Thursday Betting Tips

Karpaty Lviv v Galatasaray

Karpaty have won 5 consecutive home games in all competitions, although their Turkish opponents should prove a more dangerous threat. They would sit 5th in the league, but were deducted 9 points for their part in a match fixing scam.

Galatasaray travel to Ukraine without Harry Kewell, Elano and Sabri Pino. The first two in particular are important players for them. Their season has hardly started in spectacular fashion, losing away to Sivasspor and a home defeat against Bursaspor. Milan Baros is still short of fitness, and there are rumours that a bad result could spell the beginning of the end for Frank Rijkaard at the club.

Galatasaray have some decent players, but the loss of Elano and Kewell will be a major blow for them. Karpaty know that a draw would be enough to send them through, but they showed they can score against the Turkish side, so it would not be a surprise to see them try and grab a goal to secure their position.

Bet: Karpaty DNB @ 2.63

Final Result: Karpaty 1 - 1 Galatasaray (BET VOID)

FC Utrecht v Celtic

Utrecht have started fairly well in the Eredivisie, recording consecutive victories against Breda and Willem II, following an opening day defeat away to Feyernoord. They would have been disappointed with their performance in the first leg in Scotland, but a 2-0 deficit is not insurmountable. They are strong at home, having only lost 4 games from their last 30 in a run stretching back to April 2009. Striker Ricky van Wolfswinkel has been in impressive form, scoring 8 goals in 8 games.

Celtic have had a good start to the season. Since a 3-0 defeat in Braga, they have won 4 straight games, including the return leg against the Portuguese side – a team that went on to win home and away against Sevilla. A 4-0 last time out against St. Mirren will be a good confidence boost.

This will be a close game, but Utrecht have to go out and attack to try and turn around the deficit from the first leg. There is a decent chance that if they are going to score, it will be from 21-year-old Ricky van Wolfswinkel.

Bet: Ricky van Wolfswinkel to score anytime @ 2.75

Final Result: Utrecht 4 - 0 Celtic (van Wolfswinkel x3) (BET WON)

Unirea Urziceni v Hajduk Split

This Unirea side is far removed from the side that impressed in the Champions League last season, beating Rangers and Sevilla, and drawing with Stuttgart. They now have serious financial problems at the club, with the coach and club president having left in recent weeks, as well as a number of key players. In the first leg, they simply looked disinterested losing 4-1. They are yet to record a win in the league this season following up four draws with four defeats. They picked up a draw last time out, scoring their first goal in five league games this season.

Hajduk Split have started well, taking 13 points from a possible 15, scoring 19 goals in the process. Their European campaign looked to be heading for an early conclusion, losing 3-1 to Dinamo Bucharest, but they bounced back to qualify with a 3-0 home win, and have continue in similar form.

Unirea are in major difficult at the moment, and with further players expected to quit the club after this game, it is only set to get worse. Hajduk are unlikely to come here with the intentions of scoring four more – they are already through, but they will not want to lose.

Bet: Hajduk Split DNB @ 2.15

Final Result: Unirea 1 - 1 Hajduk Split (BET VOID)

Aston Villa v Rapid Vienna

After an impressive 3-0 victory over West Ham, Villa came crashing back to earth with a 6-0 defeat to Newcastle. A truly abject performance, caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald seemed incapable of turning it around. However, the players will be looking for redemption here against the team that eliminated them at this stage last year. They drew 1-1 in the first leg with a virtual reserve side, but the likes of Carlos Cuellar, James Collins, Ashley Young, John Carew and Gabriel Agbonlahor should all return here in a strong Villa side.

Rapid Vienna have won 3 straight games in the league, so confidence should be high. However, the loss of key striker, Nikica Jelavic, in a bitter dispute that culminated in a transfer to Rangers, has weakened their attack, and they know that they have to score in Birmingham, which may leave them open at the back.

After the weekend result, Villa will be looking for a good performance to win over the fans, and the strong line-up suggests this will be the case. The loss of Jelavic is a huge blow for Rapid Vienna, even though he didn’t play in the first leg, he was key to the away goals victory last year.

Bet: Aston Villa -1.25AH @ 2.03 (BET LOST)

Final Result: Aston Villa 2 - 3 Rapid Vienna

Manchester City v FC Timisoara

Manchester City looked very impressive in a 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Monday night, and victory here against their Romanian opponents looks all but a foregone conclusion. They are expected to make 3 or 4 changes for this game, but considering this is likely to be the introduction of the likes of Adebayor, David Silva and Shawn Wright-Phillips, they should be too strong for their opponents.

Timisoara do not have the strongest defensive line, having conceded 3 goals at home to MyPa in the last round. They have won 3 of 8 games this season, but have drawn both their away games in the league so far.

Manchester City will be looking to send another statement of intent in this game, and they have quality both on the pitch and sitting on the bench. They will be too good for their Romanian opponents.

