McEnroe: Murray can win US Open...

John McEnroe believes Andy Murray is one of just three players who can win the US Open – but admits Roger Federer still holds the upper hand.

Murray was finally due to begin his bid for a first Grand Slam title against Slovakia’s Lukas Lacko today, with Federer having already cruised into the second round on Monday evening.

World number one Rafael Nadal is the other player McEnroe thinks can lift the title on September 12, but he and Murray will have to do it the hard way after being placed in the same half of the draw, the other half to Federer.

“Federer is not going to have to deal with both of them, which is good for him,” McEnroe said. “How much will Rafa and Andy beat up on each other in the semis?

“I would be very surprised if one of those guys did not win it. Andy can absolutely win it – if it doesn’t happen this year, maybe next year.”

Murray recently sacked coach Miles Maclagan and went on to defeat Nadal and Federer in consecutive matches to defend his Masters series title in Toronto.

And McEnroe added on BBC Radio Five Live: “The difference with Andy is his willingness to go after the ball, to be more aggressive.

“This is something he may have been thinking about for a while.

“I think it was time maybe. Maclagan did a good job, like (Mark) Petchey before him and now it’s time for the next step. It seems like a good thing to try.”

Murray and Lacko have never played each other on tour before, but world number 71 Lacko has recorded some impressive wins this year, including victories over Marcos Baghdatis in the first round of Wimbledon and former world number one Lleyton Hewitt in Atlanta.

However, he lost 6-2 6-2 6-2 to Nadal in the second round of the Australian Open in January – where Murray lost in the final to Federer – and the British number one will be hoping for a similarly one-sided victory to get out of the scorching early-afternoon sun as soon as possible.

===========================================



There were a big handful of strong favourites that got dumped out yesterday including Baghdatis, Gulbis, Na Li, Chakvetadze, Petrova, Safarova and Shvedova. I wasn't on many of them as they didn't come up as selections and I ended the day with a tiny profit of £3.45 from 26 selections.

Not great but better than a loss so can't complain. Still so many matches each day so there is sure to be lot's of selections for later on today and let's see if the bank can keep growing.

The Bank is Doubled Again....This time in 24 days...

The bank has doubled again and it was achieved ahead of the target of a month. It was a great start to the US OPen proper with plenty of bets but plenty of wins.

The balance is now at £401.75

A little overall update is like this:

July 7th: £100
August 7th: Doubled to £200.
August 31st: Doubled to £401.75

I still think it will slow down a bit now but I will keep a target of a month again (approx) to see if it can double again so by the end of September would be great to get it done by.

Plenty more matches over the next few days so lets hope I can get a good start with the large number of selections coming up.

A day off today....

A day off today and time to relax and watch some football. We don't get many days off betting on the tennis so I can't really complain.

A great day for the system yesterday making back the previous days losses and a bit more to take the balance up to £364.99. A stupid amount of bets in the coming days I expect with the US Open starting.

I don't really have a solid opinion for the mens winner as it could be one of many. I'm not sure Fed is up for taking it back, Murray seems to be playing well but we know what happens in Slams with him so can't say I think he will win although he has a great chance. Nadal has this as the only Slam yet to win but you have others that could easily...well not easily but others that could spring a surprise and take the title.

Whoever wins I just hope it's a good tournament and it's a shame I will miss some of the night matches due to work but should catch the earlier matches and the weekends so it's not all bad.

McEnroe's 'women weaker than men' claim leaves fairer sex fuming...

American tennis legend John McEnroe has urged the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) to trim down its schedule saying that women tennis players are not mentally and physically strong enough to handle it.

McEnroe, who's known for making controversial statements, made the comments ahead of the U.S. Open, which starts from Monday in Flushing.

"They should be required to be in less events, there should be less events for the women," The New York Daily News quoted McEnroe, as saying.

"It seems it takes an actual meltdown on the court or women quitting the game altogether before they realize there's a need to change the schedule," he added.

However, former French Open Mixed Doubles champion, Mary Carillo said that she does not see the validity of McEnroe's opinion.

"I hate the idea that we have to judge women on a curve and say, 'It's too much for them. I've seen too many great women champions for too long," Carillo said.

WTA Tour Commissioner Stacy Allaster also criticized the call saying that McEnroe should study up more on the issue.

"John is more than entitled to his opinion, and he is a well-respected leader in our sport, but I hope when someone makes comments he's also looking at the data," Allaster said.

