Canadian Masters Tennis Picks 2025 (Thursday 7th August)

So we finally make it through a strange scheduling format at the Canadian Masters with two matches left at Montreal/Toronto.

Both Finals have been scheduled to be played on Thursday with the WTA Montreal one going up about an hour before the ATP Toronto Final is set to head out onto the court.

We will have a surprising winner of the first of two Masters events played ahead of the US Open, but the majority of the big names and top contenders at the final Grand Slam will already be in Cincinnati preparing for a Masters event that has First Round matches beginning on Thursday.

It has been a solid tournament for the Tennis Picks, but the expectation is that the first of the Cincinnati Masters selections will be when the Second Round begins on Sunday.

Naomi Osaka - 2.5 games v Victoria Mboko: There is no doubting the talent that Naomi Osaka has displayed on a tennis court in her career and the potential of Victoria Mboko is exciting for her team and Canadian tennis in general, but they are still considered surprising Finalists in Montreal.

It has been a huge tournament for the pair of the players and a strong conclusion would offer a big boost to the World Rankings, which can be crucial in helping a player build forward.

Naomi Osaka has pushed into the Seeding spots for the US Open, but a win for Victoria Mboko would see her crack the top 30 of the World Rankings.

She was perhaps a little fortunate to beat Elena Rybakina in the Semi Final considering the former Wimbledon Champion served for the match on two occasions in the final set. A Match Point was also missed, and Rybakina will feel that she blew the match as much as Victoria Mboko was able to will her way through to win it.

The teenager spent a long time on the court, which could be a factor with no rest day between the Semi Final and Final, while there was also some issues with the wrist that could compromise Victoria Mboko's chances of winning a massive title.

The crowd support could be a big confidence booster for Victoria Mboko and these are emotions that she has to use if she is going to earn the upset.

However, it will also mean fending off a Naomi Osaka playing about as well as she has since returning to the Tour. Earlier this year she won a title for the first time on her return, albeit at a much lower level than this, and Osaka could be a real threat at the US Open if she is able to secure a Masters trophy ahead of a tournament she has won twice before.

The serve is always a big weapon for Naomi Osaka, but she has really impressed with her returning in Montreal and that could be key for her if Victoria Mboko is not able to improve on her numbers from the match against Elena Rybakina. The younger player did manage to get a lot of first serves in play, but she was only winning 57% of the points behind that shot and Osaka is offering up plenty on the return, which feels like a big edge for her in the match.

All credit has to be given to Victoria Mboko for the fight and character she has shown, but needing almost three hours on the court on Wednesday should show up during this Final.

It would be a surprise if Mboko does not have some big moments, as she has had throughout this Masters tournament, but Naomi Osaka should be able to use her big serve and aggressive groundstrokes to win the biggest title since the Australian Open in 2021.

MY PICKS: Naomi Osaka - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 William Hill (1 Unit)

Weekly Update: 14-6, + 5.65 Units (20 Units Staked, + 28.25% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2020- Terri Harper vs Natasha Jonas (August 7th)

You would just have to have something against Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing if you described Fight Camp Week One as anything but a success.

There were some quality fights put on and the setting was pretty special in unprecedented times- with three more weeks of Fight Camp to come it does feel like a time when we can enjoy Boxing even through the troubles all around us.

Boxers deserve the chance to make some money at a time when so many have had careers put on hold and I don't begrudge those who wish to be on the current cards even with no fans in attendance.

There were teething issues with some criticising the artificial sound, but I was not too bothered and enjoyed the card where all of the fights were decent to watch. The main event between Sam Eggington and Ted Cheeseman lived up to most expectations to the point that I would not be disappointed if we saw a rematch, while James Tennyson continues to impress and be involved in great scraps.

Hopefully Week Two of Fight Camp lives up to the standards set with the cameras back at Matchroom HQ on Friday evening instead of Saturday for the next two weeks.

Anthony Fowler vs Adam Harper

There was a lot of hype around Anthony Fowler when he turned professional, but the defeat to Scott Fitzgerald sixteen months ago has just derailed the expected progression up the World Rankings.

The Liverpudlian has won three fights in a row since the close defeat to Fitzgerald, but Anthony Fowler has not really impressed in the manner you would have expected. A couple of comfortable Points wins over Brian Rose and Harry Scarff was followed by a First Round blitz of Theophilus Tetteh, but Fowler will know there are going to be eyes on him this Friday and he does want to show a lot more.

He has Ten Rounds to do that in against Adam Harper who is in the ring for the first time in a little under two years. Adam Harper has had some real ups and downs already as a professional, but he was almost medically retired in the months after becoming English Super Welterweight Champion before being given a chance to resume his career.

There has to be some nagging doubts about Harper in terms of whether it is the right move to get back in the ring despite being given the all clear, but the Boxer himself is keen on making up for lost time. A positive outlook on life means Adam Harper is willing to take risks to achieve his goals, but there is no doubt this would be a big step up even if he had been a very active fighter.

Instead Adam Harper comes in off a long lay off and facing an opponent who has been operating at a much higher level. There are a couple of decent wins on the Harper CV, but his sole loss was an easy Points defeat to Michael Zerafa in Australia and even the last win came via a Majority Decision against someone at English Title level.

Adam Harper understands there is an opportunity in front of him with a win over Anthony Fowler likely to set up a British Title shot, but it is very difficult to see him achieving that here. The latter has the better resume in getting to 12-1 as a professional and 'The Machine' is confident he can make a statement by putting a big performance on the board.

I do think Anthony Fowler can use his size and superior Boxing ability to comfortably get ahead on the cards and he should be able to start punishing Adam Harper once we get through the first couple of Rounds. There is no doubting that Harper has some toughness, but you do have to wonder if his corner will be looking out for a Boxer who was almost forced to medically retire from the sport.

My feeling is that this is either going to be a very wide Unanimous Decision for Fowler or a stoppage in the second half of the fight- my lean is that the Anthony Fowler will start finding real success from the middle of the bout and it may mean Adam Harper's corner decide to pull out their valiant man rather than allowing him to take unnecessary punishment and go out on his shield.

