Euro Dirt 2 & the Countrywide Classic - Day 1

Having decided to concentrate my efforts this week on actual profit rather than basking in the glory of tipping winners, I got off to a good start today by having three points on Jiri Vanek at 8-13 to take out Ivan Navarro Pastor in the first round on the red clay of Stuttgart. The Czech obliged, comfortably running out the winner in straight sets 6-1 6-1. If only it were that easy more often!

Next to be responsible for my fortunes was Japanese player Akiko Morigami in the ladies tournament in Cincinatti. I was impressed with her at Wimbledon, when she pushed Venus Williams all the way and she was responsible for my obtaining a very good price about Venus for the tournament victory. Morigami was runner up in this event in 2005 and was expected to deal with France's Camille Pin in the first round here also at 8-13. Just the two points on this match was the bet and what a painful encounter this turned out to be. A three setter involving two tie breaks and numerous squandered chances for either player before Morigami stumbled over the line, having survived a match point in the second set breaker.

The next fixture of interest to me was Amer Delic to prevail in his first round encounter with Michael Berrer on the hard courts of Los Angeles. The RP tipped Delic for the tournament at a big price and whilst I can't say that I agree with that bet, Delic should have been too good for the German at around 4-7. He wasn't and my daily profit disappeared along with the RP's nap.

Elsewhere, top tenner Tommy Robredo was bundled out in the first round for the second week in a row after running into an in-form Gael Monfils and finding the Frenchman too good in a straight sets defeat.

Meanwhile, early prices are now out for the US Open and this is the time to get on Andrew Murray if you can get a price around the 66-1 and upwards mark. The Scot will be back shortly from his wrist injury and was playing some great tennis prior to the injury. I expect him to be a winner on the hard court swing this summer and it could pay to get on now whilst his price is reasonable. I've also had a small investment on Guillermo Canas at 100-1. The Argentine has a couple of wins over Federer to his name and has the ability to go far at a big price, so these two and Novak Djokovic will be my team to take on the big two, come the end of August.