Bet: Manchester City -2.75AH @ 2.5
Bet: Manchester City to keep a clean sheet @ 1.67

Final Result: Manchester City 2 - 0 FC Timisoara (1 BET LOST, 1 BET WON)

Brondby v Sporting

Brondby got their tactics perfect in the first leg in Portugal, and recorded a very impressive 2-0 victory. They have only lost 1 of their 11 games so far this season, and are currently unbeaten in nine. Away from home, they have won 4 straight games, including a 3-1 victory against Nordsjaelland, who Sporting eliminated in the previous round.

Sporting have started the season very slowly. They sold Miguel Veloso and Joao Moutinho over the summer, bringing in Alberto Zapater, but they are struggling to replace the long-serving midfield duo. They lost their first league match away to Pacos, and needed a last minute winner to beat Maritimo. An unconvincing 3-1 aggregate victory against Danish opposition in the last round hardly helps to breed confidence.

In terms of sheer quality, Sporting are several levels above Brondby. However, they have started slowly, and looked relatively disinterested in the first leg, suggesting this competition is not particularly important to them. They need to attack and score at least two goals, but they have not looked impressive thus far.

Bet: Brondby DNB @ 2.4

Final Result: Brondby 0 - 3 Sporting (BET LOST)

Levski Sofia v AIK

Levski Sofia are a strong team at home. In four home games this season, they have won four, conceding 3 goals, but scoring an impressive 17. This includes a 5-2 victory against Swedish side Kalmar in the previous round. They played a conservative game in the first leg, drawing 0-0, but they should open up back in Bulgaria.

AIK are in all kinds of problems, being involved in a relegation battle in Sweden. Their major problem is scoring goals, having only scored 16 in 20 games this season, and having only scored 3 goals in their past 9 games. Away from home, they haven’t scored a goal in 8 games.

Levski dispatched fellow Swedish side Kalmar in the previous round, and should be favourites to do the same here. They will be aware of the risks of conceding an away goal, so should keep it tight at the back, whilst having the quality to score goals themselves.

Bet: Levski Sofia to win to nil @ 2.1

Final Result: Levski Sofia 2 - 1 AIK (BET LOST)

Trabzonspor v Liverpool

Trabzonspor have started the season well, winning the Turkish Super Cup 3-0 against champions Bursaspor, and following that up with league wins against Ankaragucu and Fenerbahce. A 1-0 defeat in Liverpool was a decent result, and gives them hope of progressing to the group stages. They have also been promised £20k each for qualification to provide added motivation.

Liverpool have travelled to Turkey without Gerrard, Torres, Agger, Maxi Rodriguez, Javier Mascherano and Milan Jovanovic. Their defence looks relatively solid with the likes of Reina, Carragher, Johnson and Skrtel all playing, but they seem to lack a creative and offensive threat.

Trabzonspor have an excellent opportunity to get a result here, and give themselves a chance of pulling off the shock and eliminating their illustrious rivals. Liverpool appear not to be taking this competition particularly seriously.

Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 1.69

Final Result: Trabzonspor 1 - 2 Liverpool (BET LOST)

Lokomotiv Moskva v Lausanne

Lokomotiv Moskva have been in poor form recently, having not won in 6 games since mid-July, including games against both the bottom 2. They lost the Moscow derby 3-0 to Dinamo Moskva at the weekend in a truly abysmal performance. A 1-1 draw in Switzerland has given them a decent chance of qualification after Sychev equalised Traore’s first half goal.

Lausanne are a second division side that qualified for this competition after a dream cup run last season, although it ended in a 6-0 final defeat to Basel. They are unbeaten in all competitions this season, with maximum points from their 5 league games, and draws away in Bosnia and Denmark so far in this tournament.

Lausanne have nothing to lose against a superior, but low confidence, opponent. They are unlikely to have played in games like this before, and may not again in the future, so they will give everything. Lokomotiv have been poor recently, but they know a 0-0 will take them through, so will look to keep things tight.

Bet: Lausanne +1.25AH @ 2.3

Final Result: Lokomotiv Moskva 1 - 1 Lausanne (BET WON)

Gent v Feyernoord

Gent were unlucky to lose the first leg 1-0 in Rotterdam. They were outclassed against Dinamo Kiev in the Champions League, but have overcome an unconvincing start to the season to sit fifth, with 9 points from 12. Gent rested a number of players in their last league game in preparation for this match and will be playing in front of a sell-out crowd tonight.

Feyernoord are a young, inexperienced side, and have been disappointing so far this season. Defeat against Excelsior in the derby and a draw with Heracles is hardly the form to worry their Belgian opponents. Vlaar and Wijnaldum are the only two quality players in this Dutch side, who will struggle to finish high in the league this season.

Feyernoord have been poor this season, and will have to play well to avoid defeat here. Gent are a decent side, but are prone to the odd collapse under pressure, which they will be hoping to avoid tonight.

Bet: Gent to win @ 2.28

Final Result: Gent 2 - 0 Feyernoord (BET WON)


England v Pakistan

England's batting has hardly been outstanding in this series so far, and in cloudy and damp conditions at Lords, there will be plenty on offer for bowlers. As a result, it is conceivable that England could only post a score of around 250 in their first innings. With the return of Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan have a more solid batting line-up and should get a decent enough total.