I would have little doubt that Adam Harper can show enough to be given another opportunity by Eddie Hearn, but on this night I expect Anthony Fowler to display the levels to the sport and come away with a second half stoppage. More than half of Anthony Fowler's previous nine stoppage wins have come in the second half of the scheduled Rounds and I think he will begin to tee off and find his range around the middle of this one before breaking down Adam Harper for a second half stoppage.

Chris Billam-Smith vs Nathan Thorley

Two Cruiserweight Boxers meet for the Commonwealth Cruiserweight Title on Friday and this is a big stepping stone to some top domestic fights as well as a chance to push on to European and World Title bids.

Chris Billam-Smith won the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight Title with an impressive stoppage of Craig Glover as he bounced back from a Split Decision defeat to Richard Riakporhe. That defeat was a contentious one and I do think Billam-Smith will be desperate to avenge it, but he can't overlook an unbeaten Nathan Thorley who will know he can move into a strong Ranking spot with a victory on Friday.

This is a big step up for the 27 year old who had tried to boil down to Light Heavyweight before deciding that Cruiserweight may be the best option for him. This is the first time Thorley will have been scheduled in a Twelve Round bout, while he has only been past the Sixth Round once before.

Nathan Thorley does not have a strong resume and only two of his fourteen wins have come against an opponent with a winning record. One of those opponents now holds a losing record, while the other had been stopped in the First Round twice before.

Taking on Chris Billam-Smith will be a real challenge for Nathan Thorley considering the obvious punching power that the former possesses. Nine of this ten wins have come by stoppage and he comfortably holds the best win of the two Boxers when crushing Craig Glover last November.

Both Boxers have not been in the ring for a competitive fight in 2020 and so it may be a slow start as they just shed some of the ring rust which can build up. Even then I do think Chris Billam-Smith will get into his stride fairly quickly against someone who has a lot more to prove in terms of being able to handle an opponent with this quality.

Nathan Thorley has been put down before despite not really facing anyone of note and I do think the Chris Billam-Smith punching power will be the difference maker. The 30 year old will be looking to make some noise to put his name forward for bigger fights in the coming months and Billam-Smith can do that with an early nights work in the Matchroom HQ garden.

Terri Harper vs Natasha Jonas

The truth of the matter is that Natasha Jonas was expected to move through the pro ranks and pick up a World Title while Terri Harper would have been working full time in a Fish 'n' Chips shop, but the last two years have moved vastly differently than those expectations.

In that time Terri Harper has not only become a World Champion, but also Unified part of the Division and there is a confidence behind her that will make it hard to shake her from the current path she is on.

In the other corner, Natasha Jonas is hoping for a fourth win in a row after the stunning upset defeat to Viviane Obenauf when being stopped in the Fourth Round. The amateur career was a good one, but Jonas has quickly found out it is a whole different ball game in the pros and that defeat came in the one fight where she has really stepped up the level of opponent.

Obenauf is one of two Boxers that Natasha Jonas has fought when they have held a winning record and both are common opponents with Terri Harper. The World Champion beat Obenauf comfortably on points and also stopped Feriche Mashauri, an opponent that Jonas had to beat on points.

The 'one fighter beat an opponent that the other fighter lost to' argument is one that rarely works in Boxing, but I do think Terri Harper has shown a considerably higher upside than Natasha Jonas. I am not going to get into the mind games of the suggestion that Harper was Knocked Out in sparring which has been released by the Jonas camp and I do think that the latter is going to be stepping up to a level in which she struggled the only other time she has done that.

Terri Harper might only have stopped half of the opponents she has faced, but she has Knocked Down others and I do think she hits plenty hard enough to hurt Natasha Jonas. The underdog's best chance may be to make this a firefight and see whether she can land something special, but I think Harper will control her behind the jab early on and will force Jonas onto a counter which will hurt her.

The World Champion has had more Rounds in the bank at a higher level than Natasha Jonas and I do think she is going to be too strong for her here. There is a chance that Jonas bites down on the gum-shield and finds her way to the cards, but I think Harper will take over the fight in the mid-Rounds and has shown she can punch with enough authority to take out the former Olympian.

The two minute Rounds in Women's Boxing does their side of the sport no favours in all honesty, but Terri Harper can still make a big statement by stopping an opponent who had a 'bigger future' in the sport when both began as pros.

Kerman Lejarraga vs Tyrone Nurse

It really felt like Spain had a huge monster fighter at the Welterweight level when Kerman Lejarraga ripped his way through to 27-0, but stoppage losses to David Avanesyan (twice) have meant a change in plan.

The second defeat came inside the First Round and Lejarraga decided he would move up to Light Middleweight and try and rebuild his career there.

He has won two fights at that weight class and now takes on British fighter Tyrone Nurse who is also looking to move up a Division and try his luck there.

Tyrone Nurse had been on a run of four straight defeats and his career looked to have stalled permanently, but he has won two in a row since then. Both have come in Six Round fights against opponents with losing records, but Nurse has never been stopped and that looks like being the biggest challenge in front of the home favourite.

The underdog has been down in a number of fights before though and I do think the Kerman Lejarraga power is for real and can break down Tyrone Nurse in this one. There are some mental demons in the mind of Lejarraga which comes with the kind of stoppage losses he had to David Avanesyan, but he is also a deadly finisher when he has someone hurt.

Kerman Lejarraga should have the power to hurt Tyrone Nurse and I do think he has enough time to become the first fighter to stop him. When the Spaniard tends to hurt an opponent he does find a way to get the job done and even in a Ten Rounder there may be enough moments where he can start putting it on Tyrone Nurse and force the stoppage.

MY PICKS: Anthony Fowler to Win Between 6-10 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Chris Billam-Smith to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.25 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Terri Harper to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 1.72 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Kerman Lejarraga to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Canadian Masters Tennis Picks 2019 (August 7th)

After two miserable days at the Canadian Masters, I have decided to take a short break from the Tennis Picks and get back to them when the Cincinnati Masters begins on Sunday.

I don't mind having a bad day or two, but when you see the way the luck is working against you and with other negative thoughts around the mind after a difficult ten days, it is very much the best decision to hit the reset button and just allow things to settle down.

