Saturday's Tennis

Well last night was most enjoyable. Copious amounts of alcohol twinned with exuberant dancing equals sore head this morning and a bad knee!! Still I obviously managed to persuade the Mrs to stop for a kebab on the way home as half of it seems to be down the front of my dinner jacket!

I can't believe I said I would play rugby today. I feel like crap have somehow hurt my knee and want to go back to bed please. It also means that I'm going to miss today's tennis.

It's a shame that we have Nadal v Djokovic in the semi final really, but it means it's a great opportunity for Monfils and Stepanek.

In the 1st Semi final I can't see past a Djokovic win. His game is superior to Nadal's on this surface and seems to be in fine form despite his customary wobbles in matches. Nadal was great against Tsonga yesterday but has been very average apart from that. Probably not one to get on early though as the swing will be sudden for a break either way.

In the second Semi I favour Monfils. He can blow hot and cold I know but this close to a Masters Series final should be enough to focus him especially on home soil. Stepanek has had a great run but was completely blown off the court by Murray until he stopped playing. Even if I was around I wouldn't be confident enough to have a bet on this.

In summary then perhaps missing the tennis today is not such a bad thing with two potentially tight matches. I'll just go and run around a rugby field trying not to throw up! I'm getting too old for this nonsense ;-)

Friday's Tennis

We started off today with Djokovic v Soderling, which Djokovic has just won 6-4 1-6 6-3. It wasn't a game I had an opinion on so was not bothered that I had to miss it due to work commitments.

But now I am back home and looking at the remaining three matches makes me glad that I am attending a ball this evening. I have just under 4 hours with which to get ready or have a bet.

Next up is Tsonga v Nadal! Tsonga is the favourite @ 1.72 with Nadal @ 2.36. The odds are slightly out in my opinion but not by a lot. I would still have Tsonga shading it as favourite but more like in the high 1.80's. Tsonga needs to get to the final in order to reach London which will be his motivation here. However his performance against Simon troubled me somewhat. Simon was clearly injured from the start, and while some say that has an impact on Tsonga's play, he should have really dispatched him a lot quicker and easier than he did. Nadal may not be in great form at the moment and he does look thinner and wearier every day I see him, but he will put up a lot more resistance than Simon. He is also still in with a shout of year end Number 1.

I will plump for a Tsonga win here but I think it will be 2-1. Therefore if I do decide to get involved it will probably be to lay the first set winner and green up early. This may change in running of course depending on how things develop.

As for the last two matches of the day, I have to be honest and say I really don't have a clue on either. If pushed I would go for Monfils due to the partisan home support and the fact that Cilic hasn't impressed me. In the other match I would have to go for Del Potro. Yes he had the trainer on against Gonzalez, but one reason makes me fancy him.... The year end rankings. He has a really good chance of taking the number 4 spot from Murray, which may only be one place but has enormous repercussions when it comes to draws in tournaments. Number 4 year end will almost certainly mean seeded 4 for the Australian Open in January. What better way to spend your holiday sat on a beach knowing that you are almost guaranteed a semi final berth in the first Major of the new season.

Gael Monfils v Marcel Granollers

Well here we go again with a back from the off. Just hope Monfils is interested this week. He should be as it's a 500 tournament and he stands a good chance of picking up some good points here. Will be checking to see he is interested and may have to bail if it looks like he isn't.

Back Gael Monfils	1.17	£49.69	£8.45
Ref: 9349828426 Bet placed: 11:19 03-Nov-09

Oh dear Monfils broken first for 2-3* Really not got his service games going yet. Though his last return game showed signs that he may break back soon.

3*-3 There's the immediate break back. Can't believe Monfils went as high as 1.75!!
Now he needs to hold mind you ;-)

3-4* Call it what you will!! Mugfest or breakfest!!!
4*-4 Now I need a hold then break for the set. Got to go and pick my daughter up from Nursery.

Back now and I see Monfils won the 1st set 6-4 now 1*-1 in the second.
2-1* And I'm out at 1.12. Monfils could easily lose a set the way it's been going!

Lay Gael Monfils	1.12	£51.91	£58.14 £6.23
Ref: 9350085320 Bet matched: 12:13 03-Nov-09

£2.11 on both better safe than sorry!

Monfils Wins 6-4 6-2
Profit: £2.11

Janko Tipsarevic v Gael Monfils

Score is 6-4 3*-2 to Tipsarevic. Hoping he can finish this off from here.

4-2* holds from 30-30 now can he nick another break. Is Monfils bothered?
4*-3 It seems Monfils is fighting so Tipsarevic ids going to have to work and serve this out. 2 more holds Janko!
0-30 C'mon Tipsy hold!! 0-40 :( 1 saved c'mon 2 more!! Oof tough call on Monfils 2 saved 1 more please!!
Get in all saved now don't hand him another straight away! Why does that always happen?? BP :( and Break! :(
4-4* C'mon another break then Janko!
4*-5 Monfils acting the clown now. Show him who's boss Janko!! C'mon!!!
Hmm Janko's first serve seems to have disappeared whilst Monfils seems to have found his :(
Monfils is such a goon... trying to get the crowd to sarcastically cheer an over rule!! Idiot!
5-5* C'mon Tipsarevic break him!!
15-40 c'mon Take One!!!!!
30-40 TAKE IT!!!!!!! Saved :(
5*-6 Free game for Monfils now :( C'mon Janko let's get to the TB!!
Tie break it is!!

0**-1 c'mon 2 holds Janko
0*-2 Not a great start get your act together!!
1-2** Now 2 MB against him please Monfils is trying to take the piss here!!
2-2* Not so great now are you Gael?
2**-3 C'mon Tipsy two aces would be nice!
3*-3 And another hold before turning the screw please!!
4-3** Pressure!! C'mon the MB!!!
4-4* gotta get it back in play Janko!
4**-5 OHHH Tipsy should have had that one. Let's have two holds then!!
4*-6 FFS  should have been a mb up to a mb down in 2 pts!!
5-6** break him!!!!
6-6* Great shot and another
6**-7 c'mon don't fluff it now Tipsy!!
7*-7 ACE!!!! Let's have another!!
8-7** Match Point TAKE IT!!!!!!
8-8* AHHH FFFS
8**-9 :(
Set Monfils!! Janko celebrating too early!! So unlucky! :(

No idea what has been happening as My system died yet again :( I think I may have to make an investment in a new laptop!  guess working them for 12-14 hours per day with numerous streams sb's and a bot is going to take it's toll sooner or later!
2-2 it is then sb says Janko has had 3 bp's this set :o Why oh why can he not convert!!
3-2* Holds to love! Now the break!! 30-40 TAKE IT!!!!!! YEEEESSSSS!!!
4*-2 Now serve this out!! Monfils only had 2 return pts this set!!
5-2* A break for GSm would be a satisfactory outcome! :-)
5*-3 Gonna have to serve it out then 3/ 19 return points this set doesn't indicate a break is coming but it's sport so you never know!!
2 MP's!!!!

Tipsarevic Wins 6-4 6(8)-7 6-3
Profit: £161.60