James Anderson was the standout bowler in the first test, and has continued to pick up wickets in this series. He will not be easy to face in the conditions, and is the most reliable of the English bowlers to pick up wickets.

Matt Prior has been in good form with the bat this series, hitting a century at Trent Bridge, and an impressive innings last test that helped England to recover to a decent first innings score. He enjoys playing at Lords, and few of the other specialist batsmen are in good form.

Bet: Pakistan +80.5 runs 1st innings lead @ 1.91
Bet: James Anderson top England bowler @ 3
Bet: E/W Matt Prior top England batsman @ 11 (1/5 1,2,3)
Bet: Mohammad Yousuf (+3.5 runs) to beat Kevin Pietersen @ 1.83 (BET WON)

Saturday Betting Tips

Celtic v St Mirren

Celtic have made a decent start to the season, with home victories in Europe against Braga and Utrecht. Although losing 3-0 against Braga in Portugal was a blow, Braga’s result against Sevilla proved that they are a classy side. A 1-0 victory away to Inverness CT last week made a winning start to the new season. They have lost Aiden McGeady over the summer, but the signings of Joe Ledley, Efrain Juarez and Gary Hooper have brought in some decent players. They will also be looking to avenge their 4-0 defeat to St Mirren last season.

St Mirren managed to hold Dundee United to a 1-1 draw at home last weekend, conceding a late equaliser. However, having changed manager over the summer, it may take time to adapt to the new man. Their last two visits to Celtic have resulted in 3-1 and 7-1 defeats.

Celtic are beginning to gel, and they are always a strong team at home. They will also be looking to avenge last season’s humiliation against their opponents.

Bet: Celtic -1.75AH @ 1.9 (3/10)

Cardiff v Doncaster

Cardiff have been given a huge boost by the signing of Craig Bellamy. Bellamy could feasibly be playing for a top 6 side in the Premiership, so should get plenty of goals at this level. When you include the likes of Michael Chopra and Ross McCormack, plus the creativity of Peter Whittingham and Jason Koumas, Cardiff have the potential to score a lot of goals.

Doncaster have made a decent start, with 4 points from their opening two games. However, a home defeat to Accrington Stanley in the Carling Cup was a surprise. Billy Sharp has been a decent signing, but it would be a surprise if they can stop the euphoria surrounding Cardiff this week.

Craig Bellamy is likely to have an impact on this game, but if Doncaster focus too much on him, Cardiff have other players who could benefit from the additional space.

Bet: Cardiff -0.75AH @ 2.2 (4/10)

Leeds v Millwall

Leeds have made a slow start to their new season, with 1 point from two games thus far. A 4-0 win in the Carling Cup against Lincoln would have boosted confidence. The loss of Jermaine Beckford was a blow, and his replacement, Billy Paynter, is injured at the moment.

Millwall have been on fire this season, scoring 7 and conceding 0 in their 2 games so far. A 3-0 win away to dark horses, Bristol City, was followed up by a 4-0 demolition of Hull. Their strong, athletic approach unsettles a lot of teams, and in Steve Morrison, they have a quality striker at this level.

Millwall went to Elland Road last year and won 2-0, putting on an excellent performance. They have started this season brilliantly, and it wouldn’t be that much of a surprise to see them push on here.

Bet: Millwall +0.25AH @ 1.85 (3/10)

Lyon v Brest

Lyon have started poorly and have plenty of problems at the back, missing several players. They conceded 3 against newly-promoted Caen last week. However, they are dangerous in attack, with Gomis, Delgado, Briand and Pjanic providing a real threat.

Newly-promoted Brest have had a tricky start to the season, picking up 1 point from their 2 games. They have a strong attack with Roux and Toure, but they may struggle in defence against a strong Lyon attack.

Brest may well score in this, but it would be a surprise not to see Lyon putting a couple past them as well.

Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ 2.1 (4/10)

Rennes v Saint-Ettiene

Rennes have had a decent start with a draw against a strong Lille and an impressive 3-0 away win against Nancy. They are generally strong at home with only 2 defeats in 15, although they haven’t won in 6 at home. However, they will be boosted by the return of Ghanaian striker, Asamoah Gyan.

This season is likely to be another struggle for Saint-Ettiene. They are fairly poor away from home, and are without their main striker, Sanogo, for this match. They will be in a fight to remain in this division, but they will pick up the points at home.

Rennes should be too good for Saint-Etienne, and will be boosted by the return of Gyan to get the goals they need.

Bet: Rennes -0.75AH @ 2.11 (3/10)

Friday Betting Tips

Hrvatski Dragovoljac v Istra

Both of these sides have lost their first three games of the new season, conceding nine goals each in that time. Dragovoljac have the home advantage in this game, and have been showing some decent performances, despite their results.

Istra have looked poor, trying to play an attacking style, but lacking the quality to create anything when they get close to the opposition penalty area. They are also expecting to be without up to six players through injury tonight.

This will probably be a tight affair between two teams looking for their first points of the season. I cannot see Istra winning here, and the handicap gives a little cover for the draw.