My decision was made during the early matches on Tuesday- Gilles Simon had basically lost nine more points than Radu Albot, but that had translated to a 5-10 deficit in terms of games which showed that every big point was being won by the the player I had opposed. In fact he was very fortunate to have such a lead and my frustration was added to when noting the amount of break points Dan Evans saved in multiple games compared to Alex De Minaur who was broken without saving a single break point.

It kept going like that and has followed on from a poor Monday, when more poor break point conversion rates hurt my selections, and I think it is the best decision to allow the mind to settle down before cracking on with a positive season.

I have found my selections have been really poor at the Canadian Masters whenever the men head to Montreal and the women play in Toronto too so this is the best 'Picks' I can make this week to shut things down for a few days.


That doesn't mean it is going to be a quiet week for this blog- on Friday I will have the first Fantasy Football thread of the season with my thoughts on the opening weekend of the Premier League. I am also preparing a short piece about Manchester United although that is likely to go live early next week and the Cincinnati Masters will begin on Sunday.

Good luck for those playing the Tennis for the remainder of this tournament. Season totals will be updated when the Cincinnati Masters begins.

Canadian Masters Tennis Picks 2018 (August 7th)

Monday proved to be a little frustrating when you think Karolina Pliskova failed to cover because she couldn't convert multiple break points a couple of games before the end of the second set in a straight sets win and Pablo Carreno Busta moved through because his opponent retired down 6-0 at the end of the first set.

Even then the Tennis Picks went 2-2 for the day, but it could easily have been 4-1 on another day and I am hoping for a little more luck with the selections being made on Tuesday as the remainder of the First Round is completed and the Second Round begins.

There is plenty of rain around in Toronto and Montreal which has had an impact on the two events being played this week, but there should be enough of a window to get the majority of matches played on Tuesday.


I am going to have a fuller analysis of the matches later in the week, but Tuesday will be like Monday in terms of the Tennis Picks being placed below.


MY PICKS: Sam Querrey - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Stefanos Tsitsipas - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Frances Tiafoe - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Grigor Dimitrov - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Johanna Konta - 1.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Naomi Osaka - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Caroline Garcia - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Ladbrokes (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 2-2, + 0 Units (8 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Canada Masters Tennis Picks 2017 (August 7th)

The next two weeks are the biggest preparation tournaments for the US Open and that means the majority of the big names who are expected to challenge for the title in Flushing Meadows will be back on the court.

However the likes of Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic and Stan Wawrinka are all all absent which has certainly reduced the star power of the men's tournament in Montreal. It may also mean that the door has been opened for some of the younger talent on the Tour to make a real impact over the coming month to prove they belong at the very top of the Tour and that will make it interesting.

Of course the majority of fans will be looking for Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer to continue their fight for the World Number 1 spot which is now likely to be taken by one of those two men possibly by the end of this week.

The women's Premier Event is also being played this week in Toronto and I am looking for a much better week than the last two have been.


Daria Gavrilova - 2.5 games v Lara Arruabarrena: Any time a player has a long lay off from the Tour and is shifting surfaces, I do think they can take some time to get back into a groove on the court. That is where Daria Gavrilova could find herself having played no competitive tennis since going down 10-8 in a third set decider at Wimbledon, but the Australian is perhaps at her most comfortable on the hard courts.

I do think she appreciates the surface more than Lara Arruabarrena, but I would have thought the same about Gavrilova on the grass courts. However, in Eastbourne, it was Arruabarrena who beat Gavrilova on the grass so the Spaniard has to be respected.

Her numbers on the hard courts have not been too bad in 2017 despite the losing record and Arruabarrena has won two Qualifying matches in Toronto which means she will be comfortable in the conditions. That should mean she is able to make this a competitive match, although I was expecting her to be receiving at least one more game on the handicap markets.

Arruabarrena has won two of the three previous matches between the two, but I am expecting Gavrilova to be able to level up the series.

The Australian is slightly better on the hard courts and that can show up here. I wouldn't be surprised if we need a third set to separate them, but I will be looking for Gavrilova to come through with a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 win.


Lucas Pouille - 2.5 games v Jared Donaldson: I have been critical of Lucas Pouille and his position as a top 20 Ranked player because of what I perceive to be a really poor return game. Not an average return game, but a poor one.

The Frenchman has dropped down to Number 18 in the World Rankings and will be slipping some more if he has another poor week on the Tour. The loss to Tommy Paul last week was a disappointing one and it does make backing Pouille seem like a foolish decision a week later, but I think he can do enough to get the better of Jared Donaldson.

This is another young American player who is ready to make some waves on the ATP Tour and Donaldson is making his way up the Rankings. He is another player who needs to be a little more effective on the return because he is still a little inconsistent and will offer up some chances to break his own serve.

Whether Pouille can take full advantage is debatable, but the Frenchman does serve well enough to put himself in a position to win this match. He will need to serve well if he is going to move into the Second Round, but that has been a part of the game that Pouille has been solid enough in.

A first set tie-breaker would not be a surprise to anyone, but I will be looking for Pouille to come through with a 7-6, 6-4 win in this one.


Roberto Bautista Agut - 4.5 games v Tim Smyczek: As I have said above, it can be difficult to know what to expect when a player is playing their first match on a new surface. That is what Roberto Bautista Agut will be doing after taking in a clay court event between Wimbledon and the Canada Masters, but the Spaniard has produced plenty of positive results on the hard courts throughout 2017.

This match is a little more difficult for Bautista Agut when you think Tim Smyczek has come through two Qualifying matches to get into the main draw. Smyczek has also been playing on the hard courts over the last two weeks which has to be respected, although there is a big gap in quality to bridge.

Their two previous matches in 2014 saw Bautista Agut crush Smyczek twice at the Australian Open and US Open, but time has passed since those matches and they are not so relevant now. What may be more relevant is how well Bautista Agut has been playing against players Ranked outside the top 100 on the hard courts.

Bautista Agut might not have been as strong on the return game as he has been in recent seasons, but he has continued to serve well and put the pressure on opponents. I think that is going to happen here against Smyczek whose serve can be vulnerable and I will be looking for Bautista Agut to put pressure on him.

The key for this handicap is how well Bautista Agut is playing when it comes to converting break points. That is perhaps the biggest weakness in the matches against players outside the top 100 in the World Rankings although he is 7-0 against those players in 2017 and I think he wins this one 6-4, 6-3.

