in the quarters. Delbonis faces a potentially unfit Roberto Carballes Baena in round 1. Gerald Melzer or veteran Guillermo Garcia-Lopez will follow. Fognini vs. Delbonis could decide the tournament champion in the quarters. I’ll go with Fognini to reach the semis.

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Pablo Cuevas is playing well enough that he should defeat Marco Cecchinato/Sebastian Ofner, then Leonardo Mayer in the quarters. Mayer opens with Gastao Elias, Carlos Berlocq/Thiago Wild will follow.

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Predictions

Semis
Monfils d. Jarry
Fognini d. Cuevas

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Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini aren’t the only possible champions in SP, but they should be co-favorites. Monfils has played the whole golden swing and should walk away with at least one title.

Final
Monfils d. Fognini

2017 ATP Sao Paulo Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The ATP Golden Swing wraps up this week with a 250 stop in Sao Paulo, Brazil, the country’s second ATP World Tour stop.

Brasil Open
ATP World Tour 250
Sao Paulo, Brazil
February 27-March 5, 2017
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $455,565

Top 4 seeds (Who all receive first round byes) (ATP rankings in parentheses)
1: Pablo Carreno Busta (24)
2: Albert Ramos (25)
3: Pablo Cuevas (30)
4: Joao Sousa (39)

A lack of top 20 players will dampen enthusiasm for the Sao Paulo clay court tournament.

First round matches to watch:

Gerald Melzer vs. Victor Estrella

Melzer isn’t in bad form, but Estrella is a difficult opponent. The veteran won Quito and badly needs to finish the Golden Swing with momentum. This is a battle of steady dirtballers that is likely to go three sets.

(6)Diego Sebastian Schwartzman vs. Thomaz Bellucci

Schwartzman reached the semis in Rio, but trails Bellucci in the h2h, and the Brazilian is playing at home. The big hitting Bellucci could overpower DSS, but Schwartzman should be able to find his focus and reach the second round.

Top Half:

Rio finalist Pablo Carreno Busta is 6-2 on clay in 2017 and should ease past either a struggling Horacio Zeballos or Joao Souza to reach the quarterfinals. Italy’s Fabio Fognini should beat his countryman, qualifier Marco Cecchinato, while Italian Alessandro Giannessi should defeat Brazil’s Rogerio Dutra Silva to reach round 2. Fognini has a great opportunity to upset Carreno Busta to reach the semifinals, however PCB has a 3-0 h2h advantage, making him the favorite to reach the semis.

Pablo Cuevas has won two straight titles in Sao Paulo, he’ll go for a third straight with an opening match against Facundo Bagnis or Dusan Lajovic. The winner of Melzer/Estrella has a shot at the quarterfinals, but the Bellucci/Schwartzman winner should be the one in the quarters opposite Cuevas. Cuevas has been struggling, and DSS has a 3-1 h2h edge, Schwartzman should reach the semifinals from this section, ending Cuevas title bid.

Bottom Half:

7-3 on clay in 2017, Albert Ramos is in good form and should defeat Gastao Elias/Orlando Luz, and then face Thiago Monteiro in the quarterfinals. Monteiro has made two straight quarterfinals, and is playing at home in Brazil. He’ll open against Carlos Berlocq, a semifinalist in Buenos Aires. Monteiro’s round 2 opponent will be Guido Pella or qualifier Guilherme Clezar. Both players are struggling, as are Elias and Luz. Ramos will be the favorite over Monteiro and has a great shot at the title.

Federico Delbonis should defeat qualifier Jozef Kovalik, then face Rio semifinalist Casper Ruud. The young Ruud opens with fellow teenager Akira Santillan, despite his possible fatigue he should win that clay court match, then fall to Delbonis. Joao Sousa should defeat the winner of Inigo Cervantes/Renzo Olivo to reach the quarters as well. Sousa and Delbonis have split meetings, I give Sousa a slight edge to reach the semis.

Dark Horse: Thiago Monteiro

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Brazil’s Monteiro has a great shot at winning a title on home soil. He’s posted solid results on clay this year, and has a reasonable draw, with Ramos and Sousa/Delbonis in his path to the final. Look for this young gun to make a run this week.

Predictions:

Semis
Carreno Busta d. Schwartzman
Ramos d. Sousa

PCB is in better form than Schwartzman, Ramos has a slight h2h edge over Sousa despite Sousa’s h2h win this season in Auckland. On clay Ramos is the favorite.

