Maria Sharapova takes on Victoria Azarenka in the Women’s Final of the Australian Open with world number one status also awaiting the winner.
Sky Sports’ tennis commentator Nick Lester features to preview the action ahead of the final in Melbourne.
He gives us his selection to win and also gives us his set betting prediction for the finale.
Enjoy.
Novak Djokovic set up a meeting with Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open final after eventually overcoming Andy Murray in a marathon semi-final encounter.
Sky Sports’ tennis commentator Nick Lester features on this podcast to deliver his verdict on the finale.
He tells us whether he thinks reigning champion Novak Djokovic can retain his title and gives us an idea of where to look in the set betting.
With Andy Murray making light work of Mikhail Kukushkin William Hill are offering 250/1 that the Brit defeats his quarter final opponent, Kei Nishikori 6-0, 6-0, 6-0. Hills are also offering 11/10 that Murray holds his opponent to 10 or fewer games in the match. Andy Murray is 1/12 to win his match with Nishikori 8/1. Andy Murray has not dropped a set in the Australian Open since the first round and he is 33/1 to go on and win the tournament without dropping another set.
“Andy has looked very impressive and we think that he could well go all the way this time around,” said Hill’s spokesman Joe Crilly.
Kei Nishikori games won vs Andy Murray: 4/6 over 10/5; 11/10 under 10.5
Andy Murray triple bagel: 250/1
1/12 Andy Murray; 8/1 Kei Nishikori
Set Betting:
8/15 Murray 3-0 33/1 Nishikori 3-0
3/1 Murray 3-1 16/1 Nishikori 3-1
8/1 Murray 3-2 12/1 Nishikori 3-2
Andy Murray to reach the final of the Australian Open 2/1
The ‘Big Four’ are making short work of the rest of the field at the Australian Open and it now seems we are in for a fantastic semi show down.
The best chance for an upset is perhaps del Potro beating Roger Federer at 5/2, but Federer looks as good as ever and is 11/8 to win in straight sets.
In the ladies draw the Wozniacki v Clijsters clash looks a cracking match with Clijsters 8/11 favourite with Wozniacki 1/1.
“The dominance of the ‘big four’ always stands out at the Grand Slams and once again it looks like all four will make it to the semi-finals,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
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Men’s Australian Open betting: 1/1 Djokovic, 7/2 Federer, 5/1 Murray, 5/1 Nadal, 16/1 Del Potro
Women’s Australian Open odds: 3/1 S Williams, 3/1 Azarenka, 3/1 Kvitova, 6/1 Clijsters, 8/1 Sharapova, 10/1 Wozniacki
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Andy Murray is 11/4 second favourite to win the ATP World Tour finals at the O2 and despite all the ‘bid four’ taking part Hills believe this is a great chance to prove he can beat the best.
Roger Federer is the current 15/8 favourite after back to back tournament victories with world number one Novak Djokovic 4/1 and Rafa Nadal 5/1.
“Murray is in great form and should he win here then he will go into the Australian Open is good heart,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
Match Betting:
2/9 Roger Federer, 3/1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga
2/9 Rafael Nadal, 3/1 Mardy Fish
1/8 Andy Murray, 9/2 David Ferrer
4/9 Novak Djokovic, 13/8 Thomas Berdych
Group A: 8/11 Andy Murray, 7/4 Novak Djokovic, 6/1 Thonas Berdych, 18/1 David Ferrer
Group B: 8/15 Roger Federer, 5/2 Rafa Nadal, 11/2 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 20/1 Mardy Fish
Group A To Qualify: 1/4 Murray, 2/5 Djokovic, 13/8 Berdych, 10/3 Ferrer
Group B To Qualify: 1/7 Roger Federer, 8/15 Rafa Nadal, 11/8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 5/1 Mardy Fish
ATP Tournament World Finals: 15/8 Roger Federer, 11/4 Andy Murray, 4/1 Novak Djokovic, 5/1 Rafael Nadal, 12/1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 20/1 Thomas Berdych, 33/1 David Ferrer, 50/1 Mardy Fish
Roger Federer has turned back the years and William Hill rate him as their 15/8 favourite to win the ATP World Finals, it is the first time this year that he has started as favourite when all four of the ‘Big Four’ are entered.
“Roger Federer was in imperious form last week and with many of the other players nursing injuries he is once again the man to beat,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
Group A: 8/11 Andy Murray, 7/4 Novak Djokovic, 6/1 Thonas Berdych, 18/1 David Ferrer
Group B: 8/15 Roger Federer, 5/2 Rafa Nadal, 11/2 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 20/1 Mardy Fish
ATP Tournament World Finals: 15/8 Roger Federer, 11/4 Andy Murray, 4/1 Novak Djokovic, 5/1 Rafael Nadal, 12/1 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 20/1 Thomas Berdych, 33/1 David Ferrer, 50/1 Mardy Fish
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Dave Driver and Sky Sports commentator Nick Lester chew the fat ahead of the men’s US Open final.
