Tag: Djokovic

Wildcard Sends Defending Champ Djokovic Packing In Second Round Shock

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Denis Istomin is coached by his mother and is one of the few players on Tour who needs glasses when he plays. Today, he’s celebrating the biggest win of his career after ensuring the earliest exit of a reigning Australian Open champion in 20 years. The Uzbek wildcard has blown the men’s draw wide open with a gruelling five-set win over second seed Novak Djokovic, which drastically boosts the title chances of No.1 seed and five-time runner-up Andy Murray and those of former champions Stan Wawrinka and Rafael Nadal.

The 30-year-old thanked his mother Klaudiya, who’s always been beside him as coach. Istomin had only claimed one set in five previous matches against Djokovic. Making his win over four hours and 49 minutes more remarkable was the Uzbek’s past year. Injuries and a seven-match losing streak left him out of the top 100 for the first time in six years and battling for an Australian Open spot through December’s Asia-Pacific wildcard playoff. He warmed up for his 11th Australian Open in humbling conditions at the $70,000 Bangkok Challenger!

Gloomy day looms

When it comes to Grand Slam tennis and rain, it’s a combination more associated with south-west London than Melbourne. But a day of delays looms after the Australian Open site was drenched overnight, with showers expected to continue throughout the afternoon. On the men’s side, Roger Federer graces the court against Czech 10th seed Tomas Berdych and enjoys a 16-6 record against the 10th seed, including the past five clashes. Four sets look the key number ($2.50 with William Hill).

World no. 27 Bernard Tomic faces off against Great Britain’s Daniel Evans. The pair shares a win apiece in their past meetings, however, it was the Australian who triumphed last time they met in the 2015 Davis Cup. The Aussie is quietly chipping away and looks nicely priced at the small start of -1.5 games ($1.91 on Luxbet). World no. 1 Andy Murray takes to Hisense Arena to battle American 31st seed Sam Querrey. The market doesn’t appear to be too concerned with Murray after he rolled his ankle in the previous round, installing him a $1.02 favourite to prevail. A nibble on Querry at the handicap might be the value here +7.5 at $2.10 with bet365).

Aussie making waves

In her first third round ever at a Grand Slam after a stirring win over Simona Halep’s conqueror Shelby Rogers, Ashleigh Barty is up against German qualifier Mona Barthel. Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard takes on American firebrand CoCo Vandeweghe, followed by World no. 1 Angelique Kerber battling Czech Kristyna Pliskova. Barty is continuing to prove that she made the right decision turning her back on a cricket career to focus on tennis. She created 13 break point chances in 11 return games against Annika Beck and eight in nine games on Shelby Rogers’ serve. If she can maintain such form, Barty will beat many better players than Barthel (take the Aussie straight-up to win at $1.80 on Unibet). Expect a fiercely competitive and highly entertaining encounter when Bouchard meets Vandeweghe. Bouchard, a Canadian, beat the American Vandeweghe, from California, in their only other encounter at Indian Wells in 2015 but they’ve each come a long way since that match-up. Genie wins this in three ($3.75 on Crownbet).

Another Day, Another Farce For Controversial Aussie Young Gun Kyrgios

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The 7.30pm timeslot on Australia’s Seven Network is normally home to one of the nation’s most loved soap operas, Home And Away. So it was only appropriate that last night’s Australian Open second round clash between Nick Kyrgios and Andreas Seppi was played at the same time on the free-to-air TV partner of the tournament. In a spectacular collapse, Kyrgios blew a two-set advantage to fall 1-6 6-7 (1-7) 6-4 6-1 10-8 to Italian Andreas Seppi. It featured the full gamut of drama that Aussie tennis fans have come to know, and mostly detest, about the 21-year-old.

Kyrgios, who carried a knee injury into the season’s first grand slam, appeared unhappy about apparently having to put in extra work on his day off on Tuesday and continued a verbal battle with his courtside box throughout the night. Kyrgios was then docked a penalty point after receiving a second code violation for angrily smashing his racquet into the court. Fellow former world No.1 Jim Courier described Kyrgios’s antics as “apathetic” while John McEnroe called Kyrgios’ apparent lack of effort mid-match as “black eye for the sport”.

