World Matchplay Darts Day 3 Picks 2026 (Monday 20th July)

The First Round at the World Matchplay will be completed on Monday night and there are once again some quality looking matches to be played in the session.

Four more names will fill out the Second Round and those matches will begin tomorrow as the format moves into a best of twenty-one setting.

The schedule already looks really good for Tuesday, but the focus is the remaining First Round matches to be played before a thread for Day 4 in Blackpool is put together.

Ross Smith-Kevin Doets over 16.5 legs & over 10.5 180s: When these two players met on the floor back in May, Kevin Doets was much stronger than Ross Smith on the day and ran out a comfortable winner.

Since then, Ross Smith has shown his level on the European Tour and in other Players Championship events and he will be feeling confident ahead of this big First Round match.

The layers are finding it tough to separate them, which is a testament to how well Kevin Doets continues to play in 2026 as he looks to push up the World Rankings. Beating Ross Smith and opening up this section of the draw could allow Doets to build some real momentum in this tournament.

Both players should be able to have their moments and it would be a disappointment if this match does not need at least seventeen Legs. The power scoring of both is a big part of their darts, which will give one of the players an opportunity to run through Legs quickly if the other is not quite at the races, but you have to believe that Kevin Doets and Ross Smith are playing well enough to push the other in what could be one of the best matches of the opening Round.

Gerwyn Price to win & over 4.5 180s v Martin Schindler: Since the conclusion of the Premier League, Gerwyn Price has not really been playing as many tournaments as you may expect, while early losses in some of those he has attended means having little competitive action.

The Welshman lost his first match at the Players Championship 23 event earlier this month and did not take part the next day so you do have to wonder what kind of form he will be bringing into Blackpool.

Gerwyn Price has played well at the World Matchplay and that may give him some belief heading onto the stage, especially the fact he has beaten Martin Schindler in this format before.

And if you think Price has been out of form, Martin Schindler has really been struggling having suffered five defeats in a row- even last week in front of the home crowd, The Wall could not find his consistency on the oche and that could be a real problem against someone like Gerwyn Price.

There should be enough time for The Ice Man to find a good level in a winning effort and he can put together five maximums on his way into the Second Round.

Luke Humphries-Cameron Menzies over 15.5 legs and both over 2.5 180s: It is no surprise that Luke Humphries is a big favourite in this First Round match having reached the Nordic Darts Masters Final and then winning the US Darts Masters after coming up very narrowly short of retaining his Premier League title.

There has not been a lot of darts played in recent weeks, but Humphries has been in very good form all season and he will certainly be thinking about himself as a real contender to win the World Matchplay.

Cameron Menzies struggled for form earlier in the season having done some damage to his hand when punching the podium at the World Championship.

Recent weeks have been much better for Menzies who competed at the World Cup of Darts alongside Gary Anderson when Scotland were beaten pretty handily by an England team pairing up the two Lukes.

Since then, Cameron Menzies has won a Players Championship title and he pushed Luke Humphries all the way at the European Championships at the back end of 2025. That will give the World Number 27 some confidence and both players should be able to win at least six Legs, while also throwing at least three maximums each.

Danny Noppert-Rob Cross over 15.5 legs & Cross over 3.5 180s: There is no doubt that Danny Noppert has seen his level slip in recent weeks, but that does not mean it gives anyone the right to send the kind of vitriol that the Dutchman has been subject to on social media.

He called things out by posting the message he had been receiving, but Noppert will be hoping he can focus on his darts and build on what was a decent showing at Players Championship 24.

Last week Danny Noppert was beaten early in Leverkusen, but he should be capable of pushing Rob Cross in what is a fine First Round match to conclude Day 3 in Blackpool.

Rob Cross was in a fight to even earn a spot in the draw, but the former World Champion has found some serious form which saw him win a Players Championship title and reach the Final at a European Tour event last month. He was another that was beaten early in Leverkusen, but Cross is down as the favourite and that is not a surprise on his performances over the last several weeks.

The expectation is that both will be able to get to six Legs, but Rob Cross has been powering in the maximums and that could give him the edge in the First Round match.

Nothing will be easy, but the former World Champion can pick up four maximums in what should be a close, competitive match.

MY PICKS: Ross Smith-Kevin Doets Over 16.5 Legs & Over 10.5 180s @ 2.10 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Gerwyn Price to Win & Over 4.5 180s @ 2.05 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Luke Humphries-Cameron Menzies Over 15.5 Legs & Both Over 2.5 180s @ 2.00 Bet365 (1 Unit)

Danny Noppert-Rob Cross Over 15.5 Legs & Cross Over 3.5 180s @ 1.95 Bet365 (1 Unit)

World Matchplay: 5-5, + 0.20 Units (10 Units Staked, + 2% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2023 (July 20th)

There is no doubting that it was a much more positive day for the Tennis Picks, but it feels like some meat was left on the table after a couple of late letdowns.

On another day Lorenzo Musetti would have been able to serve out his strong position in the final set, which would have been enough for the cover, while Zizou Bergs missed out by a couple of games after allowing himself to gift away the second set.

Worst was the Yulia Putintseva collapse in the second set against Claire Liu.

She was a set down after blowing an early break, but it is hard to understand what happened to Putintseva in the second set considering she had moved into a commanding 5-0 lead and with 15/40 on the Liu serve.

Somehow she lost the next six games in a row and missed FIVE Set Points in that run and even the late break of serve to force a Tie-Breaker only prolonged her pain with another two Set Points missed in that Breaker too.

So while there was a positive return on the day, it does feel like one or two of those other selections could have easily swung my way and it might have completely erased the really poor Tuesady.

Wimbledon might be over, but the sport was still making headlines this week, although both for negative reasons.

Controversy in Hungary on the court was the main source of conversation for the WTA players on social media, but the news of the latest allegation against Alexander Zverev is extremely disturbing. This could be a story that really explodes in the coming weeks, especially if the Penalty Order in Germany is given the go-ahead and with big tournaments coming up bringing with it more media attention.

The ATP whiffed on the previous allegations and how to deal with players who face such issues, but they will be under more pressure if this Penalty Order is signed.

After seeing a new star breakthrough earlier this month, this is a much more challenging time for the leaders on the Tour.

Alexander Zverev is expected to play his Second Round match in Bastad on Thursday, but it is a developing situation off the court and you have to believe it is going to have an impact on his performance on the court against a competent clay court player.

Personally I am steering clear having seen how personal matters can affect players and their performances, while there are a plenty of matches that look quite difficult to call around the tournaments being played.