Final
Carreno Busta d. Ramos

PCB has a 2-0 h2h against Ramos and has a great shot at a third career ATP title after losing the final in Rio last week.

2016 ATP Sao Paulo Preview and Predictions
Steen Kirby, Tennis Atlantic

The last call on the golden swing on South American clay is Sao Paulo, Brazil, as a host of dirtballers descend to do battle.

Brasil Open
ATP World Tour 250
Sao Paulo, Brazil
February 22-28, 2016
Surface: Clay
Prize Money: $436,220

*denotes joint ATP/WTA event

Top 4 seeds (Who all receive first round byes) (ATP ranking in parentheses)
1: Benoit Paire (22)
2: Thomaz Bellucci (32)
3: Pablo Cuevas (45)
4: Federico Delbonis (46)

First round matchups to watch:

(7)Nicolas Almagro vs. (WC)Thiago Monteiro

The three time Sao Paulo champion Almagro is nearly back into the top 50, and he’ll open finish his golden swing campaign with an opening match against the wild card Monteiro. The 21 year old Brazilian stunned Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a top 10 win in Rio in his ATP debut, and also has some good challenger results this year. Almagro is a heavy favorite, but opponents will be wary of Monteiro on clay for a while after his performance against Tsonga.

(5)Albert Ramos vs. Pablo Carreno Busta

The first meeting between these Spanish dirtballers. The spin maestro Ramos should be the favorite since Carreno Busta has lost three straight, but this should be a high quality clay court contest.

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Top Half:

Top seed Benoit Paire went 19-9 on clay last season, and is playing on the surface for the first time this season after a run to the semifinals in Marseille on home soil. Paire will face Dusan Lajovic or Luca Vanni as the Buenos Aires quarterfinalist Lajovic seeks to avenge his loss last year to Vanni in Sao Paulo. Paire could take his check and lose early, but skill wise he should be able to reach the quarterfinals.

Qualifier Gastao Elias of Portugal has a good chance to pull a round one upset over Pablo Andujar. The #8 seed hasn’t won a match in 2016, while Elias has had success in qualifying and on the challenger circuit. Santiago Giraldo has the inside track to beat Marco Cecchinato, and then slip past Andujar or Elias in this open section to reach the quarters himself.

Giraldo has a h2h win on clay over Paire, who could be jet lagged, given Benoit’s inconsistency, I have the Colombian veteran reaching a surprising semifinal.

Rio champ and Buenos Aires quarterfinalist Pablo Cuevas is the defending champion, and he’ll open with either Facundo Bagnis or Paul-Henri Mathieu. The qualifier likely has a slight edge over the French veteran on clay, and if Cuevas isn’t too exhausted, he should continue his good form and reach another quarterfinal.

Almagro/Monteiro will face Daniel Munoz-De La Nava or qualifier Maximo Gonzalez in round 2. Almagro should be able to ease past either player to reach the quarterfinals. Both have struggling as of late.

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Cuevas is 4-0 against Almagro in the h2h, and has been in far better form as of late. Almagro will have a great shot at a semi given the fatigue factor, but look for Paire or Giraldo vs. Cuevas/Almagro semi in Sao Paulo.

Bottom Half:

Quito finalist Thomaz Bellucci rarely plays well on home soil, and struggled in Rio, but he still is a better player on clay than either Taro Daniel or Roberto Carballes Baena, and thus he should advance into the quarters. Carballes Baena has a clear h2h edge over Daniel, though he’s a lucky loser.

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Ramos/Carreno-Busta are Bellucci’s likely quarterfinal opponent. Ramos/Carreno-Busta will face Brazilian wild card Guilherme Clezar, who has a challenger final this year on clay, or Daniel Gimeno-Traver, who reached the Rio quarters as a qualifier. I have Ramos over Clezar, and them Ramos over Bellucci for a spot in the semis. Bellucci beat Ramos on clay last year, but the home soil factor gives the Spaniard an edge in this case.