Bet: Dragovoljac -0.25AH @ 1.74 (3/10)

SC Bregenz v FC Lustenau

Bregenz play in the third division in Austria and have picked up four points from their opening two games this season.

Lustenau are a division above their opponents and are beginning to find some decent form. They are unbeaten in five games and have picked up consecutive victories away from home.

Although it is the cup, and anything can happen, Lustenau are in good form in their own division, and I would fancy them against a team in the division below.

Bet: FC Lustenau to win @ 2.24 (3/10)

Sierning v Hartberg

Sierning play in the fourth division in Austria, although their season hasn’t started yet. They had a reasonable record at home last season, only losing 3 out of 13 games, with a goal difference of +12.

Hartberg have had a terrible start to the season, picking up only 1 points from their first six games so far. With only 4 wins in their past 18 away matches, they are not in good form at the moment.

Hartberg have superior quality to their opponents, but they are out of form, and in the cup, anything can happen.

Bet: Sierning to win @ 6 (1/10)

Le Mans v Reims

Le Mans impressed in their first game in this division with a 2-0 win away to Nantes. They have retained most of their players after relegation last season, and despite missing a couple of players here, they are a very strong team.

Reims are always a little unconvincing away from home. They play an attacking 4-3-3 formation, but look a little light at the back, which could be exposed against a strong and quick Le Mans attack.

Le Mans should win this to continue a good start to their attempt to win promotion at the first attempt.

Bet: Le Mans -0.75AH @ 2.04 (5/10)

Evian v Vannes

After winning promotion last season, Evian have begun well with 2 wins from 2 this season. Their first home game in this division has led to a sell-out crowd, and they play at altitude, which could cause a few problems for visiting teams.

Vannes won last weekend, but are without four players for this match. This will affect their defence, and against an Evian side who looked impressive on the break last weekend, this could be a problem. They also look a little lightweight up front.

Evian will be looking to kick their new home campaign off in style, and I think they can do it.

Bet: Evian to win @ 2.06 (3/10)

Where Did It All Go Wrong: The Sad Demise of Ana Ivanovic

On 26th May, 2008, at the age of only 20 years old, Ana Ivanovic lifted the French Open title. Having only dropped 1 set in the tournament and gained the coveted world number 1 spot, the future seemed to be bright for the young Serb. However, in the 27 months since that triumph, she has only won one tournament – a minor tournament in Austria in October 2008. In fact, she has only reached one other final in that time. She now finds herself languishing outside the top 60 in the world, relying on wildcards to gain entry into the top tournaments. So where did everything go wrong for the talented Serb?

Her early tennis coaching is as far from the typical upbringing that we could imagine. Having starting playing tennis at the age of five after watching compatriot Monica Seles on the television, her early training was disrupted by the NATO bombings of Yugoslavia in 1999. Forced to only train in the mornings, and in an abandoned swimming pool during the winter months due to a lack of facilities, few would have backed her to reach the big time. However, the first hints of the mental frailty that was to affect her later career were seen after she spent four hours locked in her locker-room crying after losing her first match in front of her new manager, fearing that he would drop her. However, he stuck with her, and remains with her to this day.

In 2004, at the age of 16, she showed impressive form on the minor ITF circuit, winning 26 straight matches and all five tournaments that she entered. However, success on the major WTA tour was harder to come by. Her first major breakthrough came in Zurich, where she pushed Venus Williams to two tie breaks, squandering set points in both sets. She reached the last 8 the following week in Luxembourg in her final tournament of the year.

2005 started in magnificent fashion, winning her first career WTA title in her first tournament of the year in Canberra, having only gained entry to the tournament as a qualifier. An impressive showing in Miami saw her defeat top 10 players, Nadia Petrova and Svetlana Kuznetsova, before a last 8 defeat to world number 1, Amelie Mauresmo. She took another top 10 scalp in her next tournament, hammering Vera Zvonareva in straight sets. Her ranking continued to rise, and she was named as one of the seeds at the French Open for the first time. Hard fought wins against Amelie
Mauresmo and future French Open champion, Francesca Schiavone, saw her reach the last 8 of the Grand Slam for the first time, before defeat to eventual finalist, Nadia Petrova. A series of relatively disappointing tournaments followed, only reaching two further semi-finals, losing in both to Patty Schynder.

After a promising start to 2006, beating Amelie Mauresmo in Sydney, she failed to reach the semi-final of any tournament until Montreal in August. She burst onto the scene in spectacular fashion putting together back-to-back victories against top 10 players, Dinara Safina and Martina Hingis, to take the most important title of her career thus far. She had high hopes for the US Open, but a defeat in the 3rd round to Serena Williams ended her interest in the tournament inside the first week. However, a series of quarter-final appearances in her last few tournaments ensured she finished the year ranked number 14 in the world.


She had a turbulent start to 2007, losing in the third round of the Australian Open before splitting with her coach. She reached the final in Tokyo in the following tournament after victories over Jelena Jankovic and Maria Sharapova, but lost in two sets to Martina Hingis in the final. A difficult time followed before returning to Europe for the clay court season in May. This sparked a return to form as she won her second WTA Tier I title, beating Svetlana Kuznetsova in the final in Berlin – a result that forced her into the top 10 in the world for the first time. However, an injury picked up in the final hampered her preparations for the French Open.

