Further Aus Open interest

I'm getting pretty fed up with Paddy Power. They lay me pathetically small bets and then often move the market to reflect my trade. For example I took their 10/1 Vika earlier to win ladies' quarter one which immediately contracted to 8/1. I've had three bets with them on the quarter markets as follows. Obviously I will book Vika at the lower price now offered: 

1pt V Azarenka to win quarter one ladies' singles @ 8/1 Paddy Power

1pt V Williams to win quarter two ladies' singles @ 8/1 Paddy Power

1pt Ka Pliskova to win quarter three ladies' singles @ 10/1 Paddy Power

Three points staked.

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Karolina Pliskova

My 12/1 EW selection in the Sydney Open will play her compatriot Petra Kvitova in the final in a couple of hours time. The problem here is I suspect Karolina looks up to the dual Wimbledon champion. In a metaphorical sense only of course as she is actually one inch taller!

The way Pliskova has played in her last two matches though you have to give her a chance today. She served 15 aces in beating CSN in three sets, finishing the final (bagel) set with four consecutive aces. She then blew Kerber off the court in the semi in just 55 minutes. The two Czech players have met just once on the Tour, the higher ranked player prevailing 6-4 in the third set. 

Looking ahead to the Australian Open KP is seeded 22 and has been drawn in the third quarter. Thus if she was to have a decent run she would not meet Pova until the semi and Serena in the final. Very speculative of course but I suspect she won't be 66/1 for the first grand slam should she continue her confident run and win today:

0.5pts EW Karolina Pliskova @ 66/1 Australian Open Betfred (1/2 odds 1,2)

                                                                                A highly improbable Australian Open Final

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Sydney update

Poor result last night when Muguruza beat A-Rad in three sets. It was particularly annoying because top seed Halep had pulled out of the tournament a few hours earlier. A-Rad had been in Halep's half of the draw. That half has now opened up as a consequence of the overnight results. I've had another small bet, this time with Betfred: 

0.75pts EW Karolina Pliskova @ 12/1 Betfred (1/3 odds 1,2) 

1.5pts staked

On the football front two of my portfolio in the FA Cup are involved in replays. Firstly West Ham host Everton tonight having led 1-0 at Goodison Park until the 91st minute. Then tomorrow Soton, who are going well for us in the league, travel to Ipswich. This could be horribly ironic. Good enough to win at Old Trafford on Sunday but not at Portman Road Wednesday?  Must stop being negative! 

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Sydney International

Slowly away in a sense. Could have taken 8/1 A-Rad for this but was concerned how she would be feeling in the first round having just won the Hopman Cup for Poland, beating SW twice in the same day. She took out Serena in three sets then teamed up with Jerzy Janowicz to win the mixed doubles - and the title. As it's turned out she won her first round match comfortably this morning against Cornet, the French woman having beaten the Pole just three days ago. 

Next up for A-Rad is Muguruza with whom she holds a 2-0 HTH. If she gets through to round three it will probably be Kerber on the other side of the net. Halep and Kvitova are the market leaders here so A-Rad is available at 6/1 in three places as I write. I think this is worth a small interest: 

1.5pts Agneiszka Radwanska to win Sydney International @ 6/1 Coral 

                                                     


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Venus Williams

I am still of the opinion, probably misguided, that Venus can win another grand slam. I thought she was unfortunate not to progress further at Wimbledon last summer. Certainly SW19 would seem to offer her best opportunity. However overnight she has beaten Wozniacki in the Auckland final to demonstrate her current well being and I've therefore taken a little bit of 66s for the first GS of the year:

0.75pts EW Venus Williams to win Australian Open @ 66/1 William Hill (1/2 odds 1,2)

1.5 points staked.

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Further FA Cup wager

I have added another team to the portfolio ahead of tomorrow's matches. Stoke are notoriously difficult to beat at home (see MU visit for example yesterday). They are on a good run in the Premiership - one defeat in six matches (Chelsea) - having risen to 12th place and may be safe from relegation, as prices up to 50/1 for the drop suggest. 

Therefore they could have a decent crack at this event in which they were runners-up to Man City in 2011. I have had:

1pt EW Stoke @ 40/1 Paddy Power (1/2 odds 1,2)

So that's four teams against the field. We will need a lot of luck in the draw if the selections progress to the fourth round. But that's part of the entertainment value of the FA Cup for me...

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Premiership relegation

HNY to all readers.

I find the relegation market very tricky and seldom play. However following their fourth successive defeat in the league I've just had a small bet on Everton to go down. They are now just four points above the relegation zone. Their next league match is against Man City. I have had:

1pt Everton to be relegated @ 33/1 Betfred

(40/1 with Ladbrokes if you can bet with them)

I hope Everton can at least maintain their poor run of form for the encounter against one our FA Cup hopes (West Ham) on Tuesday!

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