Any selections from the Newport Quarter Final matches set for Thursday will be added to this thread when the markets are released, but the only two Picks on the day will both come from Second Round action in Bastad.

Casper Ruud - 5.5 games v Alexander Shevchenko: Two years ago Casper Ruud was able to run through three clay court tournaments in a row and win titles in all three events, but last season he was beaten in his opening match in Bastad as he looked to defend this title.

It didn't bother him for too long with Casper Ruud winning the next week in Gstaad, but the two time defending Champion in that tournament in Switzerland has chosen to play in Bastad instead this week.

There is still an opportunity for Casper Ruud to take in three straight summer clay court events, although the likelihood is he will play Hamburg and then move to North America to begin preparation for the US Open.

Motivation will still be there to have a good clay court season after another tough month on the grass and Casper Ruud looks to have been given an ideal opponent in this Second Round match.

Alexander Shevchenko has won a match here this week, so has to be respected, but the World Number 96 has had mixed clay court experiences. He does hold a 3-4 record on the surface against top 50 Ranked opponents this season, but Shevchenko has found himself well beaten by the likes of Alex De Minaur, Daniil Medvedev, Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Musetti.

Casper Ruud is arguably better than all of those on the red dirt having reached the French Open Final in consecutive years and he will certainly feel he can play the superior tennis of the two on the court. An opening clay court match is tough after moving from the grass, but Ruud is accustomed to doing that in recent years and he should be able to find himself in the return games against an opponent who has won 55% of his service points against top 50 Ranked opponents on this surface.

There have been one or two disappointing losses suffered by Ruud on the clay in 2023, which is a concern, but in his four wins against players outside of the top 50, Ruud has covered this handicap mark three times in the best of three set environment.

The first set could be competitive, but you have to believe Casper Ruud can go through the gears to earn the double break in the second set to cover the spread being asked.

Sebastian Ofner - 1.5 games v Bernabe Zapata Miralles: It would be wise to throw out the results of the previous two matches between these players as they were played on hard and grass courts. Mentally there may be a slight advantage with Sebastian Ofner who has won both of those matches against Bernabe Zapata Miralles, although the last meeting was in 2021 and this is a match that will be played on a clay court.

Both have already had a strong month on the red dirt- while fans would have been concentrating on the second week at Wimbledon, these two players both reached the Final of a Challenger event played on the clay courts.

The difference between the two is that Ofner won the title and Zapata Miralles finished as Runner Up, but both have shown they are very competent on the surface.

Out of the two players, Sebastian Ofner will be credited with a stronger First Round win having beaten Tomas Martin Etcheverry from a set behind, although that does mean the Austrian had to spend around thirty minutes more on court compared with Bernabe Zapata Miralles.

After a long week on the Tour, this may make some of an impact, but it is not expected to be one that is decisive.

Sebastian Ofner has been able to get a few more cheap points out of the serve and that is where things can become easier for a player on the slower surface. If Ofner can serve well, he may be able to play with a little more freedom against the Zapata Miralles serve, one that is being held at 68% on the clay courts compared with Ofner's 77% mark.

You have to credit Bernabe Zapata Miralles for putting plenty of wins on the board on this surface and the Spaniard has been the superior return player of the two in this Second Round match. In saying that, it should be noted that his return numbers are much more similar to Sebastian Ofner's when you only consider matches against top 100 Ranked players and this is where the feeling is that the Austrian's bigger serve can prove to be the key factor in the outcome of the match.

A three setter cannot be ruled out with the way both have been playing, but Sebastian Ofner can find the breaks to win and cover this mark.

Jordan Thompson - 1.5 games v Adrian Mannarino: The grass court season may be a short one, but these two veterans of the Tour are meeting for the fifth time on the surface in this Newport Quarter Final.

Adrian Mannarino had the better of Jordan Thompson with three wins on the grass against him, but the Australian snapped that run with a win over Mannarino last month in Hertogenbosch. Jordan Thompson had to come from a set behind to earn that victory, but was the stronger player on the day and has had a very good month on the surface.

He gave Novak Djokovic something to think about at Wimbledon in the Second Round on Centre Court, while Thompson has dominated his two matches at this tournament. Confidence is clearly in a good place with Thompson finishing as Runner Up in one grass court tournament and reaching the Semi Final in another, while snapping the losing run to Adrian Mannarino has to give him further belief.

No one will underestimate Adrian Mannarino who is a confident grass court player and who won pretty well in his Second Round match. The Frenchman also finished Runner Up in one grass court event and made the Quarter Final in two others, although Adrian Mannarino's numbers have been tighter than Jordan Thompson's on this surface this season.

The overall performances from Jordan Thompson have felt stronger and his confident wins in Newport could see him earn back to back victories over Adrian Mannarino on the grass.

MY PICKS: Casper Ruud - 5.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)

Sebastian Ofner - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)

Jordan Thompson - 1.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 7-9, - 5.28 Units (32 Units Staked, - 16.50% Yield)

Boxing Picks 2019- Dillian Whyte vs Oscar Rivas (July 20th)

There haven't been as many really big cards in the United Kingdom as the fans would have liked in 2019, but things are expected to change in the second half of the year. Last week the Daniel Dubois performance in his win over Nathan Gorman was very good to watch, but the first appearance of Dillian Whyte in 2019 will be a big event at the same venue that was used last week.

We should have confirmation of Vasyl Lomachenko versus Luke Campbell by the end of Saturday evening and plenty is pointing towards Anthony Joshua's rematch with Andy Ruiz also landing in the UK with Cardiff looking to lead the way.

I am still hopeful that Josh Taylor's World Boxing Super Series fight with Regis Prograis is also going to land on these shores, but before all that we have the Whyte card to get through on Saturday.


That is the headline in the UK, but later in the evening a big Welterweight fight between Keith Thurman and Manny Pacquiao which is hopefully going to move that Division in the direction of at least a big Unification or two down the line. Both are under the PBC banner and that is also the case for Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter who are expected to face off in September with the winners of the two bouts meeting early in 2020.

A decent undercard has been put together too in Las Vegas and this is a big Saturday night for those who plan on watching both cards that begin at 6pm British time and won't end until close to 6am the following morning.


The Boxing Picks are producing a profit for 2019, but June was a pretty poor month all round and I am looking for a bounce back this month. Last week was a good weekend for the selections with the three winners overcoming two losers and adding some decent numbers to the season totals.

You can see those below as well as the Boxing Picks from the Saturday cards.

