Sports Betting Blog

January 18, 2009 by Ben Filed under: Sports Betting 

Bookies are bracing themselves for Andy Murray winning his first Grand Slam tournament when the Oz Open gets under way on Monday – a victory which would serve up millions for patriotic punters. A more likely loss would be a win fall for the bookies though. One of my betting maxims is to always oppose patriotism. Even if it wins, the odds are never fair.

As the tennis world gears up for its first major of the year in Australia Andy Murray, at 5/2, is the shortest priced Brit to win a Grand Slam tournament in the modern era, reports bookie Paddy Power.

The odds on Murray winning his first Grand Slam title have taken a pounding this week as the Scottish ace, arguably the best player in the world on current form, receives a wave of patriotic punts. Murray-mania has cut the British number one’s odds to land his first major from a pre-Christmas 11/2.

Darren Haines, spokesman for Paddy Power, said: “A Murray Grand Slam win in 2009 would cost bookies millions and is one of the results we fear most this year. The patriotic punt could be the best way the public lines their pockets in these times of doom and gloom.”

Murray at 5/2 second favourite, remains at the odds he shared as joint-favourite with Roger Federer for much of the week although the Swiss ace has shortened slightly to 9/4 now that the draw keeps him away from the Scottish danger man until the Final. Number one seed Rafa Nadal is third favourite at 7/2.

A Federer-Murray final is 7/2 whilst Murray himself is just 5/4 to reach the final, 7/2 to flex the Murray muscles on court should he win the tournament and a big 25/1 for a shock first round exit.

The biggest mover of the week though is Daniel Nalbandian, backed into 14/1 from 40s at the start of the week.

The Australian Open starts on January 19th and to add to the action of the first Grand Slam of the year leading online bookmaker PartyBets have put together three big-hitting offers for punters:

1) If you place a bet on any of the 4 top seeds to win the tournament and that player does not reach the fourth round, we will refund all losing stakes!

2) If you place a bet on any men’s singles main market or Set Betting market and if that match ends 6-0 6-0 6-0 we’ll refund all losing bets for that match on those two markets

3) If you place a bet on any any women’s singles main market and or Set Betting market and if that match ends 6-0 6-0 we’ll refund all losing bets for that match on those two markets.

And that’s not all… For more info on this great promotion visit: Partybets and sign up for a free bet matched bet of up to £25.

Current Odds for Partybets Outrights Men’s Singles.

Federer R. 5/2
Murray A. 11/4
Nadal R. 18/5
Djokovic N. 6/1
Nalbandian D. 18/1
Tsonga J.-W. 25/1
Del Porto J.M. 25/1
Monfils G. 40/1
Roddick A. 40/1
Simon G. 50/1
Gulbis E. 50/1
Gasquet R. 66/1
Berdych T. 100/1
Verdasco F. 100/1
Gonzalez F. 100/1
Cilic M. 100/1
Stepanek R. 125/1
Blake J. 125/1
Hewitt L. 125/1
Ferrer D. 125/1
Baghdatis M. 125/1
Youzhny M. 125/1
Tipsarevic J. 150/1
Haas T. 150/1
Ancic M. 150/1
Wawrinka S. 150/1
Safin M. 150/1
Söderling R. 150/1
Karlovic I. 150/1
Mathieu P-H. 175/1
Robredo T. 175/1
Lopez F. 200/1
Fish M. 200/1
Tursunov D. 200/1
Andreev I. 200/1
Canas G. 200/1
Monaco J. 200/1
Nishikori K. 200/1
Kohlschreiber P. 200/1
Seppi A. 200/1
Nieminen J. 250/1
Querrey S. 250/1
Ferrero J.C. 250/1
Bolelli S. 250/1
Hanescu V. 250/1
Muller G. 250/1
Ljubicic I. 250/1
Ginepri R. 300/1
Troicki V. 300/1
Almagro N. 300/1
Gicquel M. 400/1
Benneteau J. 400/1
Moya C. 400/1
Clement A. 400/1
Schuettler R. 400/1
Reynolds B. 400/1
Chardy J. 400/1
Dent T. 400/1
Granollers-Pujol M. 400/1
Llodra M. 400/1
Melzer J. 400/1
Guccione C. 400/1
Stakhovsky S. 400/1
Vliegen K. 400/1
Zverev M. 500/1
Gremelmayr D. 500/1
Montanes A. 500/1
Santoro F. 500/1
Schwank E. 500/1
Serra F. 500/1
Calleri A. 500/1
Darcis S. 500/1
Lu Y.-H. 500/1
Petzschner P. 500/1
Hernandez O. 500/1
Spadea V. 500/1
Hernych J. 750/1
Junqueira D. 750/1
Lapentti N. 750/1
Massu N. 750/1
Navarro Pastor I. 750/1
Devilder N. 750/1
Starace P. 750/1
Gabashvili T. 750/1
Garcia-Lopez G. 750/1
Kendrick R. 750/1
Karanusic R. 750/1
Martin A. 1000/1
Minar I. 1000/1
Rochus C. 1000/1
Pavel A. 1000/1
Bellucci T. 1000/1
Golubev A. 1000/1
Fognini F. 1000/1
Daniel M. 1000/1
Gimeno-Traver D. 1000/1

[Each Way: 1/2 odds for place 1-2] Price from Partybets