Darcis Stuns Nadal In First Round At Wimbledon

Nadal suffers early exit again (Ben Stansall / AFP Getty Images)

Two-time Wimbledon Champion Rafael Nadal has been knocked out of Wimbledon in straight sets by Belgian Steve Darcis. World number 135 Darcis, who had never beaten a player in the top five,  beat Nadal 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (10-8), 6-4. It was the first time in 34 Grand Slam appearances that Nadal has lost in the first round.

Last year Nadal suffered a shock second-round exit to Lukas Rosol, however afterwards claimed he 'was not ready to play'.  A knee injury then kept him out for 7 months missing both the US and the Australian Open. This year and only weeks after winning an historic eighth Roland Garros title he finds himself out in the first round. 

Nadal was 43-2 this year coming into this match, however the majority if those victories had been on clay. He had not played on grass since last year, having withdrawn from Halle, Germany citing fatigued after the French Open. 

Nadal never looked comfortable on the grass, seemingly not trusting the surface. Unlike the clay, grass is not forgiving on the body. On clay players are able to slide however on grass, movement is the key and this puts pressure of the knees. Also the surface is quicker with the ball bouncing lower allowing players less time to make the shot. 

There is no doubt that Nadal was not at 100% and his movement was not as smooth as he would have liked. He was unable to chase down many shots and looked uncomfortable especially in the third set. However take nothing away from Darcis. He played aggressive tennis and throughly deserved his victory. It was without doubt the best tennis and match Darcis has ever played. He was able to maintain a terrific level of performance and he will hope he can continue that in his second round match against world number 41 Lukasz Kubot. 

This is not the first shock Darcis has inflicted at Wimbledon. Last summer during the Olympics he beat Tomas Berdych.

Elsewhere, Roger Federer and Andy Murray progressed to the second round with ease. 

Federer only took 1 hour 8 minutes to see off world number 47 Victor Hanescu, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0. A majestic performance from Federer which will have pleased the returning champion. He will meet Ukrainian and world number 98 Sergiy Stakhovsky in the second round. 

Murray took a little longer by with relative ease to dispatch Benjamin Becker in straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 6-2. Murray was confident throughout and never really looked in any danger.  

Tough Draw For Federer as he seeks Eighth Wimbledon Crown

Federer lifted his seventh Wimbledon title in 2012

Seven-time Wimbledon Champion Roger Federer could potentially have to beat all three of his main rivals in order to retain his Wimbledon crown.

Federer has been placed on the same side of the draw as both Rafael Nadal and Andy Murray. Nadal, seeded number 5, after missing seven months of the last year through injury, could meet Federer in a blockbuster quarter-finals.

The two-men have meet three times at Wimbledon, all finals, but have not met at Wimbledon since the epic final of 2008. 

After a disappointing exit at Roland Garros last month Federer will be hoping to produce his Wimbledon magic and and win the event for a staggering 8th time. 

Federer begins against  Romania's Victor Hanescu in round one on Monday. 

Elsewhere, Nadal on the back of his historic eighth Roland Garros, begins his campaign against Belgian Steve Darcis. If results go in line with seedings, the two-time champion would have to beat Federer, Murray and Djokovic to win his third Wimbledon title.

Britain's Andy Murray will face Germany's world number 95 Benjamin Becker in the first round of Wimbledon. The beaten 2012 finalist is in line to meet Frenchman and sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarter final, before meeting the winner of Nadal vs Federer. 

World number one Novak Djokovic will be happy to have avoided Murray, Federer and Nadal until the final. If the tournament goes to the seeding then Djokovic will face sixth-seed Tomas Berdych and fourth seed David Ferrer in the quarter-final and semi-fianl respectably. 

Top seed Djokovic, the 2011 champion, will play Germany's Florian Mayer in his opening match on Tuesday.

Due to wishing to focus on my final year of University Study I will be taking a break from writing this blog. 

Kean Resigns As Blackburn Manager

Kean out of time in the Rovers hot-seat

Steve Kean was in his own words forced to resign last night after his position at the club had become 'untenable'. 

The news has no doubt been welcomed by many Rovers fans who have been calling for the removal of Steve Kean for over 18 months. Since he was appointed by the new Indian owners the Venky's 21 months ago, fans at Edwood Park have been unhappy. Kean leaves Blackburn third in the Championship after seven games where he endured only 1 defeat. Eric Black had taken over first-team duties. 

Fans poking fun at owners

Kean's record at Blackburn does not make great reading as he won 21, drew 16 and lost 37 of his 74 matches in charge as well as over seeing Blackburn's relegation from the Premiership after 11 years in the top flight. Unfortunately his treatment and tenure will be remembered as a farce. The chicken (left) on the field during the Wigan game at the end of last year summed up the Rovers fans feeling towards the clubs owners who have not covered themselves in glory throughout their tenure either.