Lawrence Okolie vs Mariano Angel Gudino

If it wasn't for an injury suffered by Jack Massey, Lawrence Okolie would have been in the ring a couple of weeks ago and today he would have been in Nigeria with Anthony Joshua.

Instead the withdrawal meant Eddie Hearn had to cancel his whole card and any Okolie fight was pushed back to be placed on the undercard of the Dillian Whyte headlined event at the O2 Arena. Earlier this year there seemed to be something developing between Okolie and Whyte, but that has passed for now and the Cruiserweight is still trying to make a big impact in his own Division before thinking about the move up to Heavyweight.

It is unlikely that Mariano Angel Gudino is really going to test Okolie despite coming over to the UK making all the right noises. The Argentinian has only fought outside of his home country once and he is one fight removed from being stopped so it is asking a lot of Gudino to really push Okolie and that despite the reputation South American fighters have for their toughness and willingness to bite down on the gumshield when under pressure.

Ultimately the feeling is that this is a tick along fight for Okolie and I don't think Gudino will have been picked if the management team of Okolie really felt it was an awkward fight. Lawrence Okolie can be a tough watch for many with his style far from the most pleasing, but he is long and he does possess some power and I am interested to see how much punishment Gudino is willing to take early on in this one.

Much depends on Lawrence Okolie and how quickly he settles in this one and plants his feet to land his punches. Eight of his twelve wins have come in the first three Rounds and I do think he is someone whose power can be something of an eye opener for opponents. If the Argentinian visitor is not as sure about his ability as he seems to be, I think Okolie can put a couple of Rounds in the bank before securing a comfortable early stoppage and keeping his career ticking along.

Richard Riakporhe vs Chris Billam-Smith

The first Cruiserweight I have discussed had something of a public falling out with Dillian Whyte, but Richard Riakporhe is taking advice from Whyte as he builds towards a potential fight with Lawrence Okolie. I am not entirely sold on Riakporhe who was being out-boxed by Sam Hyde at the back end of 2018, but he does have a real leveller with the power he brings and that makes him a threat in the Division.

Richard Riakporhe was much better in his win over Tommy McCarthy last time out in a bout where he was considered an underdog by many. Now he comes into this one as the favourite, but Riakporhe will be full of respect for Chris Billam-Smith who has the exact same 9-0 record as his opponent and with the same eight stoppages in those bouts.

Out of the two Boxers I do feel like Riakporhe has been facing a higher level of opponent than Billam-Smith. That might not mean a lot in the grand scheme of things and Billam-Smith is being trained by Shane McGuigan so there has to be some real talent there. Bringing in Okolie to spar will have helped Billam-Smith too, but it is a different story getting in the ring with a power hitter like Riakporhe who is hoping to push on and get Okolie in the ring for real later this year.

My feeling is that Riakporhe's experiences in the ring and the power he has will prove to be the difference between these two unbeaten fighters. All of the right noises are coming from the Billam-Smith camp, but it will be interesting to see how he responds to the big shots that will be coming his way and whether he decides to try and box, or get drawn into a firefight with his own eight stoppages likely suggesting he has some power to draw on too.

Both could be ready to settle down and throw down, but my lean is towards Richard Riakporhe just having a bit too much strength for Billam-Smith. Backing him to earn a stoppage in the first half of the fight looks a big price here and worth a small interest.

Dereck Chisora vs Artur Szpilka

Two 'crazy' fighters, as both have described themselves, meet in a crossroads Heavyweight fight on Saturday at the O2 Arena. This really feels like either developing into a stinker where neither fighter is able to sit down and impose themselves as they would want, or an all out war that could be the potential Fight of the Night.

Dereck Chisora and Artur Szpilka have both reached the World level in their careers having fought for Titles, but both came up short and the loser really doesn't look to have anywhere to go. Twelve months ago Chisora reinvigorated his career with a huge stoppage of Carlos Takam in this Arena, but he was beaten by Dillian Whyte last December and has had one pretty routine win since then.

Motivation is always a question mark for Chisora, but he has to know he can't afford to lose this if he wants the big paydays ahead. A loss would make him a viable fight for the likes of Joe Joyce and Daniel Dubois who are moving up the levels, but Chisora still wants more from his career.

Artur Szpilka is also in 'must win' territory as he continues his own rebuild after back to back stoppage losses to Deontay Wilder and Adam Kownacki. A Split Decision win over Marius Wach has kept the Pole's name from being completely irrelevant in the Heavyweight Division, but his highlight reel KO from Wilder has definitely taken something away from him.

There is little doubt the punch resistance isn't really there anymore and I think much depends on how much Chisora wants to push on and make a statement on the undercard. With the Titles potentially becoming fractured at the end of the year, Chisora may still have one big opportunity to become a World Champion and that has to make him ready to go.

Even then there have been times when Chisora has struggled to perform as he would have wanted to do against opponents that perhaps don't fire him up like Whyte or Tyson Fury have done. It is a concern for me, but I think Chisora might be forced into a fight by Szpilka who really is only going to try and perform one way in this one.

My feeling is that Szpilka is not the fighter he was before being wiped out by Wilder and if Chisora is able to press forward and land some big shots he can find the stoppage. Dereck Chisora is a pressure fighter and is not blessed with a lot of power like Wilder and Whyte, but he can still do enough to hurt the Pole whose resistance may be worn down now.

All of Szpilka's three defeats have come by stoppage and one of those was against Bryant Jennings. I still think Chisora has just about enough in the tank to find the stoppage before we go to the cards too and I think he can be backed to do that.

David Allen vs David Price

The main support bout on the Dillian Whyte undercard is one between the two Davids in the Heavyweight Division who will feel this one opens the door for some big fights ahead. On paper you have to say everything is leaning towards David Price who has the amateur pedigree and the superior boxing skills of the two fighters, but the Liverpudlian has long been a vulnerable fighter too.

No one will doubt that Price has a limited gas tank and while being a very dangerous fighter for three or four Rounds the question will always be what will happen if he can't get an opponent out of there in that time. Only one of his last eleven fights has featured the bell ringing for the Seventh Round and even in Price's win over Kash Ali last time out there was a feeling he was perhaps beginning to run on fumes before the biting incident caused a premature end to the contest.

In my mind the only real question in this fight is how well prepared David Allen is- he may not be the best fighter out there, but he has shown a resilience and looks to be training about as hard as any time in his career.