"Venus (Williams) is 30 and she is very careful with her body because she wants to continue to play," she added.

============================================



Many many selections from the qualifying matches and it wasn't a good day. A loss of less than 10% of the bank though so not too damaging. I've said before that qualy matches are never great for the system but like matches that I am not too confident about, they were included in the research of results so they need to be included in the betting.

Stakhovsky was also a chunk of the loss and I had a feeling he would win as he is 100% in Semi Finals on the tour. He is also 100% in Finals and after checking OnCourt this morning I am happy to find that he is a back bet for later today so fingers crossed he can keep this up and get a win against Istomin.

There will be lot's of picks again in the qualies I expect so I just have to hope and pray! If it is another bad day then I am sure it will pick up when the US Open proper starts.

Federer Could Face Soderling...

If Roger Federer is going to reach a seventh consecutive US Open title match, he might need to get past the man who ended his Grand Slam semifinal streak.

Federer, the five-time US Open champion, was given a possible quarterfinal against two-time French Open runner-up Robin Soderling in the tournament draw conducted yesterday. Soderling, seeded fifth at the US Open, upset Federer in the quarterfinals in Paris this year, stopping Federer’s run of reaching at least the semifinals of a record 23 consecutive Grand Slam tournaments.

“I’m motivated to do well because I love New York, I love playing in Arthur Ashe [Stadium],’’ Federer said. “If I couldn’t get motivated by this stadium and this city, then I’d have some issues.’’

The other mens matchups in the quarterfinals could be No. 1-seeded Rafael Nadal against No. 8 Fernando Verdasco, two-time major finalist Andy Murray against Wimbledon runner-up Tomas Berdych, and No. 3 Novak Djokovic against No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko or No. 9 Andy Roddick.

The top-seeded woman, 2009 runner-up Caroline Wozniacki, could face 2006 champion Maria Sharapova in the fourth round and 2004 champion Svetlana Kuznetsova in the quarterfinals.

Other possible womens quarterfinals are defending champion Kim Clijsters against French Open runner-up Sam Stosur, 2000-01 US Open winner Venus Williams against French Open champion Francesca Schiavone, and 2008 US Open finalist Jelena Jankovic against Wimbledon runner-up Vera Zvonareva.

“I know if I play well that I can beat anybody out there,’’ said Clijsters, who also won the 2005 Open, “so that’s what I’m going to try to achieve.’’

Murray, hoping to become the first British man since 1936 to win a Grand Slam title, could meet No. 20-seeded Sam Querrey of the United States in the fourth round.

In the semifinals, Murray was drawn to meet Nadal, who lost in that round in New York each of the past two years and is trying to complete a career Grand Slam.

Federer was drawn to meet Djokovic or Roddick in the semifinals. Federer beat Djokovic in the 2007 US Open final and the 2008 and 2009 semifinals.

“Over the last three years here, I’ve only lost to one player — Federer — and that gives me enough reason to believe I can go far this year,’’ Djokovic said. “I like the courts, I like the atmosphere here. I just like the tournament — it’s suitable to my game, and to my personality.’’

Federer could face another familiar opponent in the third round: 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon champion Lleyton Hewitt. Federer beat Hewitt in the 2004 US Open final, part of a 15-match, head-to-head winning streak for Federer — which ended when Hewitt beat him in the final of a grass-court tournament at Halle, Germany, in June.

“I know my way around New York so well,’’ said Federer. “The center court is so familiar.’’

Federer lost in the 2009 US Open final to Juan Martin del Potro, who — like No. 1-ranked Serena Williams — withdrew from this year’s tournament, having not recovered fully from surgery. Del Potro’s wrist was hurt; Williams cut her foot shortly after winning Wimbledon.

“It would be great to have Serena compete,’’ Clijsters said, “but that’s sports, and that’s life.’’

Williams’s older sister Venus, who is seeded No. 3, could face an intriguing matchup in the third round against No. 32-seeded Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria. Pironkova has won two of her three matches against Venus, including a straight-set upset in the Wimbledon quarterfinals.

That was the last match Williams played on tour; she sprained her left kneecap this month, forcing her to withdraw from hard-court tournaments at Cincinnati and Montreal.

