Dubai Tennis Championships: Can Murray upset Djokovic bros?

Events / Sean Calvert / 27 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Can Andy prevail in Dubai?

"Djokovic is the favourite to take a fourth straight Dubai title and he’s not an awful price at around [2.38], but it’s worth taking a chance with Murray this week at palatable [8.0]."

It's a family affair in Dubai this week for the world number one, but Sean Calvert fancies a wager on Andy Murray at more attractive odds...

We were unlucky with our bet on Milos Raonic in Memphis last week, but as the Canadian reached the final, he was available to lay at [1.33] from the initial [3.5].

The ATP Tour moves on to Dubai, Acapulco and Delray Beach this week, with the world's top stars drawn to the $1.7 million prize pot on offer at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

Shamelessly, the tournament has given wildcards to three-time defending champion, Novak Djokovic's brother Marco and Victoria Azarenka's boyfriend Sergei Bubka.

For the record, Marco Djokovic is ranked 867 in the world and has been playing with little success in Futures events in Turkey lately, while Bubka is the world number 158 and has one Challenger title to his name from back in 2009.

So, instead of handing the valuable wild cards to deserving causes, the tournament has gone for the 'it's not what you know but who you know' option and given them to friends and family of the male and female world number ones.

The draw has paired Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Janko Tipsarevic and Tomas Berdych together in the top half, along with Nikolay Davydenko and Ivan Ljubicic.

The bottom half sees Federer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Mardy Fish, Juan Martin Del Potro, Richard Gasquet, and Alexandr Dolgopolov as the main contenders.

Unsurprisingly, Novak Djokovic is the favourite to take a fourth straight Dubai title and he's not an awful price at around [2.38], but it's worth taking a chance with Murray this week at more palatable [8.0].

The Scot normally indulges in his traditional post-Melbourne malaise at this time of the year, but with Ivan Lendl looking on, Murray is more likely to make a fist of this event than he has done in the last few years.

Two quarter-final exits have been Murray's best showings here, but he'll surely put in a better effort this time to show not just Lendl, but everyone else as well, that he's edging closer to the top three after his Melbourne performances.

He pushed Nole very close in their Australian Open semi and he leads the world number one 4-2 in matches on outdoor hard-courts over the best of three sets.

A concern for the Scot would be the likely match he faces against Tomas Berdych in the last eight here this week.

Murray hasn't beaten the Czech since 2005 and for my money, Berdych is a decent long shot this week at around the [29] mark.

The Berdman has been playing well so far in 2012 with a win in Montpelier and a semi-final in Rotterdam to add to his Australian Open effort. He reached the semi-finals here last year before retiring against Djokovic in what was a tight match and he could go close again this time.

The only other player with chances in the top half of the draw is Tipsarevic, who is priced up this week at around the [50.0] mark, but it's hard to see him beating Djokovic, Murray/Berdych and then probably Federer in consecutive matches.

Tipsy hasn't been in the best touch this year either and was thrashed by Gasquet in Melbourne and beaten in Marseille by Michael Llodra last week. In the bottom half, I expect Federer to be the man to reach the final, as he has a fairly straightforward looking quarter, with the inconsistent Fish perhaps an obstacle before a likely semi-final against either Del Potro or Tsonga.

Delpo will surely be a touch jaded after two finals in two weeks and I can't see him busting a gut here with Indian Wells just around the corner. In any case, Federer has his number at the moment.

Tsonga looks a better prospect for semi final material, but the big Frenchman hasn't kicked on from his fine end to 2011 and he has something to prove this week. To sum up then, Djokovic is the obvious choice, but at a bigger price I'll take a chance on Murray with a small saver on Berdych.

If you fancy a real outsiders shot this week, consider Ernests Gulbis, who is around [22.0] to win at Delray Beach. Ernie has no form whatsoever with a stack of first round losses to his name, but he came here in 2010 with similar form and won it.

On the basis that he might well enjoy this event more than most, and the fact that he has a very handy draw in the bottom half, he's worth thinking about this week.

Recommended Bet
Back Murray at around [8.0]

Long shot
Berdych at around [29.0]

Follow Sean on Twitter @seancalvert1

Roger Federer did the business for Sean last week as Milos Raonic was winning a tournament of his own over in San Jose. And it is Raonic who is worth backing again this week, as the ATP tour moves to...

Sean Calvert isn't often in the business of tipping the tournament favourite but these days Roger Federer can be backed at odds-against. This is a tournament where he has a good record and is on a fast surface he'll like,...

Working out who is going to win each quarter is half of the way to working out how to make a profit on the winner market of this event. Gary Boswell separates the value back-to-lays from the poor value bets....