Federico Delbonis was the 2014 champion in Sao Paulo, and he has a great draw if he can repeat that performance this year. He’ll open with a fellow Argentine, either Diego Schwartzman or Horacio Zeballos (2-0 in the h2h against Schwartzman), and the Rio quarterfinalist then will most likely face Paolo Lorenzi. The Italian veteran is 6-3 on clay in recent ATP tournaments, and opens with qualifier Blaz Rola, with Marcel Granollers or Inigo Cervantes to follow. Cervantes could upset the veteran Granollers, but Lorenzi should prove too much.

Delbonis has won his previous three meetings against Lorenzi, including one last week in Rio, giving him an edge for the semis.

Dark Horse: Santiago Giraldo

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Giraldo isn’t in the best of form, even with his attacking game and strong forehand, but he is a benefit of a rather open top half of the draw. His first three matches are winnable, and a match against either a tired Cuevas, or a somewhat shaky Almagro could result in a win as well, giving him a dark horse shot at an ATP final.

Predictions

Semis
Cuevas d. Giraldo
Delbonis d. Ramos

Cuevas has a h2h edge over Giraldo, Ramos and Delbonis are split on clay 2-2, but Delbonis has been in better recent form, and he’s a former champion.

Final
Delbonis d. Cuevas

Cuevas has won his last two meetings on clay against Delbonis and just beat him in Rio, but I have that result reversing itself, because if Cuevas reaches the final, he’s likely to be out of gas.

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Steen Kirby (Marseille)

Tennis Atlantic 2015 ATP Draw Challenge Week 6 (Rotterdam, Memphis, Sao Paulo)

Posted by Admin on February 8, 2015

Posted in: 2015 ATP Draw Challenge, Chris De Waard, Courtney Massey, Jeff McMillan, Memphis, Niall Clarke, Rotterdam, Sao Paolo, Steen Kirby. Tagged: 2015 ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament Picks, 2015 ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament Prediction, 2015 ABN Amro WTT Picks, 2015 ABN Amro WTT Predictions, 2015 ATP, 2015 ATP Memphis Picks, 2015 ATP Memphis Prediction, 2015 ATP Picks, 2015 ATP Predictions, 2015 ATP Rotterdam Picks, 2015 ATP Rotterdam Predictions, 2015 ATP Sao Paulo Picks, 2015 ATP Sao Paulo Predictions, 2015 Brasil Open Picks, 2015 Brasil Open Predictions, 2015 Memphis Open Picks, 2015 Memphis Open Predictions, ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament Picks, ABN Amro WTT Picks, ABN Amro WTT Predictions, atp, ATP Draw Challenge, ATP Memphis Picks, ATP Memphis Predictions, ATP Picks, ATP Predictions, ATP Rotterdam Picks, ATP Rotterdam Predictions, ATP Sao Paulo Picks, ATP Sao Paulo Predictions, ATP World Tour, ATP World Tour 2015, Brasil Open Picks, Brasil Open Predictions, Memphis Open Picks, Memphis Open Prediction, men's tennis, Men's Tennis Predictions, tennis, Tennis Tipping.

Tennis Atlantic 2015 ATP Draw Challenge Week 6 (Rotterdam, Memphis, Sao Paulo)
Staff, Tennis Atlantic

A 500 point event and a pair of 250s are at stake this week as all of our gifted analysts return to make their picks for all the ATP main draw action over the coming days.

Rotterdam (draw)

2015 ABN Amro World Tennis Tournament Picks

Steen Kirby’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Murray vs. Kohlschreiber, Benneteau vs. Sousa, Berdych vs. Seppi, Monfils vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Muller, Garcia-Lopez vs. Wawrinka, Gulbis vs. Granollers, Bolelli vs.Raonic
Quarterfinals: Murray vs. Sousa, Berdych vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Wawrinka, Granollers vs. Raonic
Semifinals: Murray vs. Berdych, Wawrinka vs. Raonic
Final: Murray vs. Wawrinka
Champion: Murray

Chris de Waard’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Murray vs. Kohlschreiber, Benneteau vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Seppi, Monfils vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Goffin, Istomin vs. Wawrinka, Thiem vs. Granollers, Bolelli vs.Raonic
Quarterfinals: Murray vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Wawrinka, Thiem vs. Raonic
Semifinals: Murray vs. Berdych, Dimitrov vs. Raonic
Final: Murray vs. Raonic
Champion: Murray
Courtney Massey’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Murray vs. Kohlschreiber, Chardy vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Seppi, Monfils vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Muller, Istomin vs. Wawrinka, Gulbis vs. Stakhovsky, Bolelli vs.Raonic
Quarterfinals: Murray vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Bautista Agut, Muller vs. Wawrinka, Gulbis vs. Raonic
Semifinals: Murray vs. Berdych, Wawrinka vs. Raonic
Final: Murray vs. Wawrinka
Champion: Wawrinka