Short shift looms for Djokovic

In the men’s draw, no. 2 seed Novak Djokovic continues his title defence against Denis Istomin, 2009 Australian Open winner Rafael Nadal faces beaten finalist Marcos Baghdatis and third seed Milos Raonic meets Gilles Muller on Margaret Court Arena. Emerging local Jordan Thompson will take on eighth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem. Djokovic is 5-0 against Istomin, taking 12 of the 13 sets they have contested – this one won’t last 27.5 games ($1.91 with Ladbrokes). Likewise, Grigor Dimitrov figures to have an easy time against South Korea’s Hyeon Chung, an emerging player on the verge of breaking into the top 100 thanks to some strong performances on the Challenger Tour. The Bulgarian will complete the job inside three sets ($1.80 on Luxbet). We can’t wait for the clash against big-serving duo Gilles Muller (Luxembourg) and Milos Raonic (Canada). Muller has been making quick work of opponents with his serve on-song and claim several big-name scalps on the road to the title in Sydney. Raonic is more accomplished from the back of the court but Muller has a superior game at the net. 41.5 games ($1.83 on Sportsbet) looks a given.

Konta can’t go wrong

Australian-born Brit Johanna Konta will be hoping to continue her red-hot run of form when she takes on Japan’s Naomi Osaka in the opening match on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday. Seeded ninth at the Australian Open, Konta defeated Canadian star Eugenie Bouchard and World no. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska on her way to the Sydney International title in an impressive preparation for the season-opening grand slam. With Osaka carrying a wrist injury, Konta wins this in a canter (-5.5 games at $1.91 on Crownbet). In other women’s draw highlights on day four, no. 2 seed Serena Williams faces Lucie Safarova, fifth seed Karolina Pliskova takes on Ana Blinkova and no. 6 seed Dominika Cibulkova clashes with Su-Wei Hsieh of Taiwan. Blinkova is a player to watch – just 18, she’s a talented player who is regularly reaching the latter stages of the few events she’s contested. Pliskova has only covered a line of his magnitude seven times in 20 matches so the Russian looks nice value over her Czech opponent here (+6.5 games is priced at $1.83 with Unibet).

Hot Afternoon Looms At Searing Melbourne Park On Day Two

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Players face reasonably comfortable conditions from Wednesday through to the weekend but those scheduled to hit the courts on Tuesday will be reminded why the Australian Open can be a sometimes-brutal test of endurance. The forecast temperature is 38°C although cloud cover may ease the impact of this extreme heat. In good news for those scheduled to play in the night session, a cool change is expected early in the evening which will drop the temperature back to the low 20s. That’s when fans will watch no. 2 seed Novak Djokovic take on Spain’s Fernando Verdasco and women’s no. 3 seed Agnieszka Radwanska face Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. But for the likes of Serena Williams (2), Karolina Pliskova (5), Dominika Cibulkova (6), Milos Raonic (3) and Rafael Nadal (9), there’ll be little respite from the boiler room conditions.

In a Nic of time

The big story on day one was the swift demise of Spaniard Nicolas Almagro. With match-fixing firmly in the spotlight at this year’s Open, Almagro was forced to deflect claims of a money-grab after he lasted just 23 minutes before retiring. Almagro threw in the towel with a calf injury at 4-0 down in the first set against France’s Jeremy Chardy but walked away with an AUD $50,000 cheque as a first-round loser. Australian doubles legend Todd Woodbridge, a TV commentator, ignited a debate when he said: “Questions to be asked. Did (Almagro) just turn up to take money?” Almagro later insisted: “I went to court because I think I can play. I was top 10, I have more than 10 million dollars. I’m not going to play for $50,000. It is not the reason.”

Boys to men

On the men’s side, the big guns all prevailed yesterday but, for our best of the day, we like the look of a former Australian Open boys’ champion. Alexander Zverev is on the cusp of the top 20 and looks to improve his ranking with a win over veteran Dutchman Robin Haase. The 19-year-old German should get this done in three sets, priced at $1.70 with Ladbrokes. Two more players entering the latter stages of their career are also in action today. Marcos Baghdatis is a favourite with the Melbourne Park fans but looks unders as he continues to recover from an ankle injury. It’s been almost a decade since the 34-year-old Russian reached the quarterfinals in this event but looks good value ($2.60 with William Hill) to cause the upset here.

Early tram for Sam

For one reason or another, Aussie Sam Stosur has a horrible record on home soil. She has won just 21 of her past 50 matches in Australia and has cost punters a packet with a 24-22 career record as favourite in front of home fans. The books have made Stosur a $1.80 favourite but we’ll be taking the Brit Heather Watson, who showed some decent touch in the Hopman Cup ($2.00 with Paddy Power). Likewise, Lucie Safarova’s career is in decline through a combination of injury and illness. The Czech player has managed just four wins from 15 matches on hard courts in the past 12 months. We’ll be taking her Belgian opponent Yanina Wickmayer at the +3.5-game handicap, available at $1.83 on Luxbet.

A Look Ahead at Melbourne Park: Australian Open Tennis

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

The sporting compass of Australia quivers in many different directions across the calendar year. But once the New Year is welcomed, true north points to the massive Melbourne Park tennis complex for the first Grand Slam event of the season – the Australian Open. The tournament dates to 1905 and earned Grand Slam status (along with the French, British and US national championships) in the mid-1920s.