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ABN Amro World Tennis 2012: The right conditions to back Federer

Events / Sean Calvert / 13 February 2012 / Leave a Comment

Roger Federer will enjoy the fast conditions this week

"But back on his favoured surface I can see Federer erasing the memory of the Davis Cup and obliging at around [2.2] at a tournament where, although he rarely plays here, he has a 17-5 record."

Sean Calvert isn't often in the business of tipping the tournament favourite but these days Roger Federer can be backed at odds-against. This is a tournament where he has a good record and is on a fast surface he'll like, so he's the call.

What a diabolical few days of betting I endured at the weekend, with some shocking luck manifesting itself across the board in both tennis and football.

Not only did Ivo Karlovic and Dan Evans suddenly become most unlikely Davis Cup heroes, but I also managed to back Luis Suarez to score first and Man United to win 2-1 at [85.0] at Old Trafford and Keith Andrews at [16.0] to score the last goal in the Black Country Derby (he scored in the 86th minute and it wasn't the last goal).

So, surely that misfortune can't continue and to put a stop to it, I'm having an investment in the week's biggest ATP event, the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam.

It's normally one of the quickest indoor hard surfaces of the year in Rotterdam and although they have altered the surface for this year's event I would imagine that it will be still fairly pacy, which will suit number one seed Roger Federer.

Fed was surprisingly beaten at odds of around [1.04] in the Davis Cup on clay by John Isner at the weekend and it won't be easy to switch from clay to quick indoor hard in a matter of days, but it certainly shouldn't be beyond the Swiss.

Federer has an excellent draw, away from main rivals Tomas Berdych and Juan Martin Del Potro and has really only the unpredictable Alexandr Dolgopolov to concern him in the top half of the draw.

I'm not convinced, however, that Dolgo's junk ball playing style can beat a firing Roger Federer though and as ever with the Ukrainian, it's anyone's guess how he will perform on any given day.

Elsewhere in the top half, Mikhail Youzhny has found some form lately and the Russian, who enjoys the indoor conditions, will probably be Federer's second round opponent but he has a 0-11 career record against the Fed Express.

The former world number eight has a decent record here though, having won the title in 2007 and reaching the final two years ago.

Others in the top half include the returning Paul-Henri Mathieu, for whom this will be his second ATP Tour event since his comeback from injury, Feliciano Lopez, home favourite Robin Haase, the fading Nikolay Davydenko, and mercurial Frenchman Richard Gasquet.

The 'Gasman' was one of many of the top-20 players who skipped Davis Cup this weekend, but he's showing no signs of improvement so far in 2012 and will probably reach the last eight or possibly the semis at best this week.

The bottom half is much tougher to call with Berdych and Del Potro the obvious favourites, but also worth consideration are fast court specialist Michael Llodra, everyone's favourite racquet destructor Marcos Baghdatis, Serbia's Viktor Troicki, Marcel Granollers, Phillip Kohlschreiber and veteran Ivan Ljubicic.

Veteran Croatian, Ljubicic, enjoys Rotterdam where he has been twice a finalist and twice a semi finalist and it wouldn't be a huge shock if he found some form here this week and [90.0] is too big a price for a player of his class in these conditions, despite his advancing age.

Llodra won this in 2008 and will also enjoy the conditions, but his long flight back from Canada and opening match against Del Potro puts me off the [140.0] available about the Frenchman.

Berdych is a live contender based on his improved showing in 2012 and at around [7.0] he's not a bad shout, but he's never won back-to-back titles in his career on the ATP Tour and it's hard to see him starting now after winning in Montpelier last week.

Del Potro has been resting since Melbourne and is yet to win a title on indoor hard, but his draw looks pretty decent with Troicki and Ljubicic probably his main rivals.

But back on his favoured surface I can see Federer erasing the memory of the Davis Cup and obliging at around [2.2] at a tournament where, although he rarely plays here, he has a 17-5 record.

Recommended Bet

Back Federer at [2.2]

Long shot

Ljubicic at [90.0]

Working out who is going to win each quarter is half of the way to working out how to make a profit on the winner market of this event. Gary Boswell separates the value back-to-lays from the poor value bets....

This event does of course lack the glamour of the Australian Open just gone but there's a lively outsider who can come good for us if he's in the mood. Over to you, Guillermo....

The world's best are in Australia ahead of the first grand slam of the year and it's one of the most improved tennis players of 2011 who is attracting tipster Sean Calvert's money after hitting a big winner last week...

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The 5 worst grunters in tennis

Wimbledon Betting / Dan Fitch / 25 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Peter Ustinov has been spared.

