Flavia Pennetta v Melanie Oudin

The score was 5*-4 30-30 when I decided to try and nick a few quid by getting on. As they say timing is everything in tennis betting and Oudin broke by taking the next two points :-(

Still confident Pennetta will win but annoyed that I could have had 1.25 less than a minute after I took 1.12!

Could really do with a break here! Here it is BP....... good point from Oudin - Deuce! But that was a great shot from Pennetta cross court and peppering the line for BP#2... 2nd serve..... DOUBLE FAULT!!!

What a time for the first double fault of the match. You have to feel for the youngster there, well I would if I didn't have my money on Pennetta! :-) Now then Flavia let's serve this set out this time please. 6*-5

That's better from Pennetta dominating the point for 15-0. Hmmm Oudin on top there 15-15. I tell you what regardless of the result here today she has backed up her US Open performances for me and showed that she may be one to watch next season, especially on home turf. Anyway 30-30 in the match. Set Point#1.... taken. 7-5 Pennetta.

Well Pennetta hasn't started the 2nd set too well, she has just saved 2 BP's when 0*-1. She comes through though with a great backhand up the line for 1-1.

WOW I nipped to the loo and Pennetta is 2*-1 up!! Nice :-) Pennetta should be able to see this one out now. Very impressive love service game from Flavia confirms her break and I will be interested to see Oudin's reaction here for future reference. 0-15, 0-30, 0-40!!! 15-40 but only because of a wild shot from Flavia. Break!!

Understandable and maybe even forgiveable collapse from Oudin here. Fought so hard in the first set and was unlucky really. Then she had the break point opportunities at 0*-1 but Pennetta held. That was probably the straw that broke the camel's back. Just hope she can plug away to the end as she's been no disgrace here.

 Well, well 15-40 ... 30-40 .... Break 4-2* Well done Melanie but I still feel this is over already!
And Pennetta gets 0-40 straight away.... 15-40 ...Break 5*-2 Pennetta to serve it out and win the Fed Cup!

Italy have won the Fed Cup for only the 2nd time.

Pennetta Wins 7-5 6-2
Profit: £3.91

Francesca Schiavone v Melanie Oudin

These two have played each other only once before with Schiavone winning 6-1 6-1 at Indian Wells in 2008. However don't read too much in to that as Oudin was only 16!

Schiavone seems to be in the form of her life at the moment. She reached the final in Osaka and then followed that up with only her second career title in Moscow last week. She did have a right leg injury before that but it obviously healed up nicely.

Melanie Oudin had a great run at the US Open this year and prior to that I had heard little about her as has only just turned 18. When looking up her stats I was expecting to see a US hardcourt specialist so was fairly shocked to see two Clay court Challenger titles in the spring. Then I realised they wer both in the States so, in my humble opinion, may as well be ignored!

More appropriate is the fact she followed those up with a 6-0 6-1 loss at the French to Zuzana Ondraskova!!!

She is also reported to have had gastrointestinal illness recently.

I was initially cautious with this but 1.30 is a very nice price for Schiavone here thank you!

Flavia Pennetta v Alexa Glatch

Here it is the Final of the Federations Cup is upon us so Christmas is definitely fast approaching!

I'm afraid I have no inspired pick here for you. Flavia Pennetta should win comfortably and as such I'm on from the start. I was tempted to go for 2-0 but Fed Cup can throw anything at you so I didn't want the risk of Glatch nicking a set.

Mind you I can't believe my back of 1.13 wasn't taken and I've had to get on at 1.11!!!! Far too short :o

The only slight concern is Pennetta's knee but I'm confident enough that should she have a lasting problem she wouldn't have been risked when they could have drafted in one of their other players such as Vinci as they now have some strength in depth.

Good Luck All

Pennetta WIns 6-3 6-1
Profit: £2.26