Four wins in a row have sparked something in Allen and he has also been given extra motivation with news that he will be fighting Alexander Povetkin at the end of August if he can come through this fight. David Allen has been stopped twice before, but one was in the Seventh Round against Luis Ortiz and one was a Tenth Round stoppage against Tony Yoka, but both at a time when Allen was perhaps not taking his boxing as seriously as he has been over the last twelve months.

Ultimately I do think it comes down to whether Allen can get through what are likely to be a tricky one or two Rounds at the beginning of the fight. If he can he should be able to pressure Price to the point where the bigger man will be running on empty by the halfway mark when the finish could come. David Allen has shown enough punching power to take out a depleted Price and I will back him to win this one in the middle four Rounds of the fight.

Dillian Whyte vs Oscar Rivas

It looks like a long awaited World Title shot for Dillian Whyte is just around the corner with the WBC ruling their Number 1 Ranked fighter should have his shot within the next twelve months. I don't think Whyte will care if that is against Deontay Wilder or Tyson Fury, but at least there is light at the end of a 600 plus day tunnel.

That light will quickly fade if Whyte is not able to beat unbeaten Oscar Rivas in what looks to be an intriguing fight on Saturday night. The layers think Whyte is a big favourite, but Rivas has the amateur pedigree that served Andy Ruiz Jr so well in his win over Anthony Joshua and being unbeaten means the Colombian should arrive with plenty of confidence.

To be honest there isn't much we can read into his resume with the best win being a Twelfth Round stoppage of Bryant Jennings back in January, but I really am not convinced he has the power to hurt Whyte. Oscar Rivas will perhaps have speed and better boxing combinations on his side, but I can't wait to see how he reacts when Whyte hits him with something very big.

Stamina issues are perhaps a concern for Whyte, especially as he was virtually out on his feet twelve months ago against Joseph Parker, but I do think he has the power to change the course of this fight. Dillian Whyte did tire in his first fight with Dereck Chisora and was arguably losing the second before finding an equaliser from the much vaunted left hook and I do think this has the potential of being a very awkward night for the home fighter and the favourite.

I am not surprised some of the experts out there are tipping up Rivas who has the pedigree, but Whyte can turn this is into anything but a boxing contest. Instead he will look to make it a fight and I do think his size and power could make a difference after perhaps even being behind on the cards through the first six Rounds.

The layers believe a Whyte win on the cards is the most likely scenario, but I think he has a chance to find the stoppage in the second half of the bout. At some point Oscar Rivas may take risks which leaves him open to the counter and a small interest in the British fighter to earn the stoppage looks the call.

Luis Nery vs Juan Carlos Payano

There is a big name card that has been put together in Las Vegas and the return of Luis Nery after a strong performance in March should be one that intrigues plenty out there. The Mexican at 24 years old will be considered the Number 1 fighter in the Division by many and we look like we could be on course for a huge bout between him and Naoya Inoue as long as the latter comes through the World Boxing Super Series Final.

Many are going to be looking at Luis Nery and see how he copes with former World Champion Juan Carlos Payano who is just one fight removed from his devastating First Round Knock Out by Inoue.

We have seen plenty of power from Nery and only one of his last ten opponents have heard the bell for the Seventh Round. There are some reservations about the way Nery has been able to get down to the required weights in the past, but you have to take this fight at the face value and I think he can produce a statement win of his own.

Juan Carlos Payano has suffered just two losses in his career, but he won't have faced too many as powerful as Luis Nery. The one time was that blowout defeat to Inoue and I think the Mexican can be backed to win this one in the first six Rounds of the contest.

Caleb Plant vs Mike Lee

He looked a live underdog in his win over Jose Uzcategui back in January and now Caleb Plant is looking to defend his IBF World Super-Middleweight Title for the first time on Saturday. This is a fighter that could be moving on to big Unifications in the Division if he can make a statement on a solid undercard in Las Vegas and I do think the American has been given the chance to face someone he should be beating.

Mike Lee is unbeaten, but he has never campaigned as low as Super-Middleweight and there is little doubt he does not have a very deep resume. It can be foolish to ignore the credentials of an unbeaten fighter, but I am not sure Plant's people would have put him in a live contest in his first defence as they look to promote his name.

I think Plant is going to have the speed and the accuracy that is going to make life very difficult for Mike Lee. The Champion also showed some pop when putting ferocious puncher Uzcategui down twice in their Title bout back in January and I do think we could see Caleb Plant earn his first stoppage in six fights since finding the finish against Carlos Galvan in 2016.

My belief is that the speed is going to see Plant well up on the cards by the halfway mark and he will have been asked to put an exclamation point on the performance. At that point I think Lee might find he is in a little over his level and also any potential issues out of a weight cut might also come to the fore.

The layers are expecting a relatively early night for the Champion, but I think a small interest on Plant putting his punches together against a tired opponent is warranted. As Mike Lee perhaps starts shipping too much punishment, Plant should be able to press forward and get the referee or the corner to save their man from unnecessary shots.

Keith Thurman vs Manny Pacquiao

For those planning to stay up in the United Kingdom through the two big cards, the main event from Las Vegas looks a good one between Keith Thurman and Manny Pacquiao. The WBA Super Title is on the line in the Welterweight Division and the winner is likely going to move on to face the winner of the Errol Spence Jr and Shawn Porter bout that is set to take place in the next couple of months.

A lot of the fans are going to be behind Pacquiao who is a legend of the sport, but at 40 years old you do have to wonder if the Filipino has enough in the tank to hold off a much younger and much bigger fighter in Thurman. The odds have flipped in the last couple of weeks with Pacquiao moving from the underdog to a pretty strong favourite, but I think a lot of money from the Pac Man supporters will be influencing things.

The other factor is the relatively poor performance Thurman had in his comeback fight back in January. One fight in two and a half years is not ideal for any Boxer, and the performance against Josesito Lopez in January suggested Thurman had plenty of ring rust to shake off.

Going straight into the Manny Pacquiao fight is a tough ask with that performance in mind, but I don't think Keith Thurman is cashing in here. It is a huge fight for Thurman and could open some very big doors with the kind of Unification fights that could be round the corner, while I also think Pacquiao is not the fighter he once was.

Manny Pacquiao has had two solid wins since his defeat to Jeff Horn two years ago, but he has been relatively inactive too. At 40 years old that has to make an impact and I don't think Thurman is going to be anything near as gun-shy as Adrien Broner when he lost a wide Decision to Pacquiao back in January.