However, the tyranny of distance meant that the world’s best players were often reluctant to make the long trip Down Under and, by the late 1970s, the event’s relevance had sunk to an all-time low. Steadily, the game’s elite returned to the grass courts of the suburban Kooyong complex, but that trickle became a flood once the tournament was shifted to the new Melbourne Park complex – firstly on Rebound Ace and since on Plexicushion Prestige. Injury aside, the world’s best players now converge on mid-summer Melbourne to chase a slice of Grand Slam glory.

Arise Sir Andy

Novak Djokovic secured his sixth Australian Open title last year, highlighted by his wins over Roger Federer and Andy Murray, that confirming his status as the world’s pre-eminent player. Victory drew him level with Australia’s Roy Emerson as the most decorated men’s singles champion in tournament history – and in 2017, he goes in search of a seventh triumph.

It’s a two-horse race according to the markets with Djokovic ($2.65 with William Hill) a narrow favourite ahead of Murray ($2.75). Only Stan Wawrinka ($13), Rafael Nadal ($15) and Milos Raonic ($19) are also rated better than 20-1 chances. Djokovic and Murray (who faces a likely quarter-final match-up with Roger Federer) should prevail from their quarters, while Raonic should join them in the semis. The second quarter is a lottery where Wawrinka looks well under the odds. The main local hope Nick Kyrgios is yet to show he has the temperament to prevail on home soil, while Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Jack Sock will also make their presence felt in this quarter of the draw. Take Murray to go all the way, with Raonic the value pick.

Angelique set to click

Serena Williams says she will not be distracted by the thought of moving ahead of Steffi Graf’s Grand Slam record at the Australian Open. The American world number two needs one major triumph to go clear of the German’s 22 Open-era titles. She’s played this event on 16 occasions for a staggering return of six titles. Williams is generously priced a $4.00 favourite (on Paddy Power) with defending champion Angelique Kerber a $4.50 chance to go back-to-back. Karolina Pliskova ($8), Garbine Muguruza ($11) and Simona Halep ($12) are also rated realistic chances.

But the value reaches well beyond those five players with Kerber and Williams bowing out early in their respective lead-up tournaments. It may pay to play a little wider here with Agnieszka Radwanska ($26), Dominika Cibulkova ($29) and Elina Svitolina ($34) every chance of upsetting the apple cart in their respective quarters. That trio looks terrific value, while Kerber looks set to go all the way once again.

Wimbledon 2014 Preview

Posted on by Online Betting Pro

Andy Murray defends his Wimbledon title after becoming Britain’s first Men’s Champion in 77-years. He reached the semi-finals of the French Open before being comprehensively beaten by Rafael Nadal but he will be more at home on this surface. He appears to be fully recovered from his back surgery and now has a new coach in the form of former Wimbledon Ladies Champion Amelie Mauresmo.

Rafael Nadal was brilliant in Paris but he is not the same player on grass. He is still good enough to have secured two Wimbledon titles but could be vulnerable in the opening rounds. Roger Federer is still a force to be reckoned with but it is difficult to see him winning at the age of 32 while Djokovic is the man to beat. He was beaten in straight sets by Murray in last year’s final but had been taken to five sets in his semi-final and I believe that proved crucial.

Recent history tells us that it is a waste of time looking beyond the big four but I’m tempted to put up three-time 2014 winner Grigor Dimitrov as an each-way alternative. He won at Queen’s Club last week and arrives here at the top of his game. He is young and fearless and could give us a good run for our money.

There is no doubt that the Ladies provided much the better entertainment in Paris and Maria Sharapova was superb. She fought back from a set down through all of the closing rounds including the final against Simona Halep and thoroughly deserved her second French Open title.

Serena Williams is the short-priced favourite and her early exit from the French certainly helped to make it a more interesting contest. You simply cannot back her at the current odds but she is obviously going to be tough to beat as she goes for a sixth Wimbledon title.

Williams has an incredible record against Sharapova, winning their last 15 meetings and they are due to meet in the quarter-finals. Beaten finalist Halep is the third seed here and she is likely to have another good tournament. She is well worth supporting at around 16-1.

The best value may be last year’s runner-up Sabine Lisicki who loves this surface and has reached at least the quarter-finals in her last three appearances here. There are any number of good players including Li Na, Jelena Jankovic and Agnieszka Radwanska that are capable of doing well in another excellent event.

Grigor Dimitrov at 20-1 Bet365, Paddy Power

Simona Halep at 18-1 Sportingbet

Sabine Lisicki at 25-1 Sportingbet

Each-way ½ odds 1,2