Murray v Tsonga: Betting Preview & Tips

Tennis | selectabet | August 15, 2009 at 6:06 pm

Murray v Tsonga
Montreal Masters Semi-Final.

There’s more than just a place in the final at stake for Andy Murray when he squares up to Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Montreal Masters this evening. A win for the Scot will take him up to 2nd in the ATP World Rankings, leapfrogging Rafael Nadal who lost to Juan Marin Del Potro in the quarters.

It’s fair to say that Murray would have been expecting to be facing World Number 1, Roger Federer, in the semi-final, especially when the Swiss was 5-1 up in the final set and his opponent was taking time out to deal with an injury. But Tsonga fought back superbly and took the final set in a tie-break to set up tonight’s clash.

The two players have met twice before, sharing a win each. Tsonga however won the most important in the Australian Open back in January 2008. But it’s Murray who has gone from strength to strength since then and he’s hot favourite to make it through to the final. Murray goes into the game fresher, after a scrappy but easier 2-set win over Juan Carlos Ferrero. Whilst Tsonga will be confident after disposing of Federer don’t underestimate what that injury and a 3-setter (2 of them tie-breaks) will have taken out of him.

Tsonga is widely available at 7/2 (Bet365, Boylesports, Expekt, Stan James, VCBet) or 4/1 on the exchanges (Betfair), whilst the best you’ll get on Murray is 2/9 (Canbet, Paddy Power, SkyBet) or 1/4 (Betfair). Those odds look a bit too skinny for me, so I’m lookign for Murray to win this one early and not to drop a set. He can be backed to win 2-0 at 5/6 with Betfair. Come on Andy!!!