MY PICKS: Daria Gavrilova - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 William Hill (2 Units)
Lucas Pouille - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Roberto Bautista Agut - 4.5 Games @ 1.83 Boyle Sports (2 Units)

Olympic Tennis Picks 2016 (August 7th)

The Olympic Games tennis tournament got underway on Saturday and the rest of the First Round matches will be completed on Sunday.

It was a very strong start to the tournament for my picks as they went 5-1 on Saturday and I am looking to back that up with another strong showing on Sunday to get some momentum behind the tennis picks this week.

I am going to be doing something a little different with the way I show the results this week- I will have totals from the Olympic Games matches and a separate one from the picks from the ATP tournaments in Atlanta and Los Cabos. At the end of the week the results will all be pooled together in the season totals anyway, but I think it is the best way to view the results this week.


Roberto Bautista Agut - 3.5 games v Andrey Kuznetsov: I don't think it is wrong to suggest that Roberto Bautista Agut is the most underrated player in the top 20 of the World Rankings. He hasn't played a lot of tennis in preparation for the Olympic Games, but Bautista Agut is comfortable on almost any surface and I do think he will get the better of Andrey Kuznetsov in this First Round match.

It could have been a much easier draw for the Spaniard than facing Kuznetsov who has had some solid results on the hard courts in 2016. Take away the surprising loss to Ryan Harrison last week in Toronto and you would notice Kuznetsov has reached the Third Round in Indian Wells and Fourth Round in Miami this season.

Both of those runs were further than where Bautista Agut reached the same tournaments, but I think the Spaniard's game will match up well with Kuznetsov. Bautista Agut will make sure he gets plenty of balls back in play, while he protects his serve better than you might expect, especially when up against players Ranked much lower than he is.

I think a few games will be tight and Bautista Agut has to play the big points effectively to make sure he isn't dragged into a potential upset alert. I think Bautista Agut can do that and I like his chances of finding a 64, 64 win.


Gilles Muller - 3.5 games v Jerzy Janowicz: It has been a season of injury for Jerzy Janowicz who made his return to the Tour last week for the first time since the Australian Open. He was beaten by Luca Vanni in the first match he played, but the Italian went on to win that Challenger event and we don't really know how Janowicz is feeling heading into the Olympics.

He will be put under pressure by Gilles Muller in this one and the lack of tennis might mean more mistakes when it comes to shot selection which is a feature of Janowicz performances. The serve can be a big weapon, but Janowicz doesn't always back that up as he should and too many drop shots or big errors can give Muller his chances to break the serve.

Muller has not been as effective on the hard courts as someone with his serve should perhaps be, but he hasn't always had the kindest draw. The lefty did push Novak Djokovic in Toronto last week and that is going to give him confidence, while Muller is much more match ready than Janowicz at this point of their careers.

I think that is going to be important and see Muller earn a break more in each of the first two sets in this one and get passed Janowicz with a 64, 64 win.


Fabio Fognini - 4.5 games v Victor Estrella Burgos: On first glance there will be plenty of people out there that feel this is too many games for Fabio Fognini to cover. The Italian isn't blessed with the biggest serve while his erratic play means he could be in a difficult position to cover very quickly within a match.

However I do think Fognini can get the better of Victor Estrella Burgos as the veteran usually reserves his best form for the clay courts. In fact a deeper look will show that take out the success that Estrella Burgos had in Quito, where he won the title, and he would have a poor 7-14 record on the main Tour this season.

It has been really bad for Estrella Burgos on the hard courts where is 1-6 this season and he has lost his last five hard court matches. Of those losses, Estrella Burgos would have failed to get within this number four times and losses to the likes of Jordan Thompson, Sam Groth and Taylor Fritz won't inspire a lot of confidence in him.

Like I've said, you don't know what you will get from Fognini on any day. However I think the Italian does play very strong tennis when representing his nation and Fognini can find a way to win this one 64, 63.


Robin Haase v Joao Sousa: Last year was a career year for Joao Sousa, but this is a player who is now slipping down the World Ranking. In 2015 Sousa won 34 matches on the Tour, but he has only won 15 this season and brings in a losing record into what is a difficult time of the season for him.

Maybe the Olympic Games can change things, but the hard courts have not been the favoured surface for Sousa, although he can at least point to the fact that Robin Haase is not at his best on the surface either.

This is the first hard court match Haase has played since the Indian Wells tournament back in March, but the Dutchman has played well since Wimbledon. Winning a Challenger event and reaching the Semi Final of a main Tour event is better form than what Sousa has produced in 2016 and Haase has produced it at the right time to build momentum into this tournament.

I don't think there will be much between the players, but confidence can be huge for players going into tournaments and that is where Haase has to have the edge. It is a pick 'em contest, but I like Haase winning this one.


Monica Puig - 4.5 games v Polona Hercog: It is going to be interesting to see how the players that performed in Florianopolis last week are able to cope with the quick turnaround into the Olympic Games. Monica Puig had a very good week in Florianopolis where she reached the Semi Final and I am looking for her to maintain that momentum against Polona Hercog.

The latter hasn't played a lot of tennis these past few weeks and her confidence can't be in a great place after going 6-15 on the main Tour in 2016 so far. Hercog has lost six of her seven hard court matches on the main Tour this season and all but one of those losses would have seen her fail to come within this number.

Much of the match is going to be determined by the Puig racquet and a strong serving day would give her a significant advantage in this one. That isn't always the case with Puig, but she played well enough last week and looks to be the stronger player on the hard courts compared with Hercog.

There will be competitive moments in this one, but Puig should have the majority of the break point chances and I am looking for her to come through with a 75, 63 win.


Irina-Camelia Begu - 4.5 games v Nao Hibino: I backed Irina-Camelia Begu to beat Nao Hibino and cover the spread last week and she managed to do that with some comfort, even if she made life a little more difficult in the second set than it needed to be. This week she is a slightly stronger favourite to win this match and I am going to back the Florianopolis Champion to back up that success at least through this Round.

Winning a title and maintaining that momentum can be difficult for players on the Tour and you see that on a regular basis through the year. However playing in the Olympic Games should keep Begu focused and she has had a day to get over to Rio de Janeiro and become accustomed to the conditions here.

