Australian Open Woman's Final Pick (January 26th)

Victoria Azarenka - 2.5 games v Na Li: This is a very close Final to call and it is no surprise that the layers are having trouble separating them at the moment.

It is going to be interesting to see how Victoria Azarenka is going to react to the last couple of days when she has been heavily criticised by almost every single person involved in tennis. Her 'injury time out' has been the big talking point in Australia and there is little doubt that the Melbourne crowd are not going to be on her side in this one.

We saw how they reacted to Tomas Berdych last season when he refused to shake Nicolas Almagro's hand after their match in the Fourth Round and I believe the crowd are going to be fully behind Na Li in this one.

The big point is whether Azarenka is going to come out with the siege mentality she has often displayed (mainly against the criticism of her 'grunts' during points on court) or whether she is going to crumble under the weight of pressure the last couple of days would have provided.

I also think you have to make your own mind up about whether Azarenka was really injured on Thursday or whether she had the nerves- I believe it was the latter and she will be absolutely fine to come out in this Final and play her usual game.

While I have said a lot about Azarenka, being the main talking point of the last couple of days, Na Li can't be underestimated as she has been playing some exceptional tennis, particularly in her Quarter Final and Semi Final wins over Agnieszka Radwanska and Maria Sharapova respectively.

This is some of the best tennis Li has played since winning the French Open in 2011 and there is no doubt that she is confident she can get the better of Azarenka in this one.

However, she has lost 4 matches in a row against the World Number 1, including all 3 matches in 2012, and that is a tough mental hurdle to overcome. Some of their matches have been close, but I think the difference here is that Azarenka is the better return of serve and her movement is also a little better than the older Li.

Li also doesn't have the variation that can trouble Azarenka at times and I think her groundstrokes are more likely to break down of the two players. It could be a tough three set tussle, but I do think the World Number 1 will rubber stamp that position by retaining her title from a season ago.


MY PICK: Victoria Azarenka - 2.5 Games @ 2.10 Ladbrokes (2 Units)


Australian Open Update: 16-26, - 14.12 Units (76 Units Staked, - 18.6% Yield)

French Open Women's Final Pick

Yesterday was another wonderful day for the picks and has ensured we will be walking away with a nice chunk of profit from the tournament.

Both picks from the Men's Semi Finals came in as Rafael Nadal came through 3-0 in sets against Andy Murray and Roger Federer ended the winning streak of Novak Djokovic with a 3-1 victory.

While hitting both picks improved the daily units, it was even nicer to see Nadal and Federer reach the Final as I had tipped them as winners of the tournament before it began 2 weeks ago.

Tomas Berdych may have fallen by the wayside, but Nadal and Federer have done me proud.


Now on to the Women's Final Pick:


Francesca Schiavone to win vs Na Li: The bookmakers have essentially listed this as a pick 'em contest between two of the toughest competitors on tour.

Francesca Schiavone has the chance to retain her title from last season, while Na Li will look to go one further than when Runner Up in Australia earlier this year.

The key to the contest will be who can enforce their game plan on the other more effectively. Schiavone looks to play a bit of finesse tennis to pull opponents around the court and break their rhythm, trying her best to not let her opponents see the same ball twice.

Na Li will look to use her penetrating groundstrokes to make it difficult for Schiavone.

Interestingly, the wind should have died down from what it has been like over the last few days and that should make it a little more interesting as a spectacle.

Both players have 2 wins and 2 losses against one another, although Schiavone won their only previous meeting on clay in straight sets here last year.

Na Li has had the more spectacular wins this year to reach this stage, but I just have this feeling the Italian is going to have a little too much guile for the Chinese player and retain her title.


MY PICKS: Francesca Schiavone win @ 2.05 Pinnacle (2 Units)


FRENCH OPEN: + 26.09 Units (+ 4.5 Units Day 13 Men's Semi Finals)

French Open Day 12 Picks- Women's Semi Finals

Day 11 proved to much better and I can now forget the memories from Day 10 when I couldn't catch a cold let alone a pick.

The Men's draw could not have shaped up much better with Federer-Djokovic being joined by Murray-Nadal on what should be a fascinating Friday of tennis.

Rafael Nadal looked back to his imperious best for 2 sets against Robin Soderling, and then showed his strength of character in refusing to buckle for the Swede when the pressure was put on in the 3rd set.

It is also telling that Nadal said he felt he played much better today and we have seen this from him before at the business end of tournaments.

He will meet Andy Murray who made a little harder work of Juan Ignacio Chela than he would have wanted. The injury to the ankle is still not fully healed, while Murray has too many lapses in concentration that will cost him against Nadal.

5 breaks of his own serve in the first 2 sets today must also be a concern for the Murray camp.


The Women's tour has been crying out for a star in the absence of the Williams sisters for almost a year- now they might be getting another familiar face back in the form of Maria Sharapova who looked absolutely dominating in her win over Andrea Petkovic.

Sharapova has not played in a Grand Slam Semi Final for 3 years and her return will be welcome for the WTA Tour. The Russian also became favourite to win this tournament but will have to beat the tough Chinese star Na Li.

I have underestimated Li for much of the tournament, and fully expected both Petra Kvitova and then Victoria Azarenka to beat her, but I have been put in my place both times. Li has reached a Grand Slam Final already this season and obviously feels she can take a step further in this tournament.


Day 12 is all about the Ladies as it is their Semi Final day so on to the picks:


Na Li + 3.5 games vs Maria Sharapova: As I mentioned above, I have underestimated Na Li twice already this tournament and now would much prefer to be on her side in what looks like a winnable Semi Final if I am honest.

Li has played very well against Kvitova and Azarenka in the last 2 Rounds here and obviously feels comfortable on the clay after suggesting it is others who think she is troubled on this surface.

Maria Sharapova showed the very best of her game today against Andrea Petkovic, but it was clear the latter was a little overawed by the occasion and that is something I dont expect from Li. This is also the first Semi Final at Grand Slam level that Sharapova would have competed in for 3 years and so there is a chance she is the more nervous of the two players.

Li also has won the last 2 meetings with Sharapova, both on the Russian's favoured grass, and also pushed Sharapova to 3 sets here at Roland Garros in 2009.

It is possible it goes the distance again tomorrow and hopefully having the games on our side will make the winner of the contest a moot point.


Francesca Schiavone - 2.5 games vs Marion Bartoli: Marion Bartoli might be the last French hope here in Paris, but this looks like a tough match up against the defending Champion on the red dirt, Francesca Schiavone.

Bartoli has shown a lot of heart in this tournament as she progressed past her previous career best of the 4th Round to the delight of her home crowd. Bartoli has beaten some tough opponents to get this far, none more so than Julia Goerges and Svetlana Kuznetsova, but Schiavone poses a different type of threat.

It has been blustery in Paris the last couple of days, and Schiavone's touch tennis is likely to make things additionally difficult for Bartoli whose movement is perhaps her biggest issue.

This has been a special tournament for Bartoli, but I remain concerned about her previous lack of success on the surface where bad movement can be exposed (Bartoli is 13-17 on the main tour in clay court events in 2008-2010).

Schiavone also holds a 4-1 head to head record against the French Woman, with their last meeting coming at Wimbledon in 2009. This will be their first clay court match.


MY PICKS: Na Li + 3.5 games @ 2.00 Boyle Sports (2 Units)
Francesca Schiavone - 2.5 games @ 1.91 Coral (2 Units)


FRENCH OPEN: + 17.17 Units (+ 4.9 Units Day 11)