Murray allays injury fears and can beat Berdych at Paris Masters
Published:Andy Murray may have had to call out the trainer during his comfortable 6-2 6-2 win over Andy Roddick in the Paris Masters, but that should not prevent him also brushing aside Tomas Berdych in the quarter finals.
The Scot is the 1/5 favourite in the tennis odds to beat Berdych and is content that the threat of the recurrence of the hamstring injury which kept him out of the Swiss Indoors Basel last week will not materialise.
Times have changed since the pair last met at the 2006 Australian Open. Murray is in red hot form having not lost since the US Open semi-final in September.
A good bet could be Murray to win 2-1 at 3/1, but after beating Serb Janko Tipsarevic in the last round, the Czech is 7/2 to make it to the semis.
Roger Federer is cruising since winning in Basel last week and should also reach the semi finals.
The pre-tournament favourite is a massive 1/16 to win his quarter-final clash with Juan Monaco, who is an opponent he has beaten in straight sets twice this season – both times on hard courts.
The Swiss star is 1/5 to win in straight sets again, which could be a good addition to an accumulator.
Although Monaco is in great form, bouncing back from his Valencia final loss, a win looks out of reach at 8/1.
He is unlikely to beat Federer in straight sets and is 14/1 to win 2-1, which may prove the best bet if the Argentine is fancied.
David Ferrer is favourite in the remaining quarter final at 1/3 to put out big-serving John Isner.
The pair have met three times in their careers, all on hard court, with the Spaniard triumphant every time.
Rumours suggest that the surface is slower than expected for a hard court and this would play into the hands of Ferrer, a clay-court specialist, who will see the pace reduced from the serve of the 6’9’’ American.
Expect a close game, however, with the American winning two of his matches this tournament in straight sets, including his fourth round over Feliciano Lopez. It’s 8/11 that over 22 games will be played.
