Frenchman takes Federer five sets as Rafa gains support in betting
Published:Following Roger Federer’s hard fought second round victory over Gilles Simon on day three of the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal will be hoping to gain some market confidence with a comfortable win over Ryan Sweetling.
Sweetling is a huge 20/1 to beat Nadal (1/200 to beat Sweetling) in the second round and the betting market suggests that Nadal can look forward to his third round meeting with either Bernard Tomic or Felciano Lopez.
Seeded 31, Lopez should have no problem in dispatching the world number 208 Tomic, and the Spaniard offers plenty of value at 4/6 to beat Tomic and even better value at 3/1 to beat Tomic 3-0.
Andy Murray is also involved the Australian Open betting on the fourth day and will play Ukranian Illya Marchenko.
The gap in class between the two players is huge and Murray was quick into his stride in his first round match before opponent Karol Beck retired, and Murray’s betting odds of 1/50 to beat Marchenko are totally justified but offer very little value.
The tie of the round in the men’s second round draw is between Juan Martin del Potro and Marco Baghdatis and there are plenty of betting opportunities attached to the match-up.
Del Porto was impressive against first round opponent Dudi Sela considering his lack of tennis action recently, but Baghdatis will provide a much sterner test and the seeded Cypriot is 1/1 to beat del Potro.
However Baghdatis came through a gruelling five set first round test and a fresh del Porto, at 8/11 to beat Baghdatis, should prevail although Baghdatis could be in for consecutive five set matches.
Del Potro is 9/2 to win the match 3-2 and while there are question marks over both players fitness levels, the 2009 US Open champion has the class to pull through.
A £25 stake on Del Potro losing the first set but still winning would return £125. New customers can sign up here for a free £25 bet.