Dan Fitch takes a look at the tennis stars who just can't play the game quietly.

Tennis is a tough enough game to play without being distracted, so spare a thought for anyone who has had to face the noisiest characters in the sport.

Here are the five worst grunters in tennis.

Tennis grunting may be thought of as a female pursuit, but the Godfather of the Grunt was Jimmy Connors. Others would eclipse him in terms of decibels in later years, but Connors was the pioneer of the art of making a funny noise while simultaneously hitting a tennis ball.

Having one grunter at the other side of the net is bad enough, but two is really difficult to cope with. When the Williams sisters play together in double matches, Venus provides a solid if unremarkable high-pitched shriek and Serena emits a low guttural groan that makes us slightly scared.

Once the reigning monarch of tennis screamers, Monica Seles' grunts attracted a lot of attention for sounding a bit rude. Even Peter Ustinov felt compelled to comment, stating: "I'd hate to be next door to her on her wedding night." Seles remains unmarried.

A young pretender to the grunting throne is the 18-year old Portuguese pro Michelle Larcher de Brito, whose noisy net-play has caused a lot of controversy. On being labelled as unsportsmanlike, Larcher de Brito said: "I could (stop grunting), but, you know, it won't feel natural, because it feels like something is missing in my game if I just stop." In case you're wondering, the thing that will be missing is the sound of an animal that has been caught in a mantrap and is being tortured with a red-hot poker.

The cream of the screamers is Maria Sharapova, who screeches 'whoooooa' every time she hits the ball, in a manner somewhat reminiscent of the wrestling legend Rick Flair. In the following match in Australia her cries left the crowd in hysterics and even prompted one spectator to tell her to 'shut up'. Her opponents wish she would.

From McEnroe to Serena, Dan Fitch looks at the players who let their tempers get in the way of their tennis....

Rafael Nadal made light work of Tomas Berdych this afternoon to win his second Wimbledon title......

The pre-tournament favourite blows away Vera Zvonareva to successfully defend her Wimbledon title......

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The top 10 tennis meltdowns

Wimbledon Betting / Dan Fitch / 11 May 2011 / Leave a Comment

Serena argues at the US Open.

From McEnroe to Serena, Dan Fitch looks at the players who let their tempers get in the way of their tennis.

Think of Wimbledon and one of the first memories that will come flooding back is John McEnroe at his maddest and baddest.

Tennis is as much a mental battle as a physical one, which is why even the best players are always susceptible to a breakdown of epic proportions. Here are the top ten tennis meltdowns.

Most players opt for rage as their weapon of choice when losing it with an umpire, but Andy Roddick instead opted for extreme sarcasm, when Hawkeye overturned an out call and the chair umpire subsequently awarded the point to Philipp Kohlschreiber at the 2008 Australian Open.

Although in truth it was a half-hearted effort, David Ferrer was always unlikely to win any plaudits when he lobbed a ball in the direction of a crying baby that was putting him off his serve, in a match against Mardy Fish. The incident was made all the worse for the image of the baby's father clutching his child in a protective manner, as if someone had just fired a bullet at the infant.

In 1995 the umpire Bruno Rebeuh not only got on the wrong side of Jeff Tarango, but also his wife who slapped the official in the face. The American had been hit with two code violations by Rebeuh, after telling the crowd to 'shut up' and accusing the umpire of corruption. Tarango responded by storming off the court and was defaulted, but not before he'd told his missus to give his new enemy a right hander.

This clip is most remarkable for the fact that the commentator reacts to the madness around him as if he's narrating a sedate wildlife documentary. When Bruno Echagaray is called for a foot fault in a third set tie break to lose the match, his first reaction is stunned shock, which quickly gives way to fury.

While most tennis meltdowns involve a player at war with the umpire, Mikhail Youzhny had no one to blame but himself when he hit a backhand into the net at break point. The Russian decided to take out his frustrations on his own head with his racquet, but despite drawing blood he somehow managed to regain his composure to beat his opponent Nicolas Almagro in a third set tie-breaker.

Sometimes in life you have to decide when to fight your battles and when it would be wiser to turn the other cheek. In 1999 Martina Hingis was up a set and a break against Steffi Graf in the French Open final, when she disputed a line call and then went into meltdown. She went on to lose the game and had to dragged out in tears by her mother, after refusing to come out for the trophy presentation.

The talented Belgian sounded more like a death metal frontman than a tennis player as he he screamed at officials, during a match in which he was winning against David Ferrer in Miami. Malisse also threw a ball at a line judge, kicked over a chair and smashed his racquet, in an emotional outburst that saw him given a four-week ban, stripped of $13,290 in prize money and also fined $7705.