I am really surprised that One Time is such an underdog in this one- I think he should be all the better for the fight he had in January and he is younger and fresher than Pacquiao. Being the bigger man helps and he looks a big price to win this bout even though I hate fading a legend like Pacquiao.

My gut says something is not quite right with the prices to the point where I have some doubts about Thurman as someone, somewhere must have seen something in him over the last few months. However, the price is one that stands out to be here and I will back Thurman to come through with a victory either within the Twelve Rounds or on the cards.

MY PICKS: Lawrence Okolie to Win Between 1-3 @ 2.05 Bet365 (2 Units)

Richard Riakporhe to Win Between 1-5 @ 3.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)

Dereck Chisora to Win by KO/TKO/Disqualification @ 2.37 Bet Victor (2 Units)
David Allen to Win Between 5-8 @ 3.75 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Dillian Whyte to Win Between 7-12 @ 5.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Luis Nery to Win Between 1-6 @ 2.37 Sky Bet (2 Units)
Caleb Plant to Win Between 7-12 @ 3.50 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Keith Thurman @ 2.50 Sky Bet (2 Units)

Boxing 2019: 18-29, + 9.13 Units (74 Units Staked, + 12.34% Yield)
Boxing 2018: + 5.14 Units (159 Units Staked, + 3.23% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2019 (July 20th)

After taking a few days off from the Tennis Picks at the end of Wimbledon it has proven to be a pretty good decision. The last two days have returned a 5-2 record from the seven selections made from Bastad and Newport and is going to prove to be a winning week to follow the successful Wimbledon.

On Saturday we move into the Semi Final matches at the five events being played this week, but I have only been focusing on the ATP events so far this week. That won't change in the final couple of days of the week before the Tour moves on to a number of new stops on Monday when I will be looking to produce another positive week of results to add to the season totals.

Keeping in mind I am only focusing on the three ATP events this week and the fact we are down to the Semi Final, it should not be a big surprise that options are perhaps limited for Saturday. In fact only a single match fit into the criteria to be one of the Picks made this week and you can read that below.

I have also updated the weekly totals following the 3-1 record on Friday.


Marcel Granollers - 2.5 games v Alexander Bublik: Neither of these players had a really strong grass court season over the last month, but their run in Newport is one that they will both appreciate. Both Marcel Granollers and Alexander Bublik have entered the top 100 of the World Rankings, but the key for them here is winning this event which could take them close to a position where they could enter Masters events without the need to Qualify.

That does mean there is plenty on the line for both and it is Marcel Granollers who has impressed the most and looks worthy of backing here.

The Spaniard has been playing the superior tennis on the grass courts over the last couple of years and his performances at this tournament over the last week have been very impressive. Marcel Granollers has a serve that can be very effective on the grass courts and so far he has held all service games played in this tournament. In fact he has only faced break points in one of his three matches played and it has allowed Granollers to free his arms when it comes to the return of serve.

He has been an effective returner anyway, but Granollers has been even more impressive so far this week. After winning 84% of points behind serve, Granollers has also managed to win 46% of points played on the opponent's serve and that should give him plenty of confidence to take into this match.

I am not suggesting Alexander Bublik has not been playing well, but he has needed to win all three of his matches in three sets and Bublik has come from behind in each of his last two wins. That will give him confidence for sure, but Bublik is only holding 78% of his service games played in Newport and I do think that is a slight concern if Granollers maintains his level.

Alexander Bublik has also broken in 27% of return games played this week compared with Granollers' 40% and I do think the latter deserves the edge in this one. You would think Marcel Granollers is going to come down from the pretty amazing numbers he has produced so far this week, but I do think his overall performances on the grass should give him the edge in the match and one that I believe warrants backing the Spaniard to cover the number here.

MY PICKS: Marcel Granollers - 2.5 Games @ 1.83 Bet365 (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 5-2, + 6.02 Units (14 Units Staked, + 43% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2018 (July 20th)

Friday is regularly Quarter Final day on the Tennis Tour from week to week and this Friday is no different with all of the last eight matches in Bucharest, Gstaad, Bastad and Umag all set to be played.

Newport is a little different as they split their Quarter Finals across Thursday and Friday so the two remaining Quarter Final matches are set to go on Friday.


It has been a tough couple of days for the Tennis Picks with a couple of poor bits of fortune costing me the chance to have a couple of winning days.

On Friday I will add any Picks from the late matches in Umag that have yet to have their markets put together, but the majority of the Tennis Picks are below.


Simone Bolelli - 3.5 games v Henri Laaksonen: The most impressive performance that Simone Bolelli would have produced for the majority of fans to see would have been his close encounter with Rafael Nadal at the French Open. However the Italian has been going about his work to improve the World Ranking and a strong run to the Quarter Final in Bastad after coming through the Qualifiers will be helping his improvement.

This has been part of a strong season on the clay courts for the veteran Italian who has been up and down throughout his career. The numbers have shown how well he has played at the lower level and Bolelli is not faced with an opponent who is used to playing at the main ATP level himself.

Henri Laaksonen has also come through the Qualifiers, but he was the beneficiary of a Lucky Loser spot to take his place in the main draw. He actually beat Juan Ignacio Londero in the First Round after losing to the same player in the Qualifiers, and Laaksonen was much more impressive in the way he beat Matteo Berrettini in the Second Round.

Unlike Bolelli, Laaksonen's general numbers have not been that strong over the course of 2018 when it comes to the clay courts. There has been a decline across both serving and returning numbers compared with 2016 and 2017 and his 12-12 record has been aided by winning a couple of matches here in Bastad.

Bolelli has been much stronger as underlined by his 22-7 mark on the clay courts and the Italian has been holding serve at 85% which will give him a good platform to build on in this match against an opponent who has struggled with the return of serve. Add in the fact that Bolelli has a decent break percentage and I think he will break down Laaksonen and back up a very good win over Diego Sebastian Schwartzman in the Second Round.

In his 22 wins, 18 have seen Bolelli cover this number and I think he will better an opponent who has not had the same level of success on the Challenger Tour as Bolelli has had. I will back the Italian to find a way to earn the cover in this one and move through to a main Tour Semi Final which will offer a huge boost to the World Ranking.


Marco Cecchinato - 1.5 games v Laslo Djere: The feeling was that Marco Cecchinato would be a touch overrated in matches on the clay courts during this mini-European swing after layers would factor in the run to the French Open Semi Final. In saying that I am surprised that Cecchinato is not a stronger favourite to beat Laslo Djere in this Umag Quarter Final and I do like the Italian to work his way into another Semi Final on this surface.

