Rogers Cup Betting: Consistency the Kei

"Both of these players have been coached by Brad Gilbert so they’ll know what to expect today and I favour Kei because his counter punching style should be very effective on these slow hard courts against a player who relies on a big serve and forehand to win his points."

In-form Sean Calvert tells us why the big-serving Sam Querrey is worth opposing against Kei Nishikori this afternoon over in Toronto.

It was another successful day at the Rogers Cup on Tuesday, with my one recommended bet eventually proving a winner.

Tommy Haas should have been heading for the locker room after two sets against David Nalbandian, but he blew match points in a second set tie break that he eventually lost 13-11 and the German did well to refocus and take the decider.

Wednesday in Toronto is the day where what's left of the top stars play their opening matches and Andy Murray begins his campaign against little Flavio Cipolla at around 8pm UK time on Stadium Court.

I'm not sure how much of an appearance we're likely to get from Andy in this tournament, given his exertions at Wimbledon last week, but he couldn't ask for a more comfortable-looking opening match than this one.

Cipolla wins his matches with his opponent's errors and a crafty game of slices and patience, which won't beat someone like Murray.

If I was betting on this, I'd be tempted by Murray -5.5 games on the handicap at around 2.1011/10.

The bet I do like today is for Kei Nishikori to shock Sam Querrey at a very backable 2.285/4.

Kei played surprisingly well on the grass at the Olympics last week and a return to hard courts will suit him even more.

Querrey is favourite, as he is in good form and more attuned to hard courts having won in Los Angeles and reached the semis in Washington, but he's played a lot of tennis lately and this match-up might be tough for Big Sam.

Both of these players have been coached by Brad Gilbert so they'll know what to expect today and I favour Kei because his counter punching style should be very effective on these slow hard courts against a player who relies on a big serve and forehand to win his points.

That style failed against Alex Dolgopolov in Washington and it could well do again with the usually consistent, more reliable, ground strokes of the world number 17.

It could well be a close affair and their current head-to-head reads 1-1, with Querrey winning on grass, as you would expect in their last meeting, while Nishikori took the honours on a hard court back in 2008.

We've seen so far that the man who makes fewer errors has come through most of the time on these Toronto courts and I would expect that to be Nishikori today, unless Sam has a day where he serves exceptionally well and hits the lines.

Recommended Bet

Back Nishikori to beat Querrey at 2.285/4

Follow Sean on Twitter @seancalvert1

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