It might have been the ladies semi-final of the US Open, but there was nothing remotely ladylike about Serena Williams' foul mouthed tirade against a lineswoman who had pointed out a second-serve foot-fault, when down match point. Serena's potty mouth saw her lose the point and therefore the match, leaving a grateful Kim Clijsters to contest the final.

It's hard enough to reach the semi-finals of the US Open when you're 39-years old, as Jimmy Connors did in 1991, but it's even harder if the umpire is making bad calls. So perhaps it's not surprising that Connors reacted angrily when the official made two line calls against him, as he battled Aaron Krickstein in the fourth round.

There are dozens of examples of John McEnroe losing his mind with rage, but this is the most famous and iconic, with the lines 'You cannot be serious' and 'Chalk flew up' entering popular consciousness.

Rafael Nadal made light work of Tomas Berdych this afternoon to win his second Wimbledon title......

The pre-tournament favourite blows away Vera Zvonareva to successfully defend her Wimbledon title......

Rafael Nadal may not be the most popular player around SW19 after demolishing local favourite Andy Murray but we should appreciate what a special talent he is and bet accordingly ahead of his match against Tomas Berdych, says Ben Caudell....

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Miami Masters Tips: America's next top tennis player?

Events / Ben Caudell / 30 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Ben's backing Mardy Fish to be the American number one

"If Fish wins today, not only would he reach the semi-finals of this event for the first time, he would also become the top ranked American for the first time in his career."

He'll have home support on his side and a strong record against top ten players, but can Mardy Fish overcome David Ferrer in what is likely to be a long match?

David Ferrer (ESP) v Mardy Fish (US)

After surprising first round losses for both these players at Indian Wells a fortnight ago, Miami has proved to be a different kettle of 'fish'. With the Spaniard and American firing on all cylinders and with both players yet to drop a single set, we can look forward to a real corker of a match that looks evenly balanced on paper but not in the match odds where Fish can be backed at [2.80].

The head-to-head record reads three wins apiece with only two of the six matches having been won in straight sets. However, it's been nearly four years since these two stalwarts last competed against each other, so history shouldn't have a significant baring on how this quarter-final pans out.

What is important, though, is the fact that Fish is coming into a purple patch of form at the right time. Having completed notable wins over former top ten player Richard Gasquet 6-4 6-3 and former US Open Champion Juan Martin Del Potro, the American has another incentive that will give him an extra adrenaline boost. If Fish wins today, not only would he reach the semi-finals of this event for the first time, he would also become the top ranked American for the first time in his career.

Fish has a great record against top ten players and he recorded a positive 5-3 stat in 2010. He's appearing in his third ATP World Tour quarter-final or better this year and his fourth ATP World Tour Masters quarter-final. An important fact to note is that from his last three appearances at this stage of a Master series event Mardy has gone on to reach the final.

There will be a lot of home support cheering Fish on. This match will probably go all the way but my money is going on the soon to be top American.

Recommended Bets
Back Mardy Fish @ [2.8] to win match
Back three sets @ [2.44]

It's an all-Serb clash in Miami today and it's hard to see the prohibitively short-priced Novak Djojovic losing this one to Viktor Troicki. We must therefore go in search of alternative betting options, says Ben Caudell....

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Former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro is up against Robin Soderling in the glamour tie of the third round in Miami and Ben Caudell thinks the smart money is on the Swede...

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Tennis Betting: Strength in numbers?

General / Guy McCrea / 06 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

Andy Murray and Serena Williams at a fashion show last year

"More combined events can be good for the WTA but only if it is a genuinely equal partnership."

There are now more combined WTA/ATP Tour events than ever before, with this month's prestigious tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami prime examples. Guy McCrea considers whether this is a good thing for the women's game.

One thing you quickly learn about professional tennis is that change never comes easy - not least when it comes to the development of combined events.

Take next week's tournament at Indian Wells. Way back in 1987, this crucial spot in the Californian desert hosted a WTA event for the first time, immediately prior to the long-standing men's tournament. But it wasn't until ten years later that it was played at the same time as the men. Even then, it was, along with Miami, one of only two combined WTA/ATP events on the calendar, in addition to the four (ITF controlled) Grand Slams.

Fast forward to 2011 and things are very different. For the first time, both Rome and Cincinnati will stage combined events, with the Canadian Open 'virtually combined' as it hosts the men and women in the same week, but at different locations. Not including the Slams, there are now 20 combined WTA/ATP events each season.

Why this hasn't happened sooner? Above all, both the WTA and the ATP have always been most concerned to protect their own commercial interests. Both saw the other as a rival rather than as a potential partner.

