ANDY MURRAY has the perfect reason to beat David Ferrer in this afternoon's Sony Open Final in Miami.
Do so and he'll become world No.2 ahead of Roger Federer, giving him easier draws in the Grand Slams.
Those who took my pre-tournament advice of backing the Scot outright at around 4.6 can now lay-off if they choose at around 1.37 which ensures a nice profit either way.
I also said in my pre-tournament article I expected a better showing from Ferrer this week and he was the likely semi-finalist. I didn’t expect Novak Djokovic to fall to Tommy Haas which allowed Ferrer a shot at the final which he took.
It’s Ferrer’s second Masters 1000 final on outdoor hard following his loss to Murray in Shanghai in 2011 and the Spaniard is yet to beat the Scot on an outdoor hard court so far in four meetings.
Murray is playing in his 11th outdoor hard court Masters 1000 final and these have rarely gone longer than two sets, with just two of his previous 10 making the distance.
He won seven of those 10 previous finals and six of them in straight sets and I think he’ll get the job done against Ferrer in two sets.
Neither finalist had really been at their best until Murray produced some excellent tennis in sets two and three against Gasquet and under the watchful eye of Ivan Lendl I expect him to continue that form and not let Ferrer in with a chance.
The Spaniard capitalised on a dip on serve from Haas on Friday and the nervy Ferrer might start slowly again, having lost the opening set in each of his last two matches. He got away with it against the German and Jurgen Melzer but may not against a higher calibre of opponent.
Only once since 2005 has the Miami final gone to a deciding set and I don’t see that record changing
Recommended Bet
Back Murray to beat Ferrer 2-0 at 1.98
Milesey (Betfair)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
http://scores.espn.go.com/golf/leaderboard?tour=pga
Shell Houston Open
LEADER -11
T3 Ben Crane @ 176.0 -10
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T21 Phil Mickelson @ 18.5 -6
T21 Graham DeLaet @ 120.0 -6
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Just a reminder, if you followed the golf tips we are still in the running for a big winner or at least a place. Fingers crossed for BEN CRANE 175/1 later !
Milesey
Bud cauley 25/1 ew milesey for golf get on it
hahaha ;) ;) don’t need to get on it, hopefull BEN CRANE can at least give me a place @ 175/1. MICKELSON and DELAET not finished yet either ;) ;)
Milesey
Im on Murray in straight sets.
Golf I’ve still got Bradley E/W, had have invested some of my Gerrard winnings on two singles
Hass at 4/1
Oostuizhen 7/1
Murray struggling