Earlier this season Cecchinato won the title in Budapest which is the first real success he has had on the main Tour. Nothing he had done between that title win and the beginning of the French Open would have prepared us to see the run Cecchinato managed in Paris, but he is unsurprisingly very comfortable on the clay.

The numbers Cecchinato has produced have shown that some of his successes have had more to do with his performance than simple good fortune, but he can't expect to walk through Djere who has had a couple of solid wins behind him already this week.

Djere beating Pablo Cuevas shows this is a player ready to take the next step in his career and he has very similar clay court numbers to Cecchinato, albeit the majority of his matches coming at the lower level than the main ATP Tour. Since Roland Garros Djere has reached the Final of one Challenger event on the clay and won the title at another and that kind of confidence can be huge for a player who then moves onto a higher level of opponent.

That difference of level of opponent has to be considered, but I think that the layers have made this a tough match to separate the players because of how well Djere has been playing over the last month. Djere has been returning really well in his first couple of matches in Umag and he has brought up a lot of break points thanks to a strong level shown which makes him dangerous.

However I think Cecchinato has shown heart to come through a difficult Second round match and his belief has to be at peak level. The Italian has been that little bit stronger all around when he has played opponents Ranked outside the top 50 on the clay courts in 2018 and I think he will edge out Djere here.


Dusan Lajovic - 1.5 games v Guido Pella: The clay courts have always been the favoured surface for Dusan Lajovic, but he has made slight improvements in his numbers in 2018 to produce more wins on the main Tour than previous years.

With a couple more wins he could be fast approaching his best ever World Ranking and Lajovic comes into this Quarter Final as the favourite to beat Guido Pella.

No one will be underestimating how good Pella can be on the clay courts considering this is a surface on which he would have been very used to playing all his life. His own numbers have been decent, but Pella has already had to come through two tough matches so far in Umag and that could mean he is vulnerable to Lajovic in the form he is in.

Both players have served well and Pella only has a slight edge when it comes to the return of serve, but I think the Lajovic serve will ensure that he is having to face off not as many break points as the Argentinian will have to.

I won't be at all surprised if this is a close match with another deciding set needed having seen both win in three sets in the Second Round. That is where Lajovic's slightly less tennis being played this week could mean he has more to offer and I will look to back him to get the better of Pella in this Quarter Final.


Evgeny Donskoy v Marco Trungelliti: Marco Trungelliti will be most known to tennis fans for the journey he made from Barcelona to Paris to take up a Lucky Loser spot in the French Open draw back in May. With his mother and grandmother crammed either side of his tennis racquets, Trungelliti took advantage of social media to show the fans a little insight into his life.

Travelling on the road is the life of a tennis player but especially the case for someone like Trungelliti who is making a tough living on the Tour. The majority of his time is spent on the Challenger circuit, although he has shown in Umag that he should be respected on the clay courts which is his favoured surface.

Coming through a couple of Qualifiers and then winning a couple of main draw matches will help with the Ranking and he is favoured to reach the Semi Final here.

However I think Evgeny Donskoy could be a little underrated to upset the Argentinian having shown good form of his own. Donskoy has arguably the most impressive of the wins this week compared with Trungelliti and that can only aid the confidence of a player who has been serving very well on the clay courts in 2018.

I am anticipating a close match and I would not be surprised if we need a decider as both players had to battle through one in their last match. The serving prowess of Donskoy may give him enough of an edge to upset Trungelliti though and I am backing the Russian to get past his opponent and make the Semi Final in Umag.

MY PICKS: Simone Bolelli - 3.5 Games @ 1.80 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Marco Cecchinato - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Ladbrokes (2 Units)
Dusan Lajovic - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Evgeny Donskoy @ 2.37 William Hill (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 9-8, + 0.12 Units (34 Units Staked, + 0% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2017 (July 20th)

It was a decent, if unspectacular, Wednesday with two of the three picks returning a winner.

Thursday is a day reserved for the second half of the Second Round matches to be played at the various tournaments outside of ATP Newport which has reached its Quarter Final Round although they do spread those four matches over two days.

No one can deny there are plenty of matches to get through on Thursday, but I will be honest and say only two of those have intrigued me enough to add to the picks for this week.


Fernando Verdasco - 4.5 games v Facundo Bagnis: Some may have been moved away from this pick after seeing the struggles Fernando Verdasco had initially in his win over Elias Ymer in the First Round. The veteran may not have covered that day, but he played well enough to have a chance to do that and I think he can beat Facundo Bagnis for a second year in a row in Bastad.

Last year Verdasco lost just three games to Bagnis in a comfortable win here and he is still returning well enough to give the Argentinian troubles in those games. Bagnis did beat another veteran in the First Round when coming from a set down to beat Tommy Haas, but the challenge is much different when facing an opponent who is still inside the top 50 compared with one who is calling time on a long career.

There have been improvements in the Bagnis game when coming up to the higher level which may make him more competitive in this match with Verdasco who is also a year older. However Bagnis has not played well against the top 50 when his serve has proven to be one that can be attacked, while his return game is still not as strong as it should be to make an impact at that level.

That is not so much a concern for Verdasco who should be able to serve and return with effective enough ability to put himself in a strong position in the match. Nowadays Verdasco is more likely to throw in a stinker of a set, like he did in the First Round, but the numbers backed up the superior player.

With a slightly better returning day, as he has shown when players lower down the Ranking table, Verdasco should be able to come through with a 6-3, 6-4 win in this one.


Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 4.5 games v Thiago Monteiro: There are a couple of factors that may put some off from this pick and the most notable is the way that Thiago Monteiro has played against fellow left handed players on the clay courts. He has won all previous matches against fellow lefty's on this surface, but I think the defending Champion can break down the South American in this one.

It has been an up and down season for Albert Ramos-Vinolas who perhaps underachieved on the clay as far as he has been concerned. However he has shown he is now comfortable enough to beat those players outside of the top 50 on the clay courts and much of that is down to strong returning.

The serve can be vulnerable, but Ramos-Vinolas looks after that against the lesser players on the Tour and Monteiro's return game is one that has much room for improvement. The win in the First Round came through a retirement so we can't read too much into that one, but Monteiro is someone who has shown he can struggle when playing the better players on the Tour.

Ramos-Vinolas is 27-6 on the clay against players Ranked outside the top 50 over the last two seasons and his return numbers have been impressive in that time. I will be looking for him to find a way to put pressure on Monteiro in this one with that return game working out effectively. 