That isn't a lot of time to get ready, but Begu should be comfortable in this match up where she will have the majority of break points and has to feel she can dictate points for much of the match. The Begu serve has been something of an issue at times over the last week and she can fail to back up the first shot as effectively as she would have wanted, but Begu still managed to win the title last week and that has to give her confidence.

She was the better player when she met Hibino last week and I think she might have a similar margin of victory in this one as last week so I will back her to cover this number.


Caroline Garcia - 5.5 games v Teliana Pereira: On first glance I have to say this looks a big number especially for a Caroline Garcia who has not been in the best recent form. In fact she hasn't been in good form since winning the title in Mallorca prior to Wimbledon and the Frenchwoman is yet to really start fulfilling the potential so many believe she has.

The serve can be a big weapon and Garcia has all the shots as she is effective from the back of the court as much as when she wants to attack the net. However mentally she can lose focus at critical moments and Garcia is also taking on a home favourite in the draw when facing Teliana Pereira.

Backing from the fans can help, but it also may increase the pressure on Pereira to perform in a year in which she has struggled on the main Tour. The hard courts have always been a tough surface for Pereira to get to grips with and she has lost eight of her last nine matches on this surface.

More worrying for her fans has to be way Pereira has fallen away in those matches and she would not have covered this number of games in any of those losses. If Garcia remains focused, she should get enough joy out of her serve to come to a 64, 62 win in this one.


Samantha Stosur - 2.5 games v Jelena Ostapenko: Jelena Ostapenko won a couple of matches in Florianopolis last week which would have given her a little confidence to take into the Olympic Games. Those wins came after early losses in Washington and Montreal, but Ostapenko would have liked an easier First Round match than this one.

She is facing Samantha Stosur, a player who has produced some of her best tennis on the hard courts through her career. Her serve is a real weapon on this surface, although Stosur has to make sure she protects the limited backhand that so many opponents look to expose when they play the Australian.

Ostapenko had lost four in a row on the hard courts prior to her wins in Florianopolis although it has to be noted that the tournament didn't feature too many big names early in the draw. She had reached the Final in Doha earlier this year which shows Ostapenko can be dangerous on this surface, but she will have to be serving a lot better than she was when losing to Timea Babos last week.

This will be close because Stosur has not exactly been in top form herself and lost a couple of disappointing matches. However I think she can serve a little more effectively than Ostapenko through this match and I believe Stosur can come through 76, 64.

MY PICKS: Roberto Bautista Agut - 3.5 Games @ 1.73 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Gilles Muller - 3.5  Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Fabio Fognini - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Robin Haase @ 2.00 Betfair Sportsbook (2 Units)
Monica Puig - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Irina-Camelia Begu - 4.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Caroline Garcia - 5.5 Games @ 1.73 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Sam Stosur - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Olympic Games Update: 5-1, + 6.96 Units (12 Units Staked, + 58% Yield)

Weekly Update: 10-7, + 5.84 Units (34 Units Staked, + 17.18% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2015 (August 7th)

This is going to be a very short post because I am seriously pissed off with what has happened over the last month and I try and keep things as civil as possible on here.

The amount of times I have made picks and seen players get into winning positions and then lose or play like shit is just taken its toll on me and I refuse to play along any more.

For four seasons my picks have produced a healthy plus margin and a decent enough yield, but the last month has been absolutely horrific, the worst run in all that time and perhaps the worst run most people would have seen.

There are only so many times you can accept bad luck as part and parcel of things, but this looks like being my worst season by a million miles on the tennis Tour thanks to a run since Wimbledon that has seen 35 positive units erased.

How many times can a pick be in a position like 76, 52 and lose? How many times am I going to deal with a player losing a set 61, but then winning 62, 60 and failing to cover because of that shit set to start?

Players like Nicolas Almagro and Steve Johnson that will lose every other match they play, but somehow bring out their A++++++ matches when I am against them or F----------- matches when I have backed them, it is those kinds of rubbish that have addled my brain. Players who will break with the one chance they get, but then save three thousand break points, or players that will miss their chances by missing the most basic of shots.

Yes, things go up and down, but it has been embarrassingly one-sided against me in the last month with rubbish after rubbish after rubbish... I'd love to just say the picks have been poor, but that would be a lie as there have been plenty that have just about to win before crumbling away like they never had such a positive start.

Just too many things are taking the piss at the moment and I've had enough.

The football season in both England and America will be beginning soon and I'll be focusing on that, but I am not sure when I will be back making tennis picks. Maybe I'll look at the Canadian Masters/Premier Event, maybe I will decide to be back at the Cincinnati Masters, but I've had too many body blows to be interested in the next few days.

It stinks to be honest, but it is the way it goes and possibly I will wait until the US Open and call it a day for the season after the final Grand Slam with whatever the outcome is from that event.

For now, I've simply had enough. I'm not one to bullshit the results, they are there for all to see and I am sure most will understand that this really has been a unique time where literally everything has gone the wrong way when finely balanced.

Weekly Final: 4-13, - 18.34 Units (34 Units Staked, - 53.94% Yield)

Season 2015: - 2.57 Units (1260 Units Staked, - 0.02% Yield)

Season 2014: + 45.05 Units (1586.5 Units Staked, + 2.84% Yield)
Season 2013: + 21.74 Units (1251.5 Units Staked, + 1.73% Yield)
Season 2012: + 49.21 Units (855 Units Staked, + 5.76% Yield)

Note: On July 20th, the season total was + 35.25 Units with an almost 4% Yield which just proves how horrendous the last three weeks have been.

I'm also calling both Nicolas Almagro and Steve Johnson lose their matches on this day in embarrassingly one-sided fashion just to prove that luck is really conspiring against me.

Canadian Masters Tennis Picks 2014 (August 7th)

A strong week to this point could have been even better if Andreas Seppi didn't blow a big lead in the final set tie-breaker, but I won't complain too much about that with plenty of positive results so far.

I never like seeing a pick get beaten in the manner that Seppi was simply as he was the better player and I will have days where I am on the 'wrong' player where I might not have the luck to get through with a winner. It felt like Seppi was the 'right' player to back after the performance which made it a shame he couldn't complete the win, but hopefully I'll have a make up pick somewhere along the week.