As seventh seed in Paris, she cruised through her first three matches, losing only 9 games en-route. Victories against the number 3 seed, Kuznetsova, and the number 2 seed, Sharapova, followed before a hammering against Justine Henin in the final, losing 6-1, 6-2. This match showed the first major cracks in her mental ability to reach the top of the game – she admitted that her nerves overwhelmed her, causing her serve to collapse.

She was the sixth seed at Wimbledon, but progress was tough, saving 3 match points to beat Czech player, Nicole Vaidisova, in the last 8. She was unable to beat Venus Williams in the semi-final, losing in straight sets. Problems with a knee injury dogged her preparations for the US Open, but victory in Los Angeles improved her ranking to number 4 ahead of the Grand Slam. Having dropped only 9 games in her first three matches, she once again met Venus Williams. Once again, she was beaten in straight sets. She put the disappointment behind her to win her fifth career title in Luxembourg, consolidating her ranking of 4.


After several encouraging years, Ana targeted 2008 as her big chance to shine. She was the fourth seed in the Australian Open, before coming up against her nemesis Venus Williams in the last 8. However, this time she was able to up her game, picking up an impressive straight sets victory against the American. She recovered from a first set bagel in the semi-final to defeat ninth seed, Daniela Hantuchova, and set up a match with Maria Sharapova in the final. However, she was unable to win her first Grand Slam title, losing in straight sets to the Russian. Her performance did boost her ranking though, taking her to a career high of world number 2.

A series of victories for Serbia in the Fed Cup followed, earning Serbia a place in the World Group II playoff later in the season. She continued her excellent start to the year by winning in Indian Wells after victories over Jelena Jankovic and Svetlana Kuznetsova. Howver, after failing to defend her title in Berlin, and a first round defeat in Rome, she headed to Roland Garros looking to improve on her final defeat the previous year. Progress was serene through to the semi-final, where she put on a shaky performance to beat Jankovic in a thrilling three-set match. She finally managed to seal her first Grand Slam title at the third attempt, beating Dinara Safina in straight sets.


Despite going into Wimbledon as the top seed, she had to battle hard, saving 2 match points against Nathalie Dechy in round 2, before losing to world number 133, Zheng Jie. A difficult period followed as she struggled with injury, losing her number 1 ranking, and forcing her to withdraw from the Beijing Olympics – one of the worst moments of her career in her words.

She came into the US Open with a lack of match practice behind her, although she was still the top seed. However, a second round defeat to Julie Coin followed – the earliest exit by a top seed in 35 years. A semi-final defeat in Zurich, before victory in Linz suggested that she was rediscovering the form that had propelled her to the top of the women’s game.

However, a third round exit in the Australian Open followed early in 2009. After defeat to Serena Williams in Dubai, she split with her coach, Sven Groeneveld. Early signs appeared promising as she returned to Indian Wells to defend her title. She breezed through to the final for the loss of only one set. However, she was defeated by Vera Zvonareva in the final in straight sets. At the time it would have been almost unbelievable, but this was to be her last appearance in a final to this day.

She played only two games on clay in preparation for her defence of her French Open title, beating Francesca Schiavone before losing to Agnieszka Radwanska in Rome. She appeared to have returned to form, cruising through her first three matches in Paris, before being stunned by Belarusian ninth seed, Victoria Azarenka, in straight sets. This defeat meant that she dropped out of the top 10 for the first time in over two years, and prompted another change of coach.

Having saved match points in her first round match at Wimbledon, she reached the fourth round before facing Venus Williams. After losing a one-sided first set, she landed awkwardly after a serve at the beginning of the second set, and she was forced to retire in tears, despite attempting to continue. She returned to action 6 weeks later, losing in the second round in Los Angeles, before successive second round exits in Cincinnati and Toronto. She suffered her first ever first round defeat in a Grand Slam in the US Open, losing to Kateryna Bondarenko. Her new serve motion was severely criticised, with Pat Cash labelling it ‘painful to watch’.



Another first round defeat followed in Tokyo followed before she pulled out of the China Open and announcing that she was taking the rest of the year off. The year was her worst as a professional, winning back-to-back matches only six times throughout the year, and finishing ranked number 21.

She began 2010 in promising form, reaching the semi-final in Brisbane – her first semi-final appearance in almost a year. However, a straight sets defeat to the returning Justine Henin prevented her reaching the final. She crashed out of the Australian Open in the second round, having led Gisela Dulko by a set and a break, finishing the match in tears as her game collapsed. Things continued to get worse for Ana, losing both her Fed Cup matches against the Russians, and splitting with her coach for the third time in less than twelve months. A first round defeat in Indian Wells followed as her serve continued to desert her – the first time in her career she had suffered four consecutive defeats. This result dropped her 30 places in the world rankings from 28 to 58 – the first time outside the top 50 for over five years.