Novak Djokovic has only lost one completed match all year - Federer beat him at the French Open - and he arrives here having beaten his adversary Rafael Nadal in their last five meetings.
However, Rafael Nadal’s form has improved throughout the tournament and he was superb against Andy Murray in the quarter-final.
Nick Lester got both semi-finals spot-on, predicting a Djokovic 3-2 victory and a Nadal 3-1 win against Andy Murray. Can he repeat the trick in the final?
Enjoy.
The Nadal vs Djokovic spectacle is living up to its billing as the biggest turnover final in the history of the US Open with Rafa Nadal proving very tempting for punters at 13/10. Hills offer 21/20 that it is a five set thriller.
Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams said. “At this stage we are Djokovic fans for the big match tonight but turnover has been fantastic and it could all change in the next few hours,”
It is another case of so near but so far for Andy Murray and Hills are 4/9 that he fails to win a Grand Slam in 2012, and 11/10 that he has not won a Slam by the end of 2015.
US OPEN Final: 8/13 Novak Djokovic, 13/10 Rafael Nadal
Set Betting:
Djokovic: 10/3 3-0, 11/4 3-1, 4/1 3-2
Nadal: 6/1 3-0, 9/2 3-1, 9/2 3-2
Number Of Sets In Match: 15/8 Three, 11/8 Four, 21/20 Five
Number Of Tie Breaks: 21/20 None, 11/8 One, 9/2 Two or more
Andy Murray Specials:
Murray Grand Slam Wins 2012: 4/9 None, 7/4 One, 11/1 Two, 80/1 Three, 250/1 All Four
Murray To Win A Grand Slam In 2012: 4/9 No, 13/8 Yes
Year Of first Grand Slam Victory: 13/8 2012, 5/1 2013, 8/1 2014, 25/1 2015, 11/10 No Slam by end of 2015
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The latest odds for the Wimbledon final suggest we will see a Nadal victory at 8/13, with Djokovic offered at 6/5. Almost 70% of the outright wagers have been for Rafa, But nobody expects it to be easy with a Nadal victory 3-2 by far the most popular set prediction. For the first time Hills are betting on the length of the match making it 4/7 to last more than three hours and are 9/4 that the match beats the record of 4hrs 48mins which was set in 2008 by Federer & Nadal.
“The vast majority of our customers expect Nadal to outlast Djokovic in the Wimbledon final but we expect a marathon!” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert Adams.
Wimbledon Final: 8/13 Nadal, 6/5 Djokovic
Set Betting:
10/3 Nadal 3-0, 11/4 Nadal 3-1, 4/1 Nadal 3-2
6/1 Djokovic 3-0, 9/2 Djokovic 3-1, 9/2 Djokoic 3-2
Number Of Sets In Match: 15/8 Three, 11/8 Four, 21/10 Five
Length Of Match: 4/7 Over Three Hours, 5/4 Under Three Hours
Longest Ever Wimbledon Final (4hrs 48mins 2008): 9/4 Yes 1/3 No
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Despite winning at Queen’s, William Hill rate Andy Murray as their 6/1 fourth favourite to win Wimbledon when it starts next week, whilst losing finalist Tsonga has been cut from 33/1 to 20/1. Nadal is the 2/1 favourite, with Roger Federer 5/2 and Djokovic at 11/4.
“Murray may well be the King of Queen’s but the odds suggest he will not have everything his own way next week,” said Hill’s spokesman Rupert adams.
Murray Grand Slam Specials: 2/9 None, 3/1 One, 25/1 Two
66/1 Murray To Win Wimbledon Without Dropping A Set
Murray Wimbledon Stage Of Elimination: 16/1 Round One, 12/1 Round Two, 9/1 Round Three, 6/1 Round Four, 4/1 Quarter Final, 2/1 Semi Final, 9/2 Runner Up, 6/1 Winner
Mens Wimbledon : 2/1 Nadal, 5/2 Federer, 11/4 Djokovic, 6/1 Murray, 16/1 del Potro, 20/1 Tsonga, 25/1 Soderling, 25/1 Berdych, 33/1 Roddick, 33/1 Raonic, 250/1 James Ward.
Wimbledon Fortnight Weather Specials:
3/1 Wimbledon To Go Into Third Week, 2/9 Not too
6/1 Hottest Day Of The Year To Occur During Wimbledon Fortnight
7/1 Centre Court Roof Not Deployed During Fortnight, 1/16 To Be Used
8/1 No Rain During Wimbledon Fortnight