Comeback kid Chela can continue to climb ladder.

Byline: Dylan Hill

JUAN IGNACIO CHELA has made an impressive return from nine months out with injury and this high-class clay-courter should have too much nous for Thomaz Bellucci in their first-round clash today.

Chela had finished in the top 20 for the first time in his career in 2007 before his layoff with a back injury, but his results this year suggest that he still has it in him to push for a return.

Tommy Robredo was one of the in-form players on the South American clay-court swing, winning in Buenos Aires, yet Chela twice pushed him to three sets and went similarly close against Vina del Mar finalist Jose Acasuso.

Seven wins have come on the red dirt to show he hasn't forgotten how to close games out and Bellucci, while still young, may just fall short of top class.

Recommendation J I Chela 2pts 8-11 general BOTTOM-HALF BETTING Skybet - to win bottom half: 7-4 F Verdasco, 3 D Ferrer, 11-2 F Gonzalez, T Robredo, 12 I Andreev, 14 J Monaco, 18 T Berdych, 22 J Acasuso, 25 M Safin, 33 A Seppi, R Soderling, 40 P-H Mathieu, 50 E Gulbis, P Starace, 66 O Hernandez, M Vassallo Arguello, 100 M Gicquel, E Schwank, 125 G Gaudio, T Gabashvili, 150 A Martin, D Sela, 250 D Junqueira. Eachway 1/2 1,2..