These short Masters/Premier Event weeks means we really have to wait to see the layers catch up with the markets as we reach the Third Round and that means I won't be putting up picks from the Thursday tennis until the morning.

The picks should be out by lunchtime, which is still plenty of time before the first match of the day is scheduled to begin in Toronto/Montreal. At that point, I will update the weekly totals and hope for another positive day from the picks.


Novak Djokovic - 4.5 games v Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Novak Djokovic has taken complete control of matches between himself and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga ever since he made the meteoric rise to the very top of the men's game in 2011. After initially losing five of the first seven matches between these players, Djokovic has won twelve in a row against Tsonga since Wimbledon 2011 and only a couple of those matches have been very competitive.

Djokovic did have to battle through his first match in Toronto, but that can be expected sometimes as a player adjusts to the hard courts following his win at Wimbledon last month.

He has also won both Masters events held on North American soil this season and Djokovic might be ready to push on again in the Rankings after breaking his poor run in big matches with the win at Wimbledon. The little things can make all the difference at this level and that little more belief makes him the favourite to win here, in Cincinnati and at the US Open.

I do respect what Tsonga is capable of bringing to a tennis court, but he hasn't been at his best in 2014 and his serve has not been at a dominant level. With Djokovic's return game, I can see him winning this 63, 64.


Grigor Dimitrov - 2.5 games v Tommy Robredo: After being forced to pull out at Washington with some sort of illness, Grigor Dimitrov struggled early on in his Second Round win over Donald Young, but was back to near his best at the end of the match.

He should feel confident of levelling the head to head with Tommy Robredo, especially on a hard court, and I do think his overall game is going to be too much for the veteran Spaniard.

The next few weeks can see Grigor Dimitrov really push on for a place at the World Tour Finals for the first time and he doesn't have a lot of points to defend so a move up from his current place of Number 8 in the World Rankings is a distinct possibility.

I have a lot of respect for Tommy Robredo, but he has generally found the better players too good ever since he beat Roger Federer at the US Open last season. While his know-how may make this more competitive than some think, Dimitrov should be able to pull off a 64, 75 win.


Andy Murray - 3.5 games v Richard Gasquet: Andy Murray was close to his best in dismissing Nick Kyrgios in the Second Round on Wednesday and he will need to produce top tennis if he is going to beat Richard Gasquet in this Third Round match.

Since his back injury, Andy Murray has failed to reach the heights on the Tour that many expect of him and that is shown by his current Number 9 position in the World Rankings. He has struggled against the every best players on the Tour, but he has the return game and consistency to keep Gasquet on the back foot in this one.

The Frenchman had to dig deep to book his place in the Third Round with tough wins over Vasek Pospisil and then coming from a set down to beat Ivo Karlovic. Gasquet has been inconsistent since a back injury prior to the French Open and I can see Murray frustrating him and forcing the errors that should lead to a straight sets win.

A break of serve more in each set should be in the offing for Murray who can come through 75, 64.


Roger Federer - 4.5 games v Marin Cilic: When I first saw the amount of games that Roger Federer is being asked to give up in this match, I wasn't convinced that this was a smart choice, but the odds have persuaded me against my misgivings.

As well as Marin Cilic has played, he can be a little loose on service games so I can see the aggressive Roger Federer return paying dividends in games. If the match gets into a forehand to forehand battle, I would like Federer's chances to win the rallies, while the former World Number 1 has an improved backhand that can at least keep him in rallies and find the depth to pressure opponents.

Federer's serve is not the weapon it used to be in the peak of his powers, but he still has very good placement and that should give him a chance to hold on to serve a little more comfortably than his opponent.

Both players should find breaks of serve, but Federer may just come out with a 63, 64 win.


Caroline Wozniacki - 5.5 games v Shelby Rogers: Since the break-up with Rory McIlroy, Caroline Wozniacki has really picked up form on the WTA Tour including winning the title in Istanbul.

Of course, Wozniacki is facing a Shelby Rogers who is off a huge win, perhaps the biggest of her career, and has won four matches here so will be feeling that much more confident.

However, young players can find it difficult to back up a big win when they are inexperienced and Rogers was helped by Eugenie Bouchard's nerves in the Second Round match. That shouldn't be the case for Wozniacki who has been winning matches very comfortably over the last few weeks and who seems to be playing with renewed focus that took her to the top of the World Rankings.

I was impressed with the power that Rogers displayed in her win over Bouchard, but coming off that high may be difficult, while Wozniacki is one of the best defensive players on the WTA Tour. I expect the Dane to get enough balls back in play to make Rogers play too many shots and force those errors and that should lead to a 64, 62 win for the former World Number 1.


Serena Williams - 5.5 games v Lucie Safarova: Serena Williams was at her very best in crushing Samantha Stosur on Wednesday and clearly has earned something from her win in Stanford last week. While this hasn't been a vintage year for Williams up to this point, that performance against Stosur shows what she is still capable of when she has her head fully in the game.

The American World Number 1 must know that she will have to bring that kind of form into this match against a Lucie Safarova who has been enjoying her best season on the Tour since 2011.

The run to the Wimbledon Semi Finals has to be taken as an inspiration for Safarova and she has given some of the best players on Tour competitive matches all season. She has pushed Na Li, Simona Halep and Maria Sharapova to three sets on the hard courts, but all in losing efforts, and Safarova has a serve that can see her rumble through games.

However, Safarova is going to face some aggressive returning and anything like the form that Serena showed yesterday should be enough to see her come through 64, 62 in this one.

MY PICKS: Novak Djokovic - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet365 (2 Units)
Grigor Dimitrov - 2.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Andy Murray - 3.5 Games @ 1.92 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Roger Federer - 4.5 Games @ 2.33 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Caroline Wozniacki - 5.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Victor (2 Units)
Serena Williams - 5.5 Games @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Toronto/Montreal Weekly Update: 9-5, + 7.60 Units (28 Units Staked, + 27.14% Yield)

Tennis Picks Canadian Masters 2013 (August 7th)

The Second Round matches in Toronto and Montreal will take place on Wednesday, although I am aware that there could be some rain delays at both tournaments today especially later in the afternoon.