There has also been the obstacle of both tours having sold long-term licenses to tournaments - pre-existing spots on the calendar which are tough to quickly renegotiate. Consider the legal battle the ATP encountered when it downgraded and moved the previously Masters 1000 level event in Hamburg and you start to see why any calendar change can be problematic.

The benefits are obvious though. In the same place, both tours are sure to benefit from greater media exposure. Off-court photo opportunities, such as Venus Williams (priced at around [36.0] to win the 2011 French Open) and Andy Murray stopping traffic on Miami's Ocean Drive two years ago to play tennis and promote the event, are stronger when both tours are involved.

The WTA players themselves, including Kim Clijsters ([6.0] favourite to win Roland Garros) also frequently talk up what they feel to be the better atmosphere and ambiance at combined events.

But for me, there are also some dangers for the WTA. Principally, will it struggle to attract the same sort of interest that the ATP does? You almost see it already, with men's matches dominating the television schedules for large parts of events. At the Slams, it's common practice to schedule the women's match in the night session before the men. The rationale (backed up by stadium numbers) is that fans will stick around for the later men's match, but not so much if it is the other way around.

The concern is that the women's game might lose credibility if regularly placed on the same stage as the men. Historically, Rome has always garnered better attendances for the men's event than the women's. It will be interesting to see what happens this year when it is combined. The Canadian Open has also consistently published figures which show its men's event to have drawn bigger crowds than the women's tournament in each of the past 30 years.

In addition, there are still only a couple of main showcourts at a week-long combined event - but with double the number of top ranked players involved. This is fantastic value for a fan with a ground pass. But the danger for the WTA is that they will receive less television coverage if many women are placed on outside courts with no cameras around.

But these issues aside, it's easy to see that the WTA has much to gain from more combined events. Despite signing a new sponsorship agreement with a Swedish cosmetics company last month, the WTA has so far been unable to source a new tie-in for what it probably wants most of all - a new title sponsor to replace Sony Ericsson, who decided not to renew its previous $88 million deal. Although they are still involved in some other schemes with the WTA, these are not thought to be in the same league as that landmark contract.

Both tours must realise they only possess a handful of genuine global stars who have real crossover appeal - currently the Williams sisters and Maria Sharapova ([28.0] to win the French Open), along with Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick. Ask the average sports fan how many more they can name and you will struggle to get answers.

Today's global sports marketplace is more cut-throat than ever before. Tennis is just one sport of many. Ultimately, more combined events can be good for the WTA but if - and only if - it is a genuinely equal partnership in every way.

So, how about a completely combined men's and women's tour in the future? Don't hold your breath on that one - but I wouldn't rule it out either.

There are now more combined WTA/ATP Tour events than ever before, with this month's prestigious tournaments at Indian Wells and Miami prime examples. Guy McCrea considers whether this is a good thing for the women's game....

Sean Calvert discusses the rapid rise of a young Canadian player who is starting to make real waves......

The women's game has lost many of its biggest names either to injury or retirement in recent times. Guy McCrea asks if we are finally about to witness a new group of women regularly contend at the Grand Slams......

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Tennis Betting: The rise and rise of Milos Raonic

General / Sean Calvert / 24 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Milos Raonic has already upset some big names

"The thing that first struck me about Raonic - other than his massive serve - was his confidence and calmness under pressure."

Sean Calvert discusses the rapid rise of a young Canadian player who is starting to make real waves...

Quiz question: Who is the best Canadian (male) tennis player of all time? No, it's not Greg Rusedski or even Frank Dancevic. It's Milos Raonic.

That's according to the rankings and despite having only in the last month appeared on most observers' (including mine) radars, the 20-year-old has blasted his way to number 37 in the world from 374 a year ago.

Pedants may point out that Rusedski reached number four in the world and a Grand Slam final, but he had long since 'defected' to play for Great Britain by that stage (he was ranked 47 when he switched) and on the looks of this year's evidence thus far, Raonic may go on to better those achievements in any case.

I was first alerted to Raonic in Melbourne this year when I noticed his results against Michael Llodra, Mikhail Youzhny and Ferrer and that effort was followed up when he won his first event in San Jose without dropping a set, beating Fernando Verdasco in the final.

On the back of that I advised him as my bet in Memphis and was fortunate enough to take someone's generous lay of [80.0] although he was generally available at [20.0].

I watched all of his matches at the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships and the thing that first struck me about Raonic - other than his massive serve - was his confidence and calmness under pressure.

This kid can not only hit a first serve at 150mph - that would make him just a slightly better version of Ivo Karlovic - but he can play as well. He'd be a handful to many in the top 20 without it.