Niall Clarke’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Murray vs. Kohlschreiber, Chardy vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Seppi, Monfils vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Goffin, Garcia-Lopez vs. Wawrinka, Gulbis vs. Granollers, Rosol vs.Raonic
Quarterfinals: Murray vs. Chardy, Berdych vs. Monfils, Dimitrov vs. Wawrinka, Granollers vs. Raonic
Semifinals: Murray vs. Berdych, Wawrinka vs. Raonic
Final: Murray vs. Wawrinka
Champion: Wawrinka

Jeff McMillan’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Murray vs. Pospisil, Chardy vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Seppi, Monfils vs. Bautista Agut, Dimitrov vs. Goffin, Garcia-Lopez vs. Wawrinka, Gulbis vs. Granollers, Bolelli vs.Raonic
Quarterfinals: Murray vs. Simon, Berdych vs. Monfils, Dimitrov vs. Wawrinka, Gulbis vs. Raonic
Semifinals: Murray vs. Monfils, Dimitrov vs. Raonic
Final: Murray vs. Raonic
Champion: Murray

It’s a split decision between Murray and Wawrinka, as to whom will be champion in Rotterdam this week.

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Memphis (draw)

Memphis Open 2015 Picks

Steen Kirby’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Nishikori vs. Jaziri, Kukushkin vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Gabashvili, Donaldson vs. Becker, Mannarino vs. Qualifier, Tomic vs. Dolgopolov, Johnson vs. Matosevic, Groth vs. Anderson
Quarterfinals: Nishikori vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Becker, Mannarino vs. Tomic, Johnson vs. Anderson
Semifinals: Nishikori vs. Becker, Tomic vs. Anderson
Final: Nishikori vs. Tomic
Champion: Nishikori

Chris De Waard’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Nishikori vs. Jaziri, Kukushkin vs. Karlovic, Isner vs Dodig, Donaldson vs. Querrey, Young vs. Qualifier, Tomic vs. Dolgopolov, Johnson vs. Brown, Lu vs. Anderson
Quarterfinals: Nishikori vs. Kukushkin, Isner vs. Donaldson, Young vs. Tomic, Johnson vs. Anderson
Semifinals: Nishikori vs. Isner, Tomic vs. Anderson
Final: Nishikori vs. Tomic
Champion: Nishikori

Courtney Massey’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Nishikori vs. Jaziri, Kukushkin vs. Karlovic, Isner vs Gabashvili, Kozlov vs. Becker, Mannarino vs. Qualifier, Sijsling vs. Dolgopolov, Johnson vs. Brown, Lu vs. Anderson
Quarterfinals: Nishikori vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Becker, Mannarino vs. Sijsling, Johnson vs. Anderson
Semifinals: Nishikori vs. Isner, Mannarino vs. Anderson
Final: Nishikori vs. Anderson
Champion: Nishikori

Niall Clarke’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Nishikori vs. Jaziri, Kukushkin vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Dodig, Donaldson vs. Becker, Young vs. Qualifier, Tomic vs. Dolgopolov, Johnson vs. Brown, Lu vs. Anderson
Quarterfinals: Nishikori vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Becker, Young vs. Tomic, Johnson vs. Anderson
Semifinals: Nishikori vs. Isner, Young vs. Johnson
Final: Nishikori vs. Johnson
Champion: Nishikori

Jeff McMillan’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Nishikori vs. Qualifier, Kukushkin vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Gabashvili, Donaldson vs. Querrey, Young vs. Qualifier, Tomic vs. Dolgopolov, Johnson vs. Brown, Lu vs. Anderson
Quarterfinals: Nishikori vs. Karlovic, Isner vs. Querrey, Young vs. Tomic, Johnson vs. Anderson
Semifinals: Nishikori vs. Isner, Tomic vs. Johnson
Final: Nishikori vs. Johnson
Champion: Nishikori

Everyone agrees with Kei Nishikori winning his third Memphis title, the only disagreement is in regards to who his opponent will be in the final, and what the other semis will be. Opinions are mixed on the fate of Steve Johnson and Bernard Tomic this week.