In Miami, she recorded her first win in over two months, beating Pauline Parmentier, but lost to Agnieszka Radwanska in the second round. After a month out, she began her clay court season, hoping for a change in fortune, but lost in the opening round in Stuttgart to Radwanska again. Expectations were low going into Rome, but a series of unexpectedly impressive performances followed, recording victories over Azarenka, Dementieva and Nadia Petrova, before defeat in the semi-final. Regardless, it was her best tournament performance for nearly two years.

This performance gained her a wildcard entry into Madrid, but she collapsed from a set and a break up against Jelena Jankovic to suffer another opening match defeat. She entered the French Open unseeded for the first time in five years. However, disappointment was to follow as she collapsed to a 6-3, 6-0 defeat to 28th seed, Alisa Kleybanova, in the second round. A first round defeat in Wimbledon followed, before disappointing performances in both Stanford and San Diego. This week in Cincinnati, she looked to be slumping to another defeat, having gone 6-2, 5-3 down against the in-form Victoria Azarenka. However, she dug deep, finding some of the mental resolve that has deserted her over the past two years to mount a magnificent comeback, taking the second set on a tie break, and winning the decider 6-2. Later today, she faces Yaroslava Shvedova, bidding to win consecutive matches for the first time since May.


So what caused the monumental collapse in form since winning the French Open back in 2008? Since that highlight at Roland Garros, she has only won 49 of the 86 matches that she has played. The major problem in her game has been the disintegration of her serve, stemming from issues with the ball toss. When she gets nervous, her ball toss goes, and thus her entire game collapses. For example, if we look at her defeat in the Australian Open this year, she won only 54% of the points on her serve, delivering 11 double faults and being broken nine times. She hit 75 unforced errors as she tried too hard to overcome the problems she was having on serve.

These problems on serve have developed as a result of constant changes in coaching over the past two years. Having gone through four different coaches in less than twelve months, she received constantly conflicting advice, leaving her totally confused. These problems have led to a lack of confidence, which has led to further problems with her serve – a vicious circle. She has also been criticised for over-analysing her defeats, rather than accepting them and moving on.

Her stunning looks have also led to attention off the court. She has become a huge favourite with the glamour magazines, and the large number of photo shoots has been suggested to be affecting her game. Whether this is a major reason is debatable, but it certainly takes some of her attention off her tennis.


Despite her recent problems, it is important to remember that Ana Ivanovic is still only 22 years old. She has found it difficult to cope with the attention and success that she has received at such a young age. The pressure of being a Grand Slam champion and world number 1, as well as a hugely attractive and popular figure, is difficult to handle for anybody. She had to attempt to cope with this at the age of only 20. A series of injuries and questionable advice concerning her coaching have also affected her development in the game.

At the moment, a lack of confidence in her own ability is the underlying problem behind her recent travails. If she can regain that confidence, the nerves will reduce, which in turn will allow her to get her serve back on track and working properly again. She is undoubtedly a highly talented player – three Grand Slam finals, one Grand Slam title and 12 career titles have not been achieved by luck. However, whether she can find the right coach and team around her to lead her back to the top of the game is still to be seen. She remains a hugely popular figure within the game, and it is a shame to see the problems she has been having over the past two years.

Victory against Shvedova tomorrow would set up a match against either Elena Vesnina or Francesca Schiavone – a match that Ana would go into with confidence, having beaten both players back in May, and never having lost to either. Compatriot Jelena Jankovic would likely wait in the quarter-final – a player that Ivanovic has a 7-3 winning record against. Whilst two years ago, you would have confidently put money on Ana to progress through these tests, today it would be a brave man to back her in any match that she plays in. However, we wait with baited breath to see how see responds tomorrow – could it be the beginning of a revival, or merely another false dawn?

Europa League Betting Tips

Liverpool v Rabotnicki

As far as Liverpool are concerned, this tie is already over. A 2-0 victory in Macedonia without a number of their regular starters confirmed the gulf in quality between these two sides. The likes of Gerrard, Cole and Carragher will return tonight, but may be a little rusty on only their second games of the season. They will be treating this as a match simply to gain fitness and avoid injuries ahead of the big match next weekend against Arsenal.

The Macedonians will be coming with a defensive style, not wanting to be embarrassed here. Whilst they are a decent team domestically, Liverpool are several levels above them, and defeat at home means that progressing in the tournament is not really a possibility.

Liverpool should win this game comfortably, but it would be a surprise to see them over-exerting themselves in what amounts to a glorified pre-season friendly for the Merseysiders.

Bet: Under 2.5 goals @ 3.15 (2/10)
Bet: Under 3.5 goals @ 1.89 (4/10)

Final Result: Liverpool 2 - 0 Rabotnicki

Qarabag v Wisla Krakow

The Azeris were slightly surprising winners in the first leg in Poland by 1-0. The more encouraging aspect for Qarabag was their almost complete dominance of the game. Last season, they eliminated Scandinavian duo of Rosenborg and Honka, and held eventual Dutch champions Twente to a 0-0 draw in Azerbaijan. With only 1 defeat in 11 Europa League games, they are not an easy team to beat.

Wisla need to win this game, but are still missing key defender, Cleber. This is in addition to the 3 defenders that have left the club over the summer. The temperature is expected to be in the mid- to high-30s, which will not suit the Poles.

