Davis Cup Final 30th Nov - 2nd Dec

[Mr Intensity]

Final (Country): Winner Thursday 20 December 2007 Related events...Winner

Best odds/All odds USA 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.25 1.28 1.3 1.25 1.24 1.28 1.25 1.2 1.28 1.28 1.25 1.31 1.3 1.28 Russia 3.75 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.4 3.9 4 3.5 3.5 4 3.5 3.25 3.8 3.9 4.1 4

Roddick v Tursunov: Match Result Friday 30 November 2007 - 21:00 GMT Related events...Match ResultHandicap BettingSet Betting- - -1st Set Correct ScoreLose 1st Set and Win MatchTotal Games 1st SetWin 1st Set

Best odds/All odds Roddick, A 1.2 1.2 1.25 1.25 1.22 1.2 1.17 1.25 1.22 1.2 1.25 1.25 1.12 Tursunov, D 4.33 3.95 3.75 3.85 4.25 4.33 4.67 3.75 3.75 4.33 4 3.75 3

Blake v Youzhny: Match Result Friday 30 November 2007 - 22:15 GMT Related events...Match ResultHandicap BettingSet Betting- - -1st Set Correct ScoreLose 1st Set and Win MatchTotal Games 1st SetWin 1st Set

Best odds/All odds Blake, J 1.61 1.58 1.7 1.66 1.57 1.53 1.72 1.66 1.66 1.66 1.66 Youzhny, M 2.2 2.2 2.12 2.2 2.25 2.4 2 2.1 2.1 2.2 2.1

[Mr Intensity]

Re: Davis Cup Final 30th Nov - 2nd Dec YOUZHNY v Blake @ 2.4 Expekt 2.5pts Very nice price on what I consider to be a 50/50 match. H2H is 1-0 to Youzhny in the semis of the Davis Cup last yearbut that was in Russia on clay so decent advantage for Youzhny that time. Since then, Youzhny has had an excellent 2007. He peaked at 10 in the world in August actually at a time where he was starting to slump - he had a very average run from Cincinatti to Madrid. After that he seemed to find his form again in St Petersburg and Paris, gaining good wins over Gonzalez and Haas and running Murray extremely close. I see him coming into this match in good form and he has a good chance on this surface. Blake has had a pretty average year after what he achieved in 2006. He looked to be finding his form as usual in the US hardcourt swing reaching the final of Cincinatti, winning New Haven and 4th round of the US Open. But after losing that final set tie-break to Haas he has been pretty poor. He's lost to T Johansson twice, Ancic, Karlovic and Gasquet and has struggled against guys he should have put away easily (Bkorkman, Mahut). He also really struggles when going to a 5th set - the one I remember is against Mirnyi at Wimbledon 06 where he was pathetic. Technically, I like the way this match up works for Youzhny. e should be able to control most of the backhand to backhand exchanges and it will probably be up to Blake to go for the winner in these which isn't in Blakes favour. On the forehand, Blake is more explosive and should have a decent advantage, it will be up to Youzhny to keep to Blakes backhand until he can really rip a forehand. On serve, slight edge to Blake, but both guys can attack a second serve, and I think that puts more pressure on Blake as Youzhny has the better defensive skills. Who has more pressure in this game? Blake at home could struggle, especially if he gets behind early. However, you'd expect USA to be 1-0 after Rodthingy and the crowd to be "pumped" so a lot of pressure on Youzhny. He has shown a lot of nerves before and that is a concern, but Tarpischev has come out and named him No. 1 for Russia which I think will be a big boost for him and he should come into this will a lot of confidence. Overall, expect a close match, with Blake having a better tie break record this year, but Youzhny having the edge if it goes to 5.