BRITISH No.1 Andy Murray continues his US Open build-up on Wednesday with a second-round clash at the Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati.
The 24-year-old Scot, who won the event in 2008, suffered a shock straight-sets defeat last week in Montreal to the ever-improving Kevin Anderson of South Africa.
Therefore with the final Grand Slam of the year fast approaching he will be doubly determined to get a decent workout at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event in Ohio.
After a first-round bye Murray goes in against Argentine David Nalbandian. On paper he should beat the world No.66 whose best days are behind him. However, their fifth career meeting is being played on hard court rather than paper.
For the record the pair are tied at two wins apiece but the Scot has won two of their three hard court clashes. Both were in 2010 and brought Murray level on their head to head.
Nalbandian, although 29, will be no pushover but if Murray's on the ball he should advance comfortably. The Scot is 3-10 with Stan James while Nalbandian is 3-1 with Sportingbet.
Murray should advance in two sets (8-11, William Hill, Bodog, Blue Square, Betfred and others) but I fancy his opponent to nick a set. Murray 2-1 is 16-5 with Sportingbet and that price has to be worth a look.
Elsewhere, world No.1 Novak Djokovic, winner in Montreal and sweeping everyone before him, should breeze past American Ryan Harrison in their first career meeting.
The Serbian, who has lost just once in 2010 in 54 matches, is 1-20 with Sportingbet, 19-year-old world No.78 Harrison is 14-1 at Bet365.
Recommendation
2-1 Murray
(16-5, sportingbet)