The comparisons with Karlovic and John Isner are obvious, given their similarity in stature and their ace counts, but Ivo has little else to his game while Milos moves well and hits thunderous winners off both wings.

His inside out forehand reminds me a bit of Del Potro's, while some of his backhand winners arrowed down the line are like those of a Youzhny or Wawrinka, although two handed, so perhaps Djokovic might be technically a more accurate comparison.

He can volley too and with a reach like his, he's not an easy guy to pass at net, though he loves a target himself and drove Andy Roddick to distraction with one delightful top spin lob to go with passes down either line in Memphis.

So, he has all the shots, but the thing about his serve is that it's not just a flat 150mph down the middle blaster, Raonic often throws in a slow kicker out wide on first serve or a body serve - the variety left Roddick clueless.

OK, so Roddick's not the best returner, but the point is that the average receiver has no clue which way it's going and at what speed or trajectory.

Before we get too excited, there are chinks in his armour, but they should be able to be ironed out by coach Galo Blanco in the fullness of time.

He had a tendency to drop his level in his matches once ahead in Memphis and against Roddick he became too passive and was waiting for his opponent to cough up the error too often, whereas his strength lies in going for his shots.

The service motion is dead set, with eight bounces of the ball on first and second serve - no more, no less - and it looks an action that won't break down unless he tinkers with it.

The Montenegro-born Canadian, who turned 20 in December, reminds me a little of his boyhood hero, Pete Sampras, in the sense that he can be 0-30 or 0-40 down on serve and not get flustered, rather he comes up with a few aces and he's out of trouble.

The temper is there - you will see him hit his racquet on his shoe often in matches - but otherwise nothing seems to faze him.

Another interesting thing is his eagerness to compete on clay to improve his all-round game, something that most big servers don't bother with (and Roddick is a case in point there).

Verdasco got his knickers in a twist after losing to Raonic twice in a week and was quoted as saying: "For me that's not a real match in tennis. I hope to play soon against him in clay court to show him what it is to play tennis, and play rallies, and run, and not [just] serve.'

No sour grapes there then. If they do meet on clay, Verdasco might just find that Raonic can play a 'real tennis match' and play it rather better than he expects.

With no points to defend, top-20 looks a certainty for Canada's best player and he'll be a huge threat indoors and on quick outdoor hard-courts.

Sean Calvert discusses the rapid rise of a young Canadian player who is starting to make real waves......

The women's game has lost many of its biggest names either to injury or retirement in recent times. Guy McCrea asks if we are finally about to witness a new group of women regularly contend at the Grand Slams......

It's been a year of ups and downs on the WTA Tour. But what were the most important moments? In the first of a two-part series, Guy McCrea selects five highlights from the opening half of the 2010 season ......

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Women's Tennis: Changing of the guard at the top of the game

General / Guy McCrea / 19 February 2011 / Leave a Comment

Petra Kvitova is a rising star in the women's game

"Kvitova would be my current tip to win a maiden major title come the first week of June."

The women's game has lost many of its biggest names either to injury or retirement in recent times. Guy McCrea asks if we are finally about to witness a new group of women regularly contend at the Grand Slams...

It's been dubbed the "veteran's tour" and if you consider the recent Grand Slam singles champions on the WTA you can see why. Just two of the last 20 major winners were aged under 24 - Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic, both back in 2008.

The WTA's season-ending top ten has seen some fresh faces in recent years led by current world number one Caroline Wozniacki, with Agnieszka Radwanska and Victoria Azarenka also involved. These three and other younger players have enjoyed excellent success at WTA events around the world.

But aside from Wozniacki's run to the 2009 US Open final, the participants in Grand Slam showpieces have largely been players aged over 24.

Of course, this has mainly been due to the dominance of the Williams sisters, plus the Belgian duo of Kim Clijsters and Justine Henin. Between them, this formidable quartet has won 13 of the past 17 Grand Slam singles titles. But there are increasing doubts over how long Serena and Venus will continue to stick around. Serena still hasn't played since winning Wimbledon last year and Venus hasn't since the US Open. Henin has retired again due to a serious elbow problem, while Clijsters also thinks this season will be her last full year on tour. She still plans to play in 2012 - the London Olympics are a target - but will pursue a reduced schedule.

Then there are continuing doubts over Sharapova and Ivanovic. Both are still just 23 years old, but Sharapova has only reached one quarter-final in eight Grand Slams since returning from shoulder surgery. I wonder whether she can ever really dominate players from the baseline as she did in the past. Note her Australian Open fourth round exit to Germany's Andrea Petkovic.