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Sao Paulo (draw)

2015 Brasil Open Picks

Steen Kirby’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Lopez vs. Monaco, Lajovic vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Ramos, Carreno Busta vs. Bellucci, Giraldo vs. Berlocq, Schwartzman vs. Fognini, Cuevas vs. Delbonis, Almagro vs.Robredo
Quarterfinals:Lopez vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Bellucci, Berlocq vs. Schwartzman, Cuevas vs. Almagro
Semifinals: Verdasco vs. Mayer, Berlocq vs. Cuevas
Final: Mayer vs. Cuevas
Champion: Mayer

Chris De Waard’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Lopez vs. Monaco, Andujar vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Clezar, Souza vs. Klizan, Giraldo vs. Berlocq, Lorenzi vs. Fognini, Cuevas vs. Delbonis, Almagro vs.Robredo
Quarterfinals:Monaco vs. Andujar, Mayer vs. Klizan, Berlocq vs. Fognini, Cuevas vs. Almagro
Semifinals: Andujar vs. Mayer, Fognini vs. Cuevas
Final: Mayer vs. Cuevas
Champion: Mayer

Courtney Massey’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Lopez vs. Monaco, Andujar vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Clezar, Souza vs. Bellucci, Giraldo vs. Berlocq, Lorenzi vs. Fognini, Vesely vs. Delbonis, Almagro vs.Robredo
Quarterfinals: Lopez vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Souza, Berlocq vs. Fognini, Vesely vs. Robredo
Semifinals: Lopez vs. Mayer, Fognini vs. Robredo
Final: Lopez vs. Robredo
Champion: Lopez

Niall Clarke’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Lopez vs. Monaco, Andujar vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Ramos, Carreno Busta vs. Klizan, Giraldo vs. Berlocq, Lorenzi vs. Fognini, Vesely vs. Delbonis, Almagro vs.Robredo
Quarterfinals:Lopez vs. Verdasco, Ramos vs. Klizan, Berlocq vs. Lorenzi, Vesely vs. Robredo
Semifinals: Verdasco vs. Klizan, Berlocq vs. Robredo
Final: Klizan vs. Robredo
Champion: Klizan

Jeff McMillan’s predictions

Round 2 Matches: Lopez vs. Monaco, Andujar vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Clezar, Carreno Busta vs. Klizan, Giraldo vs. Berlocq, Lorenzi vs. Fognini, Cuevas vs. Delbonis, Almagro vs.Robredo
Quarterfinals: Monaco vs. Verdasco, Mayer vs. Klizan, Giraldo vs. Fognini, Cuevas vs. Robredo
Semifinals: Verdasco vs. Mayer, Fognini vs. Robredo
Final: Verdasco vs. Robredo
Champion: Robredo

Sao Paulo is really up in the air, three different champs were picked by our analysts, and all variety of options are on the table, it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

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Week 5 standings

Montpellier
1: Niall (108 points) (+250 points overall)
2: Courtney (66 points) (+150 points)
3: Chris (62 points) (+90 points)
4: Steen (60 points) (+90 points)
5: Jeff (0 points) (unchanged)

Zagreb
1: Steen (62 points) (+250 points)
2: Chris (52 points) (+150 points)
3: Courtney (48 points) (+90 points)
4: Niall (26 points) (+90 points)
5: Jeff (0) (unchanged)

Quito
1: Courtney (56 points) (+250 points)
2: Steen (56 points) (+150 points)
3: Niall (54 points) (+90 points)
4: Chris (54 points) (+90 points)
5: Jeff (0) (unchanged)

Courtney had Lopez in the final so she wins the Quito tiebreaker, Niall crushed it in Montpellier by correctly predicting Gasquet as champion. Steen wins Zagreb as he had Andreas Seppi in the final and Marcos Baghdatis in the semis.

Overall standings (after week 5)

1: Steen: 3320 ranking points (+490 points overall)
2: Jeff: 1840 points (unchanged overall)
3: Chris: 1780 points (+330 points overall)
4: Courtney: 1735 points (+490 points overall)
5: Niall: 1355 points (+430 points overall)

No changes in the overall standings this week, Chris and Courtney edged closer to Jeff, and Courtney got with in striking distance of third place. Another 1000 possible points are at stake with the three events this week.