=======================================



A nice profit yesterday but a close match that had the nerves going at times to get the £10 win. A couple of quid loss from the day before was more than recovered although I didn't see any tennis that day as I was watching my team Spurs get through to the Champions League Group Stage hence the lack of posting too.

I seem to have got through tank week after last nights results, it could have gone the other way big time but it held on so fingers crossed for the last few days before the US Open starts proper.

Hopefully Betfair will get some Qualies markets up soon so I can get involved a little over the weekend too.

Where's the Heat? Federer-Nadal Rivalry Is All Fun and Games...

Written by Greg Couch.

We want our rivals to hate each other. Hate. It's about good vs. evil, black hat vs. white hat. It's about right and wrong.

No way can they be friends.

That's what has helped Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Their dislike for each other has fueled the fun.

Remember a few months ago when Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi, in a charity exhibition in California for victims in Haiti, started bickering over their microphones? Sampras ended up serving at Agassi's head.

See? Good, healthy, hard feelings. Even suffering people and a good cause couldn't get between the self-absorption.

How many old-time NFL players have you heard complain about players today shaking hands with the other team after games?

In their day, three hours of eye-gouging, spitting and spearing to the back were not just about fun and games. They meant something.

That brings us to Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal, maybe the best individual rivalry in sports today. It would be better if they would play each other a little more often.

The bigger problem is this: they like each other.

Yuck.

Their fans get it. Long hair vs. short hair. Righty vs. lefty. Fluid strokes vs. vicious topspin. Federer fans think that Nadal fakes injuries every time he's about to lose. Nadal fans think that Federer says mean things; earlier in the year he said that winning on clay doesn't take much. Clay is Nadal's specialty.

Seems tame to me. Truth is, they like each other, respect each other.

Serena Williams and Justine Henin? Jimmy Connors and John McEnroe? No Christmas cards.

And now a video has emerged of Federer and Nadal that is really ugly. I mean, it's ugly in that it contradicts what we've all believed a healthy rivalry is supposed to be about.

Giggling. Tough to even say it.

They sat next to each other doing a commercial, presumably for an exhibition match they are planning at the end of the year. It's not clear, though, how new this video is.

Federer asks Nadal what he's going to get him for Christmas, and Nadal says he will go to Switzerland to play an exhibition for Federer's charity. Nadal asks what he's getting. Federer says he'll throw him the first set.

Problem was they both get the giggles. And just as you're appalled at these two gladiators of sport sitting there looking like 7-year-old girls, you find that you can't stop giggling either.

What are sports coming to anyway if they're going to be about sportsmanship and camaraderie?

========================================



A bit more profit in "tank week" so very happy. A few matches rolled over to today, I am assuming due to rain (I was at work so didn't see why) so they will get totaled on today's profit/loss tomorrow morning.

I think there will still be some tanks this week so if a sequence runs to a later bet I highly doubt I will be lumping on as to then see it lose if someone decided to tank would be very annoying.

I would be much happier breaking it down and recovering over time, hopefully in the first few days of the US Open so that the loss isn't dragging on for too long.

Murray seeded fourth for Flushing Meadows...

Andy Murray has been seeded fourth for next week’s US Open, where the Briton will be looking to secure his maiden grand slam title.

The 23-year-old, who is currently without a coach after parting company with Miles Maclagan last month, has been in good form of late, beating Roger Federer in the final of the Toronto Masters and reaching the quarter-finals in Cincinnati last week.

World number one Rafael Nadal will be the top seed as the Spaniard looks to win the only grand slam title to have eluded him so far, while five-time champion Federer is the second seed.

Novak Djokovic is seeded third while Andy Roddick, the ninth seed, is the top ranked home hope.

The women’s seedings will be announced tomorrow with the singles draws set to take place on Thursday.

=======================================



A few annoying days with rain and delays so I haven't posted the daily updates like usual. I have gone for the last 7 days total this morning as this is easier than working out the date and time of the last match I posted profit/loss for.

The bank has broken the £300 barrier which is now over halfway towards doubling again.



The balance is now at £318.63. It will be a very busy time in coming weeks with the US Open starting so hopefully the bank can grow a little bit more this week although I expect there will be some tanking this week so some shock results, meaning probable losses for the system as it doesn't really pick out the shock wins as selections.

Nadal Hopes To Improve...

Spaniard Rafael Nadal says he must find form quickly ahead of the US Open after losing to Marcos Baghdatis at the Cincinnati Masters.

