Dlouhy/Paes v Kubot/Marach

I only got involved in this at 3-6** in the 2nd set Tie break. 1.04 with two chances to serve it out was fine for me. Every little help as they say at ASDA.

Yet another doubles match where the faves crash and burn.

Rafael Nadal v Robin Soderling

I couldn't make my mind up pre match so I stayed out the whole of the first set. Soderling taking it 6-4. Rafa just doesn't have the power he used too as is clearly shown in the size of his biceps. I wouldn't of course like to comment on any speculation as to the radical change in his physical stature over the last 18 months! However I think the picture here shows all the evidence you need! :-)

Soderling should probably be a lay at the start of the second but I think he may take this in two so will hang fire for now.

Soderling Wins 6-4 6-4 and I won nothing! But at least I lost nothing either! Onwards and upwards we go....

Roger Federer v Fernando Verdasco

Well I just wasn't sure on this one before the off and I'm still not. Federer was 1.21 at the start so would have been a great lay to trade with hindsight as Verdasco has taken the 1st set 6-4. I still don't feel confident enough to get involved in this so will watch and see how the second set develops. Trading the serve may be an option this set though.

Well I wish I'd listened to my own advice 8 service holds and we have 4-4. Had I traded that I would have had a nice green now! Oh well.....

Make that 9 holds! :-( ..... 10 ... 11 and Federer breaks for the set 7-5.
Deciding set it is then Federer to serve first will be an advantage if it's still on serve towards the end of the set.

Well that was a disappointing final set, Federer wins it 6-1 and I didn't manage to get on all match.

Andy Murray v Juan Martin Del Potro

Betfair has this market with Murray as clear favourite, trading at 1.35 at the moment. That is most likely due to the issues with Del Potro's wrist in recent weeks. But I think people are forgetting Murray's problems.

The head to head between the two shows Murray with a 4-1 lead. Del Potro's only win coming on clay earlier this year. Their last encounter was a TB a piece in the first two sets before Murray took the final set 6-1. That result kind of sums Murray up to me. He is perfectly capable of beating anyone 6-1 when he has his head switched on. Unfortunately he is also capable of losing 6-1 to pretty much anybody too! I don't know why he suffers from this so much as he is affected more than any other top player it would seem.

Because of this laying Murray at the 1.35/1.36 mark is very tempting, with a view to trade, especially as he has had his own injury problems of late. Obviously winning in Valencia was a good result, but again he looked injured fatigued in nearly every match bar the final. However the following week in Paris he only played one set in two games at his top level. He struggled through against Blake before a spectacular collapse versus Stepanek.

Overall I think that Murray will win I just have to decide whether to start off with a lay or wait. I think waiting is obviously the safer option though.

As for the picture of Andy Murray's girlfriend, Kim Sears!!! Well I'm not quite sure if Andy is that big, but that is usually enough of a motivation for most blokes to do what they're told! So keep an eye out for this signal to Murray as he will no doubt win if on a promise!

Finally I get on at 1.06 with the Murray leading 5-2* in the 3rd set. I hope he can break now for GSM rather than put me through the turmoil of having to serve it out!

0-15 Oi!... 15-15... 15-30 DF Oi! Oi! .... 15-40 Oi! Oi! Oi!  oooooofff 30-40 Take It!!!! .... 2nd Serve ...
GSM!!!!

Murray Wins 6-3 3-6 6-2

Profit: £8.64

Draw for London ATP World Tour Finals

The draw for the group stages has been done Click here for link

It was never going to be easy for anyone I guess but this is what it looks like:

Group A: Federer, Murray, Del Potro, Verdasco
Group B: Nadal, Djokovic, Davydenko, Soderling
Alternate Tsonga

I feel that Federer and Murray should go through from Group A. Del Potro struggling with injury and Verdasco not on form. I expect Tsonga to get at least one match from this group. In Group B, I'm going to go against the ranking here as I actually think Davydenko is favourite for this group. Many will note Djokovic's rich vein of form but I don't see it like that I see him playing OK with a very fortunate draw, or his opponents not taking their chances. So I'm going to plump for Davyenko and Soderling.