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.

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.

Marat Safin v Juan Martin Del Potro

I have to lump on Del Potro from the start in this match. Safin struggled through against Ascione and I believe this is the end of the road for him toady. I would have preferred the 1.27 on offer last night but 1.24 seems fair enough. It really should be a straight sets victory for Del Potro as long as his wrist is OK. If not I may have to bail!

The photo to the right is in honour of the great man who has left us with so many memories, some good, some bad, but there was never a dull moment with Marat on the court. Enjoy you retirement and not a bad way to go losing to the reigning US Open Champion.

Safin had BP at  2*-3 but Del Potro held, and as so often happens missed break point means break in the next game and Del Potro duly obliges to take a 4*-3 lead.

Del Potro serves it out to take the 1st set 6-4.

It's 4-4 in the 2nd set and Marat has been competitive throughout. I just hope we get to see one last racquet smashing before the end! Maybe this service game! C'mon Marat do it it for your fans :-)

There it is the racquet is smashed at  5-5 Deuce! That will be worth a fortune on Ebay!!!

That racquet smashing must have done the job. Safin turn to go from saving a BP to breaking the next game. This time for the set 7-5. Del Potro needs to pull his finger out here or the crowd may whip Safin along!

The first break in the final set goes Del Potro's way to take a 1-2* lead. A long way to go in the set but you'd have to be pretty confident he will see this through now.

Marat saved a MP in the last game I just hope that doesn't mean a break here. Del Potro serving at 4-5*
0-15...15-15 ... 30-15 ... 40-15 ... GSM

Del Potro Wins 6-4 5-7 6-4
Profit: £4.43

Thanks for the memories Retire In Peace