Sunday, May 20th, 2012
The US Open Tennis mens third round is completed today with 8 really fascinating match ups.
You can check out the latest Betfair betting and in play markets here. They offer a £25 free bet for the US Open Tennis. American readers will find the best US lines at BetUS.Com – who offer S75 and other bonuses.
Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, David Nalbandian and John Isner are all in action.
Andy Murray (1/10 with Betfred) v Stanislas Wawrinka (13/2 with Bet 365)
David Nalbandian (4/7 with Betfred) v Fernando Verdasco (6/4 with Stan James)
Mikhail Youzhny (8/11 with VC Bet) v John Isner (6/5 with Stan James)
Sam Querrey (4/9 with VC Bet) v Nicolas Almagro (15/8 with Stan James)
Two of the three favourites in Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal return to action. Both have opponents who should work them, rather than threaten them. Nadal plays Gilles Simon, who did upset him on clay in the 2008 Madrid Masters. Nadal though, has victories over him on hard courts and though Simon is getting back to his best, Nadal should win here.
Andy Murray meets Stanislas Wawrinka, the Swiss world number 25, who he beat in his run to the 2008 final. Wawrinka likes to attack balls early, so its up to Muray to push him back and deep and continue his aggressive play, but again he should win.
Some of the other matches are much tight. David Nalbandian (pictured) is favourite to beat Fernando Verdasco, assuming his sometimes fragile body can hold up. He had a tough first match with Rik de Voest, so Verdasco should be fresher. He has a big forehand and big serve, but is not as happy on hardcourts. Its an extremely difficult match to call but Verdasco, as outsider, is value at 6/4 with Stan James. They offer a free £25 bet to new customers.
Giant American John Isner has a tough match with Mikhail Youzhny. Youzhny is a very solid player with a good all round game who has beaten Isner in their only previous meeting. This match probably comes down to Isners serve. If he can keep Youzhny guessing as to its placement and delivery he might just do enough to win. Get predictable and the Russian can pick him off. This looks a great match for in play-betting.
The pick of the day’s bets is Sam Querrey to beat Nicolas Almagro – Almagro is not as fluent on fast hard courts as clay and has beaten two clay courters in his first two contests. Querrey is 4/9 with VC Bet (claim £50 in free bets from the on the link to the right) and should set up an enticing meeting with Andy Murray.
The other game are Feliciano Lopez v Sergiy Stakhovsky, David Ferrer v Daniel Gimeno-Traver and Michael Llodra v Tommy Robredo
Being a biased Scot who favors Murray winning this Open, I notice that he gets little press coverage or even a mention when commentators are discussing the players. This is the player who bested Nalbandian, Nadal and Federer in Toronto just two weeks ago. Surely he deserves more than a token mention/
I just wish that someone with authority or access to the commentators would tell them to cease their non-stop yakking–particularly when the ball is in play. It’s similar to having someone sitting beside you in the theater who has seen the play before and insists on telling you what is gong to happen. It’s extremely annoying Mary Curillo, John McEnroe, CLiff Drysdale and Tracy Austin are all guilty. Please tell them to learn when to shut up–if that is possible!!!
Thanks. Duncan Maclean
Hi Duncan – thanks for your comments – we are guessing you are US based as we have had plenty of UK Murray talk.
I am afraid American commentary is just very different. The spirit of Dan Maskell does not live on sadly!
A little alarming how Murray collapsed against Wawrinka. We really did fancy him to go well too after the good Masters build up. Not to be this time alas.