Today the likes of Andy Murray will make their return to the courts for the first time since Wimbledon and I think the World Number 2 will be quite happy that he is facing Marcel Granollers rather than Grigor Dimitrov in his first match.

We saw some surprising winners on Tuesday, although it was also good to see Novak Djokovic, my main outright pick for the week, coming through his match with Florian Mayer with very little trouble. Despite being the World Number 1, I do think the next month or so is a big time for Djokovic as he bids to pick up his second Grand Slam title of the season.

I have a feeling that he is aware that some people will begin to think Andy Murray or Rafael Nadal are the 'real' Number 1 in the Rankings if either of those two players pick up the title here, especially as they are the men that have stopped Djokovic in the last two Grand Slams. While it has been another consistently strong season for the Serb, I have a feeling he needs to just push on over the next few weeks and be the player lifting a couple of titles to underline his position as the best player on the ATP Tour.


Tomas Berdych - 3.5 games v Alexandr Dolgopolov: Obviously the initial concern is that Tomas Berdych is playing his first hard court match since March and the fact that he has only played a couple of matches since Wimbledon. However, he is up against Alexandr Dolgopolov who pulled a surprise win over Kevin Anderson in the First Round, but is a player that has struggled over the last month with some disappointing defeats.

There is no doubt that Dolgopolov is a talented player that possesses all the shots that would make him a dangerous opponent on any given day. The problem for the Ukrainian is that his consistency isn't always the best, while he is also known for not necessarily putting in all the hard work that is required to become really successful on a tennis court.

Dolgopolov has a lot of outside interests, but he will pose problems for Berdych here- he has a decent serve, with a strange action that makes it more difficult to read, while the variation of using slices and drop shots can ruin rhythm, something Berdych prefers from the back of the court.

There could be a lot of quick service games in this one, but Dolgopolov needs to get a high percentage of first serves in play if he is to win this match. He also needs to show a little more determination on the court and that is an area where Berdych has improved. After a tough first set, I can see Berdych being a little more comfortable in the second and come through 76, 63.


Denis Istomin - 5.5 games v Filip Peliwo: The young Canadian Felip Peliwo came through a tough First Round match after Jarkko Nieminen was forced to retire, but he was a touch fortunate to recover from two breaks down in the second set and he saved a match point to do so. While it is possible to come back against Nieminen, who doesn't have an intimidating serve, it will be a lot more difficult against someone like Denis Istomin.

I still think Istomin is a touch under-rated by the majority of people and I do believe he is a decent player. He can sometimes come off the boil in tournaments and throw in a poor match, but that is the reason he is down at 66 in the World Rankings.

He has been playing at a higher level than Peliwo, who is still not playing a full Tour even on the Challenger circuit, He has a decent first serve, but consistency off the ground is not quite there and his second serve is definitely attackable which leads to double faults. This is a big spread, but if Istomin serves well, he can certainly take a set 62, and that should see him over the line to a 64, 62 win.


Milos Raonic v Mikhail Youzhny: Milos Raonic has suffered through a tough season, which was to be expected as more and more players begin to figure out his game and how best to approach playing the big-serving Canadian.

Since playing in Barcelona where he was beaten by Rafael Nadal in the Semi Final, Raonic has played in seven tournaments and has been beaten as a short priced favourite in every one of those. He is a touch over-rated simply because of the huge serve he possesses, but the backhand is a really poor shot and that is an area that Mikhail Youzhny is certainly going to look to exploit with his own, the stronger of his two shots.

So why do I think Raonic is still worth a pick in this one? Well, the hard courts are certainly not the favoured surface of Youzhny these days and I do think the Russian's serve can provide chances for Raonic to get ahead in this one. Raonic returned pretty effectively against Jeremy Chardy yesterday and something similar should give him the opportunity to break the Youzhny serve.

The Canadian will still need to serve well as Youzhny is capable of putting pressure on that front too, but I do think Raonic can win this match behind that shot. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if it ends in another three set match, but I do favour Raonic to come through.


David Ferrer - 5.5 games v Alex Bogomolov: There were suggestions that David Ferrer was carrying some sort of injury during Wimbledon and it may have been the case as he didn't take part in any of the clay court events that were played in Europe through July.

He is back in action on Wednesday and I think the match up is one that will be too his liking as he takes on a qualifier in the form of Alex Bogomolov. The latter has won three matches here this week, including a First Round win over Michael Llodra, but his game doesn't look like one that will match up well against what Ferrer can do.

Unlike Llodra, which would have been a more awkward first match back on the Tour for Ferrer, Bogomolov doesn't really possess a notable weapon that will help him hit through the World Number 3. This has all the making of a long, drawn out match with rallies that will extend Bogomolov until he is no longer able to keep up with the Spaniard.

The serve of Bogomolov means he will also have to earn every point he is to win in this match and I expect Ferrer to wear him down and come through with a 75, 62 win.


Maria Kirilenko - 3.5 games v Alize Cornet: I like Maria Kirilenko's chances to progress through to the Third Round as she is back on her favoured hard courts and is certainly the more capable player on this surface compared with Alize Cornet.

I will accept that Cornet is coming off a solid week in Washington where she reached the Semi Final, but none of the opponents she faced last week are as good as Kirilenko. The Russian has a surprisingly decent serve and heavy groundstrokes that she should be able to come through this match.

I do believe that Cornet is perhaps the better defender on a court, but I am expecting Kirilenko to get the better of the majority of the rallies in the match and that should lead to a 63, 64 win for the higher seeded player.


Caroline Wozniacki - 2.5 games v Sorana Cirstea: I was a big critic of Caroline Wozniacki as the World Number 1 simply because I believed she was getting a pass from the press despite achieving a lot less than Dinara Safina, who was heavily criticised when in that position, at the Grand Slam events.

The Dane is no longer one of the top contenders on the WTA Tour when it comes to the Slams, but I think her Number 10 World Ranking is much more suitable to her abilities on a tennis court. There isn't much power in Wozniacki's game and she very much relies on out-hustling opponents and forcing them to make mistakes from their racquet by retrieving as many tennis balls as possible.