Ivanovic looked like she was getting back to her best late last season. But then Heinz Gunthardt decided he couldn't commit to a full-time coaching role. What followed was a disappointing opening round defeat in Melbourne and a failed trial coaching period with Antonio Van Grichen. The Serb remains talented enough to contend this year. But currently without a coach and short on victories, you wouldn't bet a great deal on it.

So who are the women to take advantage of this at the majors? Wozniacki (currently [11.0] on Betfair to win the French Open) is the obvious choice. Now back at number one after Kim Clijsters took the top spot for one week, the Dane will again have to field questions as to whether she deserves to be at the summit without having won a Grand Slam singles title.

Wozniacki was close to ending her wait at the Australian Open, but couldn't convert a match point against China's Li Na in the semi-finals. The thing is, although she hasn't been to another major final since losing to Clijsters in New York in 2009, Wozniacki has hardly underperformed at the Slams. She has reached the second week every time since then, including two semi-finals. With doubts over so many of the other older names in the women's game, Wozniacki will surely win a maiden major soon - particularly if she can rekindle her form of the second half of 2010 where she combined trademark defensive strengths with a willingness to try and be more aggressive on her forehand.

Who else? Well, there's lefty Petra Kvitova. The 20-year-old has already recorded some excellent results at the Slams - most notably her run to last year's Wimbledon semi-finals. Kvitova also reached the Australian Open quarters in January. The Czech has improved hugely even since last summer. She is fitter thanks to intense off-season training in the Slovakian mountains and appears less prone to concentration lapses than in the past.

I asked Clijsters about Kvitova at last week's WTA Premier event in Paris and the Belgian is in little doubt that the Czech will become a regular fixture at the back end of the majors. She reached the fourth round at Roland Garros on her Grand Slam debut and with few standout contenders on clay in the women's game (especially since Henin's retirement) Kvitova would be my current tip to win a maiden major title come the first week of June.

Of the others, both Radwanska and Azarenka have been second week fixtures for a while now (Radwanska has four, and Azarenka three previous quarter final appearances) but I would still put Kvitova above them. I doubt Radwanska has the power to win a Slam, while does Azarenka have the mental toughness yet to survive seven matches at a major?

Nevertheless, you can't get away from the feeling that for this trio and the other emerging talents on the WTA, the next couple of years present a wonderful opportunity to regularly contend for the sport's major prizes.

The women's game has lost many of its biggest names either to injury or retirement in recent times. Guy McCrea asks if we are finally about to witness a new group of women regularly contend at the Grand Slams......

It's been a year of ups and downs on the WTA Tour. But what were the most important moments? In the first of a two-part series, Guy McCrea selects five highlights from the opening half of the 2010 season ......

Taylor Dent's retirement leaves an ever dwindling band of serve-volleyers in the men's game - a bad thing, says Sean Calvert...

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Is Andy Murray the Tom Okker of this tennis generation?

Australian Open Betting / Jack Houghton / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Murray grab a slice of tennis glory at the third time of asking?

"For every Agassi or Lendl who announces their Grand Slam intentions with a plucky final defeat or two; there is a much longer list of those who get close without ever delivering when it really matters."

There's a long list of Grand Slam finalists who never quite made it to the top table of tennis winners, says Jack Houghton, and good though he is, Andy Murray may just be the Magnus Norman of the 2000s

Here's a great quiz question for you. What do the tennis players Tom Okker, Dick Crealy and Harold Solomon all have in common?

Unless you possess a freakishly strange statistical knowledge of 1970s tennis, it's highly likely you haven't the first clue. In fact, I'm willing to bet that a high percentage of you won't even recognise the names.

Don't worry; you're not deficient in any way. After all, they could be any Tom, Dick and Harry (boom boom).

I could have been a lot kinder with the question. A trio of Robin Soderling, David Nalbandian and Andy Murray would have made things easier - three more names picked at random from the 44 tennis players who have played in a Grand Slam final in the Open Era without winning one.

It's a statistic that will do little to calm the nerves of those willing Murray to victory in Sunday's Australian Open Final (BBC1 and Eurosport, 08:15 GMT).

Sure, Murray is a player full of promise, and with this his third appearance in a Grand Slam final, he certainly seems to have more going for him than the lowly-ranked player who enjoys a run of form to coincide with a serendipitous draw. Mal Washington he's not; he's made his third final on merit.

After all, he's been winning Tour titles for a few years now, and has been in the world's top-five since 2008. Surely he's going to win a title that matters before long? Surely he isn't destined to be a perennial also-ran; remembered only by tennis stato-freaks contesting highly-specialist pub quizzes in years to come?