It feels like Monteiro will find lesser chances to break serve compared with Ramos-Vinolas and I think the Spaniard can get through his opening match in Bastad with a 6-4, 6-3 win.

MY PICKS: Fernando Verdasco - 4.5 Games @ 2.10 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Albert Ramos-Vinolas - 4.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 4-3, + 1.52 Units (14 Units Staked, + 10.86% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2016 (July 20th)

Tuesday was a pretty horrific day for the picks and I have to say I was disappointed in the manner some of the picks went down.

I'll put Grigor Dimitrov on my blacklist going forward and won't be looking to back him again until he begins to string together some consistent results, while Eugenie Bouchard gave away her match with Camila Giorgi.

Donald Young missed his cover by failing to take his chances in the second set and overall it was just a frustrating day all round.

Hopefully Wednesday will be better but my hopes of a third week in a row with a winning record looks in big trouble already.


Nikoloz Basilashvili - 2.5 games v Igor Sijsling: Two players Ranked outside the top 100 in the World Rankings have a big chance to improve their positioning by winning this match. A place in the Quarter Final in Kitzbuhel is available to the winner and those Ranking points could be very important when it comes to Nikoloz Basilashvili and Igor Sijsling perhaps automatically Qualifying for upcoming Grand Slam events.

Both players have recorded solid wins over big servers in their opening matches in Kitzbuhel, but Basilashvili has to hold the mental advantage having beaten Sijsling twice already this season. Both of those wins have come on the clay courts, although they were competitive and tightly contested.

The last match only took place a couple of weeks ago and Basilashvili had to come from a set down to beat Sijsling on that occasion. He was the better player in that match and deserved his comeback win and I think Basilashvili can come through and beat Sijsling for the third time this season.

It will be close as neither player is that confident on the clay courts, even at the lower level. However those wins that Basilashvili has already earned over Sijsling can help him win this one 76, 64.


Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 1.5 games v Gerald Melzer: Another Second Round match at Kitzbuhel featuring two players Ranked outside the top 100 is going to be played on Tuesday. Gerald Melzer came from behind to beat one Spaniard on Tuesday and he will be looking to add Daniel Gimeno-Traver to his list of players beaten.

Once again Melzer is the underdog in this one, but only a slight one, and I was hoping that he might be over-rated after beating Albert Montanes. That doesn't seem to be the case, but I still believe Gimeno-Traver can get the better of him on the clay courts on which the Spaniard plays his best tennis.

Gimeno-Traver has had the better clay court results in recent weeks including reaching the Quarter Final in Hamburg last week and another win would get him very close to cracking back into the top 100 in the World Rankings. As well as Melzer did in turning around his match with Montanes, he will be tested again on Wednesday and I do wonder if that physical exertion will eventually be a telling factor.

The Austrian had lost three in a row before beating Montanes, but I will be looking for Gimeno-Traver to get the better of this one even if it does go three sets.


Sara Errani - 1.5 games v Viktorija Golubic: A winning effort in Gstaad has sent Viktorija Golubic into the top 100 in the World Rankings and any sense of fatigue has been wiped out with an impressive First Round win in Bastad. Her title win last week has to be something of a surprise to most followers of the WTA Tour considering Golubic's lack of consistency on the clay courts and she will be tested to the full in this one.

I won't mince my words here- Sara Errani is very close to my blacklist with her performances this season, but the clay courts should still see her best form. This is the kind of match that Errani would have enjoyed in the past as she would look to wear down Golubic, but she is not at the level she has been playing at in recent seasons.

However I do think there is a case for backing Errani as Golubic has to be feeling all of her exertions of the last ten days. This will be her seventh match in that time, while the rain in Gstaad last week means a lot of her matches were played in a much shorter period, including playing twice on the same day.

That is going to play a part at some point and Errani is the kind of player that should be able to take advantage. She hasn't been in the best form in 2016, but physically she should be stronger than Golubic and I think Errani can win this in three sets and cover this number.


Jiri Vesely - 1.5 games v Carlos Berlocq: I am not buying the Wimbledon run as a true turning point for Jiri Vesely until he can show better consistency, while I think he is heading towards his worst time of the season. Despite the big offensive weapons, Vesely struggles on the faster hard courts and so has to make use of the clay court events he does have left until after the US Open.

The clay has been his most productive surface of the season so far but it hasn't been a great season to this point. Vesely's performances have been given a gloss by the run at Wimbledon to the Fourth Round, otherwise he might have been struggling to match the number of wins from 2015, while he is still only Number 50 in the World Rankings even with a solid Grand Slam run behind him.

That might sound like I am really down on Vesely, but I think much of his issues are between the ears rather than what he can produce on the court. He is taking on a clay court specialist in Carlos Berlocq in the Second Round in Umag, but the veteran Argentinian has struggled with his own consistency back up to the main ATP level after injury.

I don't doubt Berlocq will be confident after some solid runs at Challenger level where he has won a title and reached two Semi Finals in recent weeks on the clay. He was impressive in the First Round too which makes him a danger but I think Vesely might have a little extra pop in his game which can give him the edge.

Berlocq will be strong defensively which is an issue for an inconsistent player like Vesely, but I think the former has a serve which can be attacked and I believe Vesely comes through 75, 46, 64.


Damir Dzumhur - 3.5 games v Thomas Fabbiano: The win over Nicolas Almagro might have opened the door to this draw for Damir Dzumhur who should still receive plenty of support from nearby Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played well to knock off the Spaniard and is a healthy favourite to beat Italian Thomas Fabbiano who was cruising to victory against an injured opponent who eventually retired.

You might think the clay would be Fabbiano's favourite surface considering his nationality, but his best results over the last two seasons have been on the hard courts. Prior to the win in the First Round here, Fabbiano had actually been 1-6 on the clay courts and I do wonder if he can match the consistency that Dzumhur will bring to the court.

It hasn't been the case in recent matches between the two players as Dzumhur has won the last three, all on clay, without dropping a set including in the Qualifiers for Monte Carlo in April. Almost half of Dzumhur's wins in 2016 have come on the clay courts, although he had also lost four in a row before the win over Nicolas Almagro.

Dzumhur has been in Davis Cup action last week from which he should have gained some confidence after helping Bosnia and Herzegovina beat Turkey. The win over Almagro would have boosted that confidence, while his successes against Fabbiano in recent matches as well as the latter's struggles on clay should give him an additional edge. I think that will help Dzumhur come through this match with a 64, 64 win.


