Fantasy Tennis Insider: Selling the Form Players

Well, compadres, we’ve got a low-key week coming up. The big names are either injured, prepping themselves for Flushing Meadows or busy doing adverts for toothpaste that have nothing to do with toothpaste. In fact, only one player inside the top 15 is supposed to be playing next week.

But these are the weeks that define fantasytennisleague.com success. If you don’t get it right your team will be cooked in the long run.

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It’s here that you can shed some deadweight, cash in on an in-form player or clear some space for a big fish in the following week. They might not be exciting moves, rather they are the moves before the exciting moves. So be patient and remember: good things come to those who wait.

ATP – It’s not personal, it’s strictly business

If you’ve got Alexander Zverev ($15.12m), it’s time to cash in. Yeah, you heard me. Look, I’m as big a fan of Sascha as there is, and there’s no question he’s in red hot form, but he’s young and has disappointed in Grand Slams. Coming off a 1R bomb at Roland Garros and a win percentage of .550 in majors, I expect a flame out – so cash in and pick up a Roger or Rafa for the big dance.

If you’re desperate for points, Roberto Bautista Agut ($9.16m), Sam Querrey ($11.57m) and John Isner ($9.22m) are playing Winston-Salem and are your high-end options, but consider forgotten Frenchman Gilles Simon ($3.29m) who is dirt cheap and desperate for form.

Looking to bring in Nick Kyrgios ($4.14m)? Don’t – he’s not playing. Wait a week and watch him go gangbusters at the US Open.

WTA – Buyer beware

There is value here, but do your research before you pull the trigger. Carla Suarez-Navarro ($6.44m) has (kind of) steadied her form slump and Daria Gavrilova ($6.05m) flourishes on the hard court.

Agnieszka Radwanska ($5.85m) and Petra Kvitova ($8.11m) are solid options if you’ve got some cash and your team is set, but be wary of spending in a week when the likelihood of late withdrawals is high.

Jump on Dominika Cibulkova ($4.73m). She’s had a shocking year and hasn’t done much to suggest it’s getting any better. So why do it? It’s a loan that has a tonne of upside and very little downside. She’s cheap, relatively young, has top-10 pedigree, loves hard courts and, most importantly, it’s her last chance to salvage a career-worst year.

Who will you pick for next week? Check player availability here.

I also wouldn’t blame you for selling Simona Halep ($15.14m). Halep isn’t playing next week, and much like Zverev, she’s just about maxed out in price. She’s also a proven Grand Slam pretender – so cashing in before a possible first-round flame out is a savvy move that could pay huge dividends.

A quick note on Maria Sharapova ($9.18m). In case you’ve been on Mars the last few days, Sharapova was awarded a wildcard into the US Open. Unfortunately the price is way too high for a player who has missed a year of tennis and has had little-to-no preparation – so look elsewhere.

Splitting hairs…

• Agnieszka Radwanska or Petra Kvitova? Radwanska.
• Carla Suarez-Navarro or Elena Vesnina? Vesnina.
• Barbora Strycova or Kiki Bertens? Strycova.
• John Isner or Roberto Bautista Agut? Isner.
• Pablo Carreno Busta or Sam Querrey? Querrey.

Buy / Sell

Buy: Dominika Cibulkova ($ 4.73m) – tenacious player with something to prove. Most importantly, cheap.
Honourable mentions: John Isner, Agnieszka Radwanska
Sell: Alexander Zverev ($15.12m) – young gun who is not playing this week and inconsistent in Grand Slams. Trade him in for a reliable veteran.
Honourable mentions: Garbine Muguruza, Simona Halep