I guess we'll find out; and maybe even before our eggs and bacon have digested on Sunday morning. But it's worth remembering that for every Agassi or Lendl who announces their Grand Slam intentions with a plucky final defeat or two; there is a much longer list of those who get close without ever delivering when it really matters.

Particularly telling is that, looking down the list of the most successful Grand Slammers of the last 40 years - Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Courier, Edberg, Becker, McEnroe, Borg, Connors - they all took their Grand Slam opportunity at the first time of asking. Murray may well win one, but he doesn't look a likely candidate to forge a long career at the very top of the game.

On Sunday morning of course, such concerns will be irrelevant. Murray's mind will be on his first title; the history-making can wait.

At the prices though, I'll be backing Novak Djokovic ([1.75]). He outplayed Federer in the semi, producing a performance beyond anything Murray has yet to produce in his career. And he's delivered on a Grand Slam match point, which might be the most decisive factor of all.

Murray's Tour credentials and Grand Slam near-misses might seem appealing, but just go look at some of the other possible names in our quiz question - Todd Martin, Magnus Norman and Guillermo Coria will get you started. Many promised as much as Murray; but none converted.

Murray might have what it takes to beat Djokovic this weekend; but it's more likely he'll further cement his place on a long list of nearly-but-not-quites.

Recommended Bet:
Back Novak Djokovic @ [1.75] to win the Australian Open

Betfair website

Is Andy Murray the Tom Okker of this tennis generation?

Australian Open Betting / Jack Houghton / 29 January 2011 / Leave a Comment

Can Murray grab a slice of tennis glory at the third time of asking?

"For every Agassi or Lendl who announces their Grand Slam intentions with a plucky final defeat or two; there is a much longer list of those who get close without ever delivering when it really matters."

There's a long list of Grand Slam finalists who never quite made it to the top table of tennis winners, says Jack Houghton, and good though he is, Andy Murray may just be the Magnus Norman of the 2000s

Here's a great quiz question for you. What do the tennis players Tom Okker, Dick Crealy and Harold Solomon all have in common?

Unless you possess a freakishly strange statistical knowledge of 1970s tennis, it's highly likely you haven't the first clue. In fact, I'm willing to bet that a high percentage of you won't even recognise the names.

Don't worry; you're not deficient in any way. After all, they could be any Tom, Dick and Harry (boom boom).

I could have been a lot kinder with the question. A trio of Robin Soderling, David Nalbandian and Andy Murray would have made things easier - three more names picked at random from the 44 tennis players who have played in a Grand Slam final in the Open Era without winning one.

It's a statistic that will do little to calm the nerves of those willing Murray to victory in Sunday's Australian Open Final (BBC1 and Eurosport, 08:15 GMT).

Sure, Murray is a player full of promise, and with this his third appearance in a Grand Slam final, he certainly seems to have more going for him than the lowly-ranked player who enjoys a run of form to coincide with a serendipitous draw. Mal Washington he's not; he's made his third final on merit.

After all, he's been winning Tour titles for a few years now, and has been in the world's top-five since 2008. Surely he's going to win a title that matters before long? Surely he isn't destined to be a perennial also-ran; remembered only by tennis stato-freaks contesting highly-specialist pub quizzes in years to come?

I guess we'll find out; and maybe even before our eggs and bacon have digested on Sunday morning. But it's worth remembering that for every Agassi or Lendl who announces their Grand Slam intentions with a plucky final defeat or two; there is a much longer list of those who get close without ever delivering when it really matters.

Particularly telling is that, looking down the list of the most successful Grand Slammers of the last 40 years - Federer, Nadal, Sampras, Courier, Edberg, Becker, McEnroe, Borg, Connors - they all took their Grand Slam opportunity at the first time of asking. Murray may well win one, but he doesn't look a likely candidate to forge a long career at the very top of the game.

On Sunday morning of course, such concerns will be irrelevant. Murray's mind will be on his first title; the history-making can wait.

At the prices though, I'll be backing Novak Djokovic ([1.75]). He outplayed Federer in the semi, producing a performance beyond anything Murray has yet to produce in his career. And he's delivered on a Grand Slam match point, which might be the most decisive factor of all.

Murray's Tour credentials and Grand Slam near-misses might seem appealing, but just go look at some of the other possible names in our quiz question - Todd Martin, Magnus Norman and Guillermo Coria will get you started. Many promised as much as Murray; but none converted.

Murray might have what it takes to beat Djokovic this weekend; but it's more likely he'll further cement his place on a long list of nearly-but-not-quites.

Recommended Bet:
Back Novak Djokovic @ [1.75] to win the Australian Open

Betfair website