The world No.1 made 41 unforced errors which was indicative of the touch the eight-time Grand Slam winner was in during his quarter-final.

The US Open is the only major to have eluded Nadal, and he admitted he would need to lift his game significantly to progress into the second week at Flushing Meadows.

"My game can improve, that's for sure. It must improve if I really want to have chances to have some opportunity in a week or so in New York," Nadal said after his 6-4 4-6 6-4 loss to Baghdatis.

"I have one week to keep working, keep practicing hard and that's what I am going to try - to keep improving my confidence with the backhand."

The 24-year-old said his backhand was causing him troubles, and may be a slight chink in his armour, but while Nadal admitted he had the problem, he also backed himself to use his two-hander better in the coming weeks.

"If my backhand improves, all my game will improve. My movement is going to improve a lot because I won't have to cover the backhand with the forehand and so I will cover positions better on the court," he said.

"I will also be able to make my first serve more calmly because if I miss the serve and he has a return then it will be no problem to play with the backhand."

"But, here, when he (Baghdatis) had a good return to the backhand, I always started the point in a very bad position ... So I think the backhand changed all my game, because I had to make too many adjustments to save that shot."

"But I started to play the backhand with more confidence which is a positive for me."

Baghdatis now meets Roger Federer in the semi-final at Cincinnati, while Andy Roddick takes on Mardy Fish in an all-American semi on Saturday.

The US Open starts on August 30.

=====================================



Baggy turning over Nadal wasn't a selection and as this is mostly favourites I'm happy to avoid that one! Another profit for the day, pushing the bank closer to the £300 mark where the balance now stands at £293.43. There may be a selection for all 4 matches today, but one match may not qualify, I have to check the stats later on when I place the bets.

Anderson returns to Davis Cup...

SOUTH Africa's top tennis player, big-serving Kevin Anderson, says he is eager to return to Davis Cup competition after a controversial two-year layoff.

After representing the country in 2008, Anderson said he would no longer be available for the international team competition. He makes his return, however, when South Africa play Germany for a place in next season's World Group in Stuttgart next month.

Speaking in a conference call yesterday, Anderson, ranked 76th in the world, said he was fully committed to the tie against Germany.

"I needed time to work on my game," Anderson said, "but I'm back in the top 100 now (in the ATP rankings) and I've grown a lot over the past two years.

South Africa are looking to gain World Group status for the first time in 12 years, and while they are expected to struggle on the clay surface at the Weissenhof Tennis Club, Anderson is confident.

"I think I've improved a lot on clay, and I'm able to adjust to the different surfaces," he said.

Anderson, the least experienced player in the team with only three Davis Cup matches under his belt, is joined by Wesley Moodie, ranked 25th in the world in the doubles format, Izak van der Merwe, Rik de Voest and Jeff Coetzee.


======================================



5 winners followed by 6 losers and a loss on the day but only a minimal one. The selections get less frequent now as we head toward the end of the week so hopefully I can squeeze a little more profit out of this tournament.

What did I say about sensing a losing day? ha ha, I have had this a few times now and it's even before I see the matches that qualify, I sense a bit more profit today to make up for yesterdays losses.

Is Roger Federer's trick-shot video real? He won't say...

Roger Federer says there a little bit of magic at work in his trick-shot video that has drawn more than 1.2 million views on YouTube.

The video shows Federer knocking a metal can off a man's head with a serve while shooting an ad for Gillette. Then, he does it again, drawing applause from the crew. Federer's official website had a link to the video.

There were questions about whether it's really a trick shot or a video trick. Following his opening match at the Cincinnati Masters on Wednesday night, he was asked directly whether the video is real. You can also see the video here...

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100819/SPORTS07/8190443/1435/Is-Roger-Federer-s-trick-shot-video-real?=#ixzz0x22GW47X

==================================



Another good day although once again it was made up mostly from one bet. It's been a while since a losing day now and I just have that feeling that today will be one. I haven't looked at the matches that may qualify yet but I've just got that feeling.

On first glance there seems to be a decent handful of selections and although I was expecting it to take longer the bank is looking at doubling in a month again (I doubt it will happen this time) with the halfway point of a month being around 21st so 2 days to get around £12 profit on the bank.

I still think it will slow down and maybe every 6 weeks is a more realistic target to check it against. As long as the bank keeps growing then I don't really mind how long it takes as long as it happens.