AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 2

So many rumours around today, players injured, sick, don't like the heat ( so why go to Australia in the summer ?) etc. Hard to know where to start.

Daniela Hantuchova was sick and this has been reported on plenty of forums, but I think that was a few days ago. She was at the players party on Sunday, trained Monday and is also playing doubles, so I think it is a fair assumption that she is feeling better.

However, her 16 yo opponent, has come through 3 rounds of qualifying, beating the number one seed in Kateryna Bondarenko and makes very few unforced errors, so a small bet, at a big price , cannot be too wrong.

Olivier Rochus IS under the weather, he faces young Aussie Chris Guccione, who is something of a one trick pony, having a MASSIVE serve and not much else, but it is a pretty good trick and Rafa Nadal rates it the best in the world. Once again a small bet, at big odds, about an inform player, facing a sick opponent.

Blake and Moya meet again, this was discussed in great detail, just two days ago, so no point in going over old ground, just scroll down and read. Blake won in 3 that day, as predicted, think he will emerge victorious again, probably dropping one set, which is the norm when these two meet.

Finally, I like Arnaud Clement to beat Xavier Malisse. Yes, the Belgian should be a small favourite, he won in Chennai, beating Nadal en route and looked very impressive, but, there is always a but, no way should the Frenchman be such a huge price.

Malisse is only 4-5 at the Australian Open, Clement has beaten a young Federer here twice and made the final in 2001. He took a tournament on a US hardcourt, in the summer, beating Hewitt, Safin and Murray and is very much at home on this surface. He is my strongest bet of the day, I consider the odds real value, win or lose.

1 point Alize Cornet to beat Hantuchova 4.40 Betdaq.

2 points Guccione to beat Olivier Rochus 2.51 Pinnacle.

1 point Blake to beat Moya 3-1 sets 3.60 + exchanges.

3 points Clement to beat Malisse 2.90 Betfair.

All of these are likely to be available at a little higher on the exchanges, nearer the start.

Good Luck.