I believe that will prove to be the difference in this Second Round match as Sorana Cirstea can be guilty of making too many unforced errors at times. She has had some good preparation for the tournament here by reaching the Semi Final in Stanford and then the Quarter Final in Washington last week, but Cirstea will only win this match if she has control of her errors.

The first set should be tight, but Wozniacki is likely to be a little too tough at the critical moments of this match and come through 75, 63.


MY PICKS: Tomas Berdych - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Denis Istomin - 5.5 Games @ 2.20 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Milos Raonic @ 1.75 Pinnacle (2 Units)
David Ferrer - 5.5 Games @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Maria Kirilenko - 3.5 Games @ 2.00 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Caroline Wozniacki - 2.5 Games @ 1.92 Pinnacle (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 5-3, + 2.88 Units (15 Units Staked, + 19.2% Yield)

Tennis Picks August 7th (Toronto and Montreal)

The last month or so has not been the best for the tennis picks I have been producing, probably the worst four weeks since putting them down on this blog.

Today we will see the start of the WTA Premier Event in Montreal and the turn out here has actually been much stronger than I thought it may be and is certainly stronger than the ATP event taking place in Toronto.

Serena Williams is the only major absentee from Montreal as she takes a well earned rest following her exploits since the French Open as she won at Wimbledon, Stanford and took the Gold Medal at the Olympic Games.

Yesterday the picks went 1-1, but could easily have gone either 2-0 or 0-2 although it was weird that the one that looked guaranteed to be a loser won, and the other which was well on the way to winning lost.


Kevin Anderson v Mikhail Youzhny: This is set as a pick 'em match and I have to say I like the South African to win the match as he has been spending a lot more time on the hard courts in North America, while Mikhail Youzhny has been dividing his time between the grass courts and the clay courts in Europe.

Kevin Anderson reached the Quarter Final at Washington last week and he has a solid 38-19 record on the hard courts over the last two seasons (16-9 on the hard courts of North America since July 2011).

He has the serve that can earn him cheap points and that may see him put enough pressure on Youzhny who also doesn't have the best record in Masters Events that have taken place in Canada.  He has failed to go beyond the Second Round in tournaments held in Toronto, although the Russian has never been beaten in the First Round.

However, this looks like a tough test and I think Anderson will be more accustomed to the conditions and that may see him pick up the win.


Carla Suarez Navarro - 2.5 games v Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez: Both of these girls will be heading to Montreal after competing at the London Olympics, but I think the younger Spaniard has the advantage in the contest, one that should see her through to the Second Round.

Carla Suarez Navarro has a very solid and effective backhand and that negates the left handed Maria-Jose Martinez Sanchez' advantage, something that seems to be highlighted by the 3-1 head to head lead for Suarez Navarro.

Martinez Sanchez has also recently returned from an injury and it is no surprise to see she has just a 3-8 record on the Main Tour this season so far. She has also had a tough time on the hard courts, although previously showing her effectiveness including a Third Round appearance in Canada last season.

The last two matches between these players has needed a deciding set and it wouldn't surprise me if that is the case again. However, I do like Carla Suarez Navarro to be a little too strong for her elder compatriot in this one.


Julien Benneteau - 3.5 games v Wayne Odesnik: Wayne Odesnik is better known for being banned from the sport after being found guilty of importing human growth hormones, but he is now back on the Tour and had to win a couple of qualifying matches to get to the First Round proper.

He will meet Julien Benneteau who can be a bit of a head case on the tennis court, but a player who has enjoyed some real successes on the hard courts at a couple of events over the last twelve months, including reaching the Final at Winston Salem ahead of the US Open in 2011.

The Frenchman should be too strong for Odesnik as long as he has his head on straight and I expect him to find some joy against the American's serve in this one. They haven't met before, which can be a concern, but Benneteau should be strong enough to record a 6-4, 6-4 win.


MY PICKS: Kevin Anderson @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Carla Suarez Navarro - 2.5 games @ 2.01 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Julien Benneteau - 3.5 games @ 1.92 188Bet (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 1-1, - 0.32 Units (4 Units Staked)

Tennis Picks August 7th Washington and San Diego

Agnieska Radwanska reached the Final so we have a 9.00 pick running on her today to win the tournament against Vera Zvonareva.

John Isner just failed to get through to the Final in Washington as he lost a final set tie break to Gael Monfils but fortunately we covered the outright pick by taking Monfils yesterday.

I only have a couple of Picks today, and one of those is a cover:

Vera Zvonareva vs Agnieska Radwanska: I would only recommend taking this if you were on Radwanska outright at the start of the week. We have already covered our stake with the Polish player reaching the Final, but I am going to play 4 Units on Zvonareva to take away some of the profit on a Radwanska win.

Zvonareva has a strong head to head record against Radwanska and I have a feeling she will win today and at least this way we can earn some profit from the match regardless of the outcome.


Gael Monfils - 3 games vs Radek Stepanek: As I said yesterday, whoever won the match between Monfils and John Isner was bound to be the favourite in this Final and I do believe Monfils will go on and win the tournament.

He has been serving well and is used to playing the awkward style of Radek Stepanek so there should not be any surprises for him here. Stepanek is playing well himself this week, but this is by far the biggest test he will face and I can see Monfils' speed grinding him down in straight sets.

Monfils has won the last two matches between the players in straight sets and holds a 5-2 overall record. I imagine that will be 6-2 after the Final.


MY PICKS: Vera Zvonareva @ 1.53 Pinnacle (4 Units)
Gael Monfils - 3 games @ 2.18 Pinnacle (2 Units)


WEEKLY UPDATE WASHINGTON/SAN DIEGO: - 2.1 Units

Sunday Football Picks and Preview

It was a very good Saturday with all 3 picks coming in and I have 3 plays today:

http://www.goonersguide.com/football-pick-11286-Aberdeen-v-Celtic.htm

http://www.goonersguide.com/football-pick-11285-Manchester-United-v-Manchester-City.htm


MY PICKS: Celtic - 1.5 Asian Handicap @ 1.95 Pinnacle (2 Units)
Manchester City @ 3.25 Pinnacle (1 Unit)
West Ham United @ 1.90 Pinnacle (2 Units)


AUGUST UPDATE: 3-0, + 3.9 Units