Kevin Anderson - 3.5 games v Malek Jaziri: He reached a maiden Grand Slam Quarter Final in what was a career best season for Kevin Anderson, but he hasn't had much luck on the injury front in 2016. After winning 46 matches on the Tour last season, Anderson has won just 5 this season which began with a retirement in Australia that cost him the first quarter of the season.

Missing the early hard court season was a blow to Anderson whose game isn't really suited to the clay courts, while he had a difficult draw at Wimbledon that resulted in a First Round defeat. All of these factors have seen Anderson drop to Number 33 in the World Ranking, but a good few weeks will at least see him Seeded for the US Open where he was a Quarter Finalist last season.

Anderson doesn't have a really strong record in Washington, but he has been a Quarter Finalist on a couple of occasions and his head to head with Malek Jaziri should give him confidence. If Anderson is serving well he should have chances against the Jaziri serve as the latter is always liable to throw in a couple of loose games per set.

This is looking to be the best season Jaziri has produced on the Tour and he reached a career high Ranking just last week. He has played well on the hard courts at the Challenger level, but Jaziri has not been able to produce that regularly at the main Tour level and the big servers do tend to give him mental problems which he struggles to overcome.

Jaziri seems to feel the pressure from the scoreboard and his loose service games tend to cost him against those big servers and I think that might be the case here. I do think Anderson is short of confidence, but knowing his own success rate against this opponent should help his cause and he can win this one 75, 64.


Caroline Wozniacki - 2.5 games v Samantha Stosur: This is a very good looking match for a Second Round at an event like we have in Washington, but much of that is down to the drop in the World Ranking Caroline Wozniacki has suffered. The former World Number 1 is now Number 58 in the World Rankings and that has meant she has been given some tough early draws.

Wozniacki is going to have to overcome those if she is going to recover her Ranking but she will take heart from the fact she beat Samantha Stosur comfortably in their last match at Eastbourne last month. Knocking out the Number 1 Seed might open the draw for Wozniacki, but the Dane will be well aware that facing Stosur on a hard court is a totally different proposition than taking her on on a grass court.

That is clear from the fact that Stosur has won a US Open title in the past and she was a Semi Finalist in Washington last season. However it has to be said that Stosur's performances on the hard courts this season have been a little more inconsistent and Wozniacki will feel she can get enough balls back in play to the Stosur backhand to start to control rallies.

The Wozniacki serve is nothing like the one that Stosur can produce which has to be an issue on the faster surfaces, while Stosur has won three of their five hard court clashes. The last of those was won by Wozniacki though and I think she can battle her way through to a 67, 75, 63 win.

MY PICKS: Nikoloz Basilashvili - 2.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Daniel Gimeno-Traver - 1.5 Games @ 1.80 Paddy Power (2 Units)
Sara Errani - 1.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Jiri Vesely - 1.5 Games @ 1.73 William Hill (2 Units)
Damir Dzumhur - 3.5 Games @ 1.73 Bet365 (2 Units)
Kevin Anderson - 3.5 Games @ 1.91 Bet Fred (2 Units)
Caroline Wozniacki - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Bet Fred (2 Units)

Weekly Update: 2-7, - 10.58 Units (18 Units Staked, - 58.78% Yield)

Tennis Picks 2015 (July 20th)

Another week on the tennis Tour is in the books, but that only means five new tournaments are going to begin their main draws on Monday. We have three on the ATP Tour which is fully returned having also had Davis Cup action last week, while there are two events on the WTA Tour.

Three of the events being played this week are going to be played on the clay courts, but the other two events in Istanbul and in Bogota are hard court events with the biggest names out there this week being Venus Williams, Gael Monfils and David Goffin.

Some times you can look through a draw and players that might be Seeded to see that they are not the strongest and that is the case this week. However, it isn't wise to just dismiss the tournaments as players will be aware of the chance they have to pick up some vital Ranking points in the remainder of the month before the move to the North American hard courts and the return of some of the biggest names in the sport in preparation for the US Open.


Last week also some drama in the Davis Cup as Argentina, Australia, Belgium and Great Britain made it through to the Semi Finals in contrasting manners.

Argentina were comfortable 3-0 winners over Serbia, but had to give a huge amount of credit to Federico Delbonis who came back from 0-2 down in sets against Victor Troicki in the second rubber to put the home team in a commanding position.

Australia were 0-2 down in rubbers going into Saturday, but that is when Sam Groth and Lleyton Hewitt took over from younger compatriots Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis to lead the team through. After partnering one another in the Doubles, both Groth and Hewitt were drafted in for the fourth and fifth rubbers and responded by winning six of seven sets to move through.

After Canada were missing their two top Singles players, it was no surprise that Belgium moved into the Semi Final with what was described as a 'professional' win by their captain and their Semi Final with Argentina looks a fascinating one to call. Belgium will be at home and have the stand out player in David Goffin, but Argentina look to have the better depth and I like their chances of progressing to another Davis Cup Final.

The final tie of the Quarter Finals saw Andy Murray line up for three straight days to help Great Britain move into the Semi Final and they are now favourites to win the Davis Cup. It will come down to Murray you feel and the home tie with Australia looks to be a brilliant one for everyone to look forward to, although the placement just a week after the end of the US Open is probably not ideal.

You would think it is going to come down to the Doubles again in September with Murray expected to win both rubbers and James Ward a big underdog to even win one, but you would understand Great Britain being a strong favourite right now. Ward has raised his game in Davis Cup in the past and Australia have a mix of players that are all 'inconsistent' to put things mildly and prone to perhaps throwing in a dud of a rubber.

Both Semi Finals should be fun ties though and the crowds should get their moneys worth when they take to the court in the middle of September.


Monday is really a day where the remaining qualifiers dominate, but a few of the main draw matches have been scheduled across the events. Last week looked like it was going to be a really disappointing one the week after Wimbledon, but late winners during the week has restricted the loss, but I will be expecting a much cleaner week this time around.

The tournaments in Bastad, Bogota and Umag on the ATP Tour have only scheduled a couple of main draw matches on the Monday and none of those have really appealed to me, but I have found a couple of matches that have come within my criteria.

However, I will have to wait until the markets are up to confirm that those picks fit with what I am looking for before they are posted here.

EDIT: There might be a few matches today, but none of those have been appealing enough for me to make a pick on Monday, but I am sure there will be a couple of picks from Tuesday once the schedules have been released.

Weekly Final: 12-12, - 2.10 Units (48 Units Staked, - 4.38% Yield)

Season 2015: + 35.25 Units (1146 Units Staked, + 3.08% 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)