Wisla Krakow should not be favourites for this game. The odds appear to be more based around the perceived quality of the two leagues, rather than the two teams involved in this match. Qarabag have only lost 3 home games since October 2008, and it would be a surprise to see them slip here.

Bet: Qarabag DNB @ 2.1 (4/10)

Final Result: Qarabag 3 - 2 Wisla

Bangor City v Maritimo

The Welsh semi-professional team were humiliated in the first leg, losing by 8-2, including conceding 5 goals in the final 15 minutes. They did well to pass Honka in the previous round, but the Portuguese side are on a completely different level. Bangor had a strong home record last season, but that was against domestic Welsh sides.

Maritimo travel with predominantly the same squad as the first leg. They beat Irish side, Sporting Fingal, home and away in the previous round, and even though they are already comfortably through to the next round, it would be surprising not to see them put a couple past the amateurs here.

It is unlikely that we will see a repeat of the first leg, but Maritimo should be way too good for the Welsh side here, even if they do treat it as a fitness exercise.

Bet: Maritimo -1.75AH @ 2.2 (3/10)

Final Result: Bangor 1 - 2 Maritimo

Apollon Limassol v Sibir Novosibirsk

A key factor here will the weather conditions. It is expected to be around 43C and high humidity. The Cypriots will be more used to these temperatures than the Russians. Apollon were beaten 1-0 in Russia, but the long trip and plastic pitch would have had an impact.

Sibir have the fitness advantage due to being in the middle of their season. This showed in the first leg, grabbing the winner in the 74th minute as the Cypriots were tiring. However, they are currently bottom of the Russian Premier Division without a league win since May. They also play an open game, scoring plenty, but conceding even more. They will feel they need to score to give themselves a chance of progressing.

It would be a surprise if there weren’t goals here. Apollon need to score, whilst Sibir will feel they need at least one goal to progress. The temperature will play a role, as will the long trip for the Russians.

Bet: Apollon Limassol to win @ 1.91 (4/10)
Bet: Over 2.5 goals @ 2.08 (2/10)

Final Result: Apollon 2 - 1 Sibir Novosibirsk

Sporting v FC Nordsjaelland

Sporting won by 1-0 in Denmark, and have a number of quality players in their squad. They lost Miguel Veloso over the summer, but Yannick Djalo is still there despite being linked with Spurs. Midfielder Alberto Zapater may make his debut tonight, but Pedro Mendes and Marat Izmailov are missing.

Nordsjaelland fought hard in the first leg, but are unlikely to have the quality to win in Portugal against a side that only went out to the eventual winners last season. They have made a decent start to the Danish season, but Sporting will be too good here tonight.

Bet: Sporting -1.75AH @ 1.86 (3/10)

Final Result: Sporting 2 - 1 Nordsjaelland

Total Profit: 6.06 points

Mark Cavendish - the Fastest Man on Two Wheels

As Mark Cavendish crossed the line on the Champs Elysees, he ensured that he finished a difficult Tour de France on a high. This is the stage that all the top sprinters want to win, but for the second year running, Cavendish proved that he is a class above as he comfortably pulling clear of his rivals. He finished a couple of feet clear of Alessandro Petacchi in 2nd, which, in sprinting terms, is a large margin. It is not quite the stunning margin that he somehow pulled off last year, but he has had a difficult year, marred by controversy, and this will help to recover some pride.

This stage victory took his tally to 15, and moves him into joint 12th on the all-time list, with only 12 men ahead of him. Those ahead of him include some of the legendary names of the sport – Lance Armstrong, Eddy Merckx and Bernard Hinault to mention just a few. But what makes Cavendish’s achievement all the more impressive is the time that it has taken him to achieve those 15 victories – a mere 3 years.

He began his professional career in 2007, but it began disastrously. With talk of him being dropped from the team, he was hardly setting the cycling world alight. His first victory came in April 2007 at the Grote Scheldeprijs race in Belgium. This was all the more surprising as he had failed to even finish any of his previous races. This victory boosted his confidence and sparked his career into life. Stage wins in the Four Days of Dunkirk race and the Volta a Catalunya convinced his T-Mobile team to select him for the 2007 Tour de France. However, having crashed in Stages 1 and 2, he abandoned the race during Stage 8 as they reached the Alps. Further stage victories followed, equalling Alessandro Petacchi’s record of 11 stage victories in a debut season. It was during this period that his slightly arrogant character began to show, stating that “if I am in front with 200m to go, then there is nobody who can beat me.”

The following year, Cavendish began to make his mark on the big stage. He picked up two stage victories in the Giro d’Italia – his first stage wins in one of the three Grand Tours. Things continued to get even better as he won his first stage in the Tour de France, crossing the line first in Stage 5 from Cholet to Châteauroux. Further stage wins followed in Stages 8, 12 and 13, before he pulled out to concentrate on the Beijing Olympics. In just a few days, he had become the ‘fourth most successful British professional cyclist in history’.

