Stan Hey: 6-5 Against

Saturday 21 November 2009 01:00 GMT
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In theory it should be a treat for London to host the ATP World Tour Finals, featuring the top eight men's singles players – well, top seven plus Sweden's Robin Soderling. What makes it tricky is finding a player who isn't physically exhausted or mentally switched-off.

Andrew Murray will try for an upbeat end to the year but he's in the toughest group, facing Roger Federer, who rarely goes out with a whimper, and the big-hitting leftie Fernando Verdasco. At least Juan Martin del Potro's recent form puts him in the "exhausted" category.

In the other foursome, Novak Djokovic, last year's champion, has been piling up wins so may not have much left, while Rafael Nadal still seems in recovery mode. A chance is taken with the wiry Russian Nikolay Davydenko, runner-up last year and recent winner of the Shanghai Masters. £10 win, at 11-1, Betfred.

If tennis players are tired, spare a thought for those golfers in Dubai who must next fly to China for the WGC-World Cup at Mission Hills. The 28-country event features two players per team, with Ian Poulter and Ross Fisher representing England the 4-1 favourites with Ladbrokes. I like the Australian pair, Robert Allenby and Stuart Appleby – £10 win, 14-1, William Hill.

Liverpool and Manchester City meet today, two out-of-form teams praying for a revival. A draw – £5 at 12-5, Ladbrokes – looks likely. Just don't ask Mark Hughes about signing Thierry Henry, now as welcome as a fart in a pantry to City's Irish contingent.

*No luck with the gee-gees at Cheltenham last weekend where both Tatenen and Fosters Cross added UR, "unseated rider", to their form.

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