Numbers add up to Nadal win

Nadal was beaten, but all the time he shaped like a man who knew his best was coming, he wasn’t there yet, but it was in the post, and his rivals had better watch out when things do fall into place. Punters who want to keep Nadal close will find our 5/2 very agreeable, and if he plays to the best of his ability, that price will look massive.

Nadal is the main man around these parts, the stats prove that beyond all doubt. He holds the record for most titles won, on nine, the record for most consecutive titles won, on eight – between 2005 and 2012 – and the record for most matches won, 56. It’s difficult to back against a man boasting those numbers, and our team would rather give him the respect he deserves.

Traders aren’t being selfish here though, not at all. There’s still a few question marks hanging over Rafa. Is he fully fit? Will he be as good as he was? Can he live with the modern version of Djokovic and Murray? All that has been factored into the price, and punters will see the 5/2 as a slice of value, and well worth a go.

Give Djokovic a break

Novak Djokovic has suffered a bit of an injury lay-off, and hasn’t enjoyed the kind of start to 2017 that he would’ve hoped for – knocked out of the Australian Open all too easily, a competition he had won six times before. Such was the level of criticism over Novak’s start to the year, it prompted Andy Murray to rush to his defence, telling the press that everyone needs to give his old rival a bit of a break.

The Serb is not playing the tennis of a confident man, but has won this title twice in the last four years, 2013 and 2015, beating Nadal in the latter. He has also finished runner-up a couple of times, 2009 and 2012, beaten by Nadal on both occasions. That would make him handy enough at 11/4, a real option if you wanted to take the jolly on. Patriotic punters should know the stats do nothing for Andy Murray, but he’s out there as a 4/1 third-favourite.

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