However, disappointment was to follow at the Olympics, as he and teammate Bradley Wiggins were only able to finish 8th in the Madison, leaving Cavendish as the only British track cyclist not to win a medal. The two friends did not speak for months after the event. Wiggins admitted that he struggled to give his all to the event following his gold medals in the individual and team pursuits, and Cavendish also blamed British Cycling for not paying sufficient attention to his event. Despite being World Champion in the Madison, Cavendish announced in November 2008 that he had no intentions of ever returning to track cycling, preferring to concentrate solely on the road races.

The following year saw Cavendish showing good early season form, with stage wins in both Qatar and California, before backtracking on his word and competing in the Track Cycling World Championships in both the scratch race and the Madison, although he failed to win a medal in either. One of his finest moments came in the Milan – San Remo classic. This race is regarded as one of the ‘Five Monuments of Cycling’ – the five oldest and most prestigious one-day races in the cycling calendar. His rivals had claimed that he was simply not good enough over the climbs, but he showed great resilience to hang on with the leading group and win the sprint finish. It made him only the second British rider to win one of the five monuments after the late Tom Simpson.

The first stage of the 2009 Giro d’Italia saw Cavendish’s Columbia team win the team time trial, and Cavendish was given the Maglia Rosa jersey – the Giro’s version of the Maillot Jeune in the Tour de France. He became the first British rider ever to wear it. Three further stage wins followed before he pulled out ahead of Stage 14, claiming he needed the time to prepare for the Tour de France.

After four stage wins in 2008, Cavendish had the British record of 8 stage wins in his grasp, and he shattered that record after winning an incredible six stages in the 2009 race. However, following his disqualification in Stage 14, meaning that he recorded no points for that stage, he gave up his attempt on the green jersey for the points classification. The final stage on the Champs Elysees emphasised his sheer dominance over the rest of the pack, winning by several metres – a huge gap as far as sprints go. His partnership with his lead-out man, Mark Renshaw, was proving virtually unstoppable. His 50th career stage win came soon after at the Tour of Missouri, and despite links with the new British Team Sky, he decided to remain at Team Columbia for 2010.

After three years of almost unprecedented success, 2010 began turbulently for Cavendish. A dental problem disrupted his preparations, meaning he did not race for the first time until mid-February. He struggled to find the form that had blown away the field in previous years, finishing a disappointing 89th when defending his Milan – San Remo crown. A feud with German teammate, André Greipel, followed, when Greipel criticised Cavendish’s performances. Cavendish responded by claiming that “there’s no chance he’s coming to a bike race that I’m in. Me on bad form is still better than him.” He also said that being in the same team as Greipel “is not a problem, because I am a better rider.”

However, further controversy was to come less than a month later when his team withdrew him from the Tour of Romandie, following a two-fingered gesture as he crossed the line, supposedly aimed at the critics who know “jack shit about cycling”, who had written him off following a poor start. He skipped the Giro d’Italia to try to regain some form, and won only his third race of the season in the Tour of California. The Tour of Switzerland was next for Cavendish, but he crashed in the sprint finish of the 4th stage, veering offline and bringing down Heinrich Haussler amongst others. This prompted a protest by other riders about his dangerous riding style, culminating in a go-slow at the beginning of the fifth stage.

A disappointing start to the Tour de France followed, crashing in Stage 1 after failing to negotiate a corner at speed. Finally though, he seemed to recover some form and ended up with five stage wins, including another impressive victory on the Champs Elysees. He finished second in the points classification behind Alessandro Petacchi – a slight disappointment, but it is surely only a matter of time until Cavendish finishes with the green jersey. What was particularly impressive this year was how he dealt with the loss of his lead-out man and close friend, Mark Renshaw, following Stage 11, after Renshaw headbutted Julian Dean to gain a better position for Cavendish. People questioned whether Cavendish could cope without Renshaw, but three more victories showed that he is capable of winning on his own.

Cavendish is rumoured to be the second highest paid rider in the peloton behind three-time Tour de France winner Alberto Contador. His arrogant attitude occasionally rubs people up the wrong way – “when journalists at the Tour de France ask me if I’m the best sprinter, I answer ‘Yes’, and that’s seen as arrogance, but if they don’t ask me, I don’t say I’m the best sprinter in the world.” However, on his day, there is no doubt that he is by far the fastest sprinter on the planet, able to blow away his rivals at will.

So what next for the Manx Bullet? Next year, he will undoubtedly be looking to add to his already impressive collection of Tour de France stage victories. If he were able to repeat his five stage wins of this year, he would move into joint 6th in the overall standings, and 5th in the post-war standings, only behind Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Lance Armstrong and André Darrigade. Another target would be to become the first British rider to win the green jersey for the points classification. He has finished in 2nd place in both 2009 and 2010, and few would bet against him finally winning it in 2011.

In the longer term, with 15 stage wins in only 3 years, he will undoubtedly be eyeing up Eddy Merckx’s all-time record of 34 stage wins, as well as trying to prove that he is able to win in some of the other classic races. He proved that he is capable when he won Milan – San Remo, and will be looking to try and add more wins to his tally. Whether this will be with Team Columbia or Team Sky remains to be seen, although he will always been linked with the British team.