It did seem as if Kean was to leave earlier in the week however then it appeared it had survived for another week at least after describing talks as 'constructive and positive' with the Indian owners of Blackburn Rovers only for him to resign last night.  

Rovers fans were constant in their protest 

Despite what you think of the man, you have to be impressed by the way that he had handled himself. Considering the abuse that he has received over the past 18 months he has stayed calm and in control which many may have found hard to do. Everyday must have been a battle as Rovers fans shouted for his removal. I have never seen before such negativity towards one manager over such a prolonged period of time. 

Kean's statement read: "For reasons that I cannot discuss on legal advice, it is with deep regret, given my hard work and service for the club for a number of years, that I have been forced to resign as manager of Blackburn Rovers Football Club with immediate effect, due to my position as team manager becoming untenable. I wish to thank all the players and coaching staff for their great support and the majority of the fans, who now see their club heading towards an automatic promotion position back to the Premiership. I wish the club all the very best for the future." 

For Blackburn to move forward Kean did need to go however it is the owners who also need to go. The Venky do not seem to understand how to run a football club and they are damaging Blackburn Rovers as a result.

In terms of a new manager. It is a very nice job. The squad that they have has great quality for the Championship and they sit third in the league. Players such as Jordan Rhodes will mean that Blackburn should be near the top come the end of the season. Also whoever the new manager is he will surely have more of the fans support then Steve Kean ever did. The new man is in a no-lose situation. 

Former favourite Sherwood early favourite

Early candidates for the position include many formers players. Tim Sherwood (right) currently on Tottenham coaching team and Match of the Day pundit and legendary goal scorer Alan Shearer, Craig Short, Colin Hendry, Gary Flitcroft, Tim Flowers, Henning Berg, Chris Sutton, Paul Dickov and even Robbie Saavge are are all linked with the position. Former managers Paul Ince, Greame Souness and Kenny Dalglish are also linked. Even Harry Redknapp is linked however this one will not happen for me.

Selected List of betting :

Tim Sherwood 11/8

Alan Shearer 2/1  

Harry Redknapp 7/1

Mick McCarthy 10/1

Colin Hendry 16/1

Eric Black 16/1 

Alex McLeish 20/1

Gary Flitcroift 20/1 

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbank 20/1

Rafa Benitez 20/1

Paul Ince 20/1  

Roy Keane 25/1

Graeme Souness 33/1

Kenny Dalglish 33/1

Robbie Savage 40/1

Henning Berg 40/1 

Chris Sutton 40/1

Personally I am surprised Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's name has not been mentioned. He would be a good choice if they can persuade him to leave Molde.

Who is the best choice?

Weekend Tips

Plenty of action this week as we have a full set of football fixtures, Horse Racing from Chester,Newmarket,Haydock and Market Rasen, Rugby League Play-off semi-finals and the Ryder Cup. It promises to be a very exciting weekend of sport. 

Football:

This week I am looking towards a treble as the way to go. Everton have been playing really well of late and despite their defeat in mid-week to Leeds they still go into this one as favourites. For me Everton are going to have a terrific season and will challenge for top 4. David Moyes has done a wonderful job and I believe a top 6 finish I think is a cert. Players such as Marouane Fellani, Steven Pienaar, Nikica  Jelavic, Leighton Baines and Phil Jagielka have been immense. On the other hand Nigel Adkins's Southampton have struggled. Last weeks victory over Aston Villa was crucial. It was one that they simply had to win. However for me as I regularly express Aston Villa are poor and were there for the taking. I think the win with have done the confidence of the team the world of good although I just think Everton will be too strong. As ever with Southampton defensively they are very weak and they will be tormented by Everton whose movement and power will be too much. Skybet go 4/11 the Everton win.

Cisse is back on the goal trail

The second team in the treble is Newcastle. It is very rare that I back my own team however in this instance at 11/8 (SkyBet) that are just too tempting not to back. The Toon travel to Reading whose form of late has been awful. Their performance against Tottenham recently was so poor as similar to Southampton it was defensively that they were so susptical. The marking was poor and they gave far to much time and space to the Tottenham players. Despite their win in midweek I expect a side as strong as Newcastle to put them away. Papiss Cisse (left) scoring in midweek is great news for the Toon and will relive the tension of the striker waiting for his first goal. This too with Demba Ba already on terrific form  should provide nothing but nightmares for an already shaky Reading backline. 

The third and final team is that of Stoke (10/11-SkyBet). Stoke take on a Swansea side who bubble is bursting. Despite a great start to the season Swansea have lost their last two and an away trip to Stoke is always a physical and tough task as all the top teams have found out, with both Arsenal and Manchester City only managing draws at the Britannia. It will be interesting to see how Michael Laudrup's Swansea cope and if they are up for the fight or they will just crumble. 

Elsewhere I am tipping Arsenal to win the early game against Chelsea. The 6/5 (SkyBet) is a nice price and one worth going with. In their current form and at home, Arsenal have a great chance. Despite Chelsea being top of the League for me they have not been playing that well and today is their first real test this season. Lukas Podolski to score at any time 11/2 (SkyBet) is a wonderful bet. 

Other Premier League games that are intriguing is Fulham/Manchster City and Norwich/Liverpool. Fulham at home are very good and I think Manchester City could be in for a tough time. On the other hand Norwich/Liverpool is two teams who have started slowly. Both without a win however the pressure in on Brendan Rodgers here as Liverpool will still be expected to win this one. 

Bet of the day : Everton/Newcastle/Stoke treble @ 5/1 (SkyBet) . 

Lower League win Accumulator: Brighton/Bolton/Gillingham and Huddersfield @8/1 (SkyBet)

Long shot of the day: Fulham to beat Manchester City @7/2 (SkyBet)

Horse-Racing:

Having looked at the cards Newmarket is where the bets are. The main attraction is that of the The Cambridgeshire is at 3.40 and I am tipping Frankie Dettori's mount for Saeed Bin Suroor.

Win Bets:  Newmarket: 1.55 Excess Knowledge @ 8/1 (SkyBet) 

                 Newmarket: 3.00 Chachamaidee @11/2 (SkyBet)

EachWay: Newmarket: 3.40 Man of Action @16/1 (SkyBet)  

Rugby League: 

I am tipping St Helens to defeat Warrington is a thriller tonight to join Leeds in next weeks showcase.  They are 11/10 (SkyBet) to do just that and this is a nice price. 

Golf:

So Europe trail 5-3 after Day 1, a deficit which can be easily rectified. Europe are now out 5/2 to win the Ryder Cup. This is very tempting, as things can change very quickly. Todays foursomes are crucial as Europe must win a minimum of 2 in the morning session and in the afternoon session. Going into the afternoon at 9-7 down I would still fancy Europe but behind by more then 2 will be very tough indeed,  Looking at the quality of European golfer I am amazed that USA are as short as 2/5 after Day 1. This is far too short. 

Good Luck with all your bets this weekend. 

Weekend Tips

Another Weekend, another chance for more betting. Last week I thought Sunderland would have hung on. I was disappointed with the performance and think Adam Johnson was missed. This week there is another full set of fixtures as well as Rugby League play-offs and Horse-Racing from Newbury,Newmarket,Ayr and Catterick.

Football:

For me the best value for money bet in the Premier League is  Wigan to beat Fulham at home. Fulham are notorious for their form on the road. They really are a totally different side. I was impressed with them last week and in Dimitar Berbatov's performance. He is a very good signing for them that is for sure. Although I expect Wigan who have been playing well themselves to bag the points in this one. They collapsed last week at Old Trafford however Fulham are not of that standard. SkyBet go a generous 7/5 for the Wigan win which are very tempting odds.

There are some odds-on home-win that are looking good as well. Home win double for Chelsea/West Brom @ 11/10 (SkyBet) also looks a good punt. Stoke, like Fulham, are a different side away from home and Chelsea despite playing in mid-week should have too much. Reading will have to play a lot better then they did against Tottenham if they are to get anything at West Brom. A performance I can not see coming of the level needed to worry West Brom. West Brom getting back to winning ways a great shout.

Elsewhere the most interesting clash is at St Mary's. Southampton need a result and today is a great chance. Aston Villa are a poor side and are there for the taking. The reason I would not back Saints is the defence. They have been so poor of late I would not want to put my money on them. I am leaning towards a Saints victory and they are 7/5 (SkyBet) to do that but I will leave this one alone.

Tomorrow's games are very tough to call as it really is a Super Sunday. Manchester United must be favourites to beat Liverpool and I would call a United win @13/8 (SkyBet). SkyBet go 8/5 Liverpool and 23/10 the draw. Arsenal vs Manchester City is too close to call. I think that this is the first real test for this Arsenal side who have been very impressive at the start of the season. Being at home City should pick up the points however I am not too sure. SkyBet go 8/11 City and 7/2 Arsenal although I think 14/5 draw is great odds. I will be leaving both of these alone in terms of betting however it does promies to be quite a sunday.

Best Value bet : Wigan to beat Fulham @7 /5 (SkyBet)
                          West Brom/Chelsea double @ 11/10  (SkyBet)

Long-shot of the day: 3 draws: West Ham/Sunderland, Crystal Palace/Cardiff and Ipswich/Charlton @37/1 (SkyBet)

Both teams to score: Crewe/Leyton Orient, Yeovil/Sheffield Utd, Port Vale/Gillingham and York/Cheltenham @7/1 (SkyBet)

Win Accumulator: Leeds, Crawley Town, Notts County, Southend and Wycombe @37/1 (SkyBet)

Horse-Racing:

Win bets: 2.05 Newbury --- Lay Time @11/4 (SkyBet)
                2.35 Newbury --- Master of War @4/1 (SkyBet)

Each way 2.45 Newmarket --- Wellingrove @25/1 (SkyBet)
                 3.55 Newmarket --- Bernie the Bolt @10/1 (SkyBet)


Good luck with your bets.

Weekend Tips

What a week it has been. Andy Murray has won his first Grand Slam, the first Brit to do so for 76 years and England have started World Cup qualifying with 4 points from 6. However this is still a disappointment. Also the terrible findings of the Hillsborough disaster were released proving that football fans were not to blame, it will be interesting to see if Liverpool raise their game today.

Top flight football is back this week and so a full fixture list to chose from as well as Rugby League and horse-racing from Newcastle,Bath,Chester and Doncaster where Camelot goes for history. Last weeks' bet of the day came through despite Serena Williams giving me a scare. However my prediction of Djokovic would have changed after I knew about the delay, although can take nothing away from Murray he deserved it.

Football: 

Three points for O'Neill today

This week there is one game that for me stands out above the rest. It is the tea-time saturday match between Sunderland and Liverpool. Sunderland under the management of Martin O'Neill (left) are a very difficult team to play against. They have started the season solidly drawing away at Arsenal and home against an in-form Swansea side however their first win will surely happen today. The thing I like about Sunderland is the front three, in James McClean, Steven Fletcher and Adam Johnson they pose a very direct threat that will cause many teams problems throughout the season. For me this is a top-half front three. As a result I think Sunderland have goals in them, now when I compare this to Liverpool it is easy to see why the common sense must be a Sunderland win. Liverpool have struggled in their opening three games losing against West Brom (A) and Arsenal (H) and getting a draw against Manchester City (H). They won many plaudits for their performance against City however for me they were playing the best they could and City were at half-pace and used a strange team selection. I look at the Liverpool team and nothing would really worry me if I was Martin O'Neill. The front three of Luis Suarez, Fabio Borini and Raheem Sterling is weaker then that of Sunderland. The boy Sterling looks a great player with plenty of pace however none if them are what I would call goal scorers. Suarez is capable of great skill and incredible goals but is he going to score 20? I dont think so. This for me is Liverpool biggest problem. Both of their goals this season have come from set-pieces.The team does not have goals in them. As a team they create very little and even if they do they have no clinical striker to finish them. In fact for me they have no traditional striker at all now that they have let Andy Carroll go. This decision was an error, Carroll has not had the best of times at Anfield however as a Newcastle fan I know just how good he can be, given the service. This was the same as Alan Shearer. He was also a plan B. Liverpool have all small forwards and are unable to change the game. There is no power up front so arial threat is non existent. Now I know the same could be labelled at Barcelona however they are in a different league, literally and metaphorically, and the players they have are far superior to that of Liverpool. Sunderland are defensively organised and so a shut-out here is very likely. Also worryingly Steven Gerrard looks as if the years of carrying Liverpool and being the 'Roy of the Rovers' have finally taken their toll on him.

I understand what Brendan Rogers is trying to do however I do think he has made mistakes this season already and I do not see things getting any easier for him any time soon. Today will be emotionally charged for Liverpool due to the Hillsborough files however this match will do nothing to raise their spirits.

The records will show any team that struggles for goals will be battling relegation, now I do not think Liverpool will be in such trouble however talk of top 4 is laughable unless of some terrific signings in January and plenty of luck. For me they will be mid-table and they can have no complaint.

SkyBet go 12/5 a Sunderland win which is amazing odds and ones that should not be missed. SkyBet also go  11/10 Liverpool win and the draw is 12/5.

Bet of the day: Sunderland to beat Liverpool 12/5 (SkyBet)

Accumulator bet: Arsenal, Manchester United, Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Bournemouth @ 20/1 (SkyBet).

Longshot: Stoke to win at home to Manchester City @4/1 (SkyBet). Stoke a very tough place to go and Man City may be thinking of Real Madrid in mid-week.

Also maybe few pounds on Brendan Rogers to be the first manager sacked in the Premier League at 20/1.

Racing:

Camelot goes for history and I think he should do it. At 2/5 it is too short for me however it will be major shock if he fails.

Win bet: 1.50 @Doncaster- Invisible Man @4/1 (SkyBet)

Each-Way: 3.00 @Doncaster- Steps @10/1 (SkyBet)

Rugby League:

It is play-off weekend and so three matches left to bet on. Treble for me; Leeds, Hull and Warrington at 11/10 (SkyBet).

Good luck with your bets today.