Fantasy Tennis League: Week 15 preview

Welcome to Game Week 15!

It’s been a tricky clay season so far. Every tennis player not named Rafael Nadal has been unreliable – especially on the men’s side. With that said, there are a few emerging players with a price tag that is very reasonable for the upcoming Masters 1000/Premier Mandatory tournament in Rome.

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Three players to pick 

Karolina Pliskova, $11m

I haven’t mentioned Pliskova much in the weekly column but the Czech is actually the third-highest Fantasy Tennis scorer on average among women, and if you remove the Australian Open scores from her, Halep and Wozniacki, she’s number one. Coming off her first title of the year and a massive win over Halep in Madrid, Pliskova is excellent value and someone you can probably hold until the end of Wimbledon.

Alexander Zverev, $13m

Did Zverev’s horrendous start to the year turn you off? I don’t blame you. But it’s worth taking another look at the young German; he’s averaging 83 Fantasy Tennis points from his last three Game Weeks, third to only Nadal and Del Potro. What’s more, he actually won the Italian Open last year, so he will go in with plenty of confidence.

Petra Kvitova, $8m

After back-to-back titles in February, Kvitova hit a rough patch. And then it got worse. But the Czech looks to have bounced back, which is good because she’s priced well below her ceiling. Kvitova won a title in Prague for 77 Fantasy Tennis points and looks primed to match that in Madrid with a semifinal against Karolina Pliskova. Despite three separate scores below 12, she has scored the most Fantasy Tennis points this year.

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Top five captain options 

1. Rafael Nadal, $22m
2. The man has won 50 sets in a row on clay.
3. 2. Simona Halep, $14m

   Had a semi-disappointing showing in Madrid but she’s still the most reliable woman on clay. Reached the final in Rome last year.

   3. Karolina Pliskova, $11m

   Hasn’t bombed with a sub-20 Game Week this year and three of her last four have been 50+ scores. With a title in Stuttgart and a semifinal in Madrid, she has excellent form going into Rome.

   4. Petra Kvitova, $8m

   It’s been boom or bust with Petra this year. If you’re down in the rankings and need to take a chance, go with her (providing you don’t own Nadal, of course).

   5. Alexander Zverev, $13m

   Won a title in Munich, is going deep in Madrid and won his upcoming tournament last year. If Nadal wasn’t playing he’d be the No.1 option.

   Splitting hairs

Alexander Zverev or Dominic Thiem? Zverev

Caroline Garcia or Elina Svitolina? Garcia

John Isner or Kevin Anderson? Anderson

Daria Kasatkina or Borna Coric? Coric

Juan Martin del Potro or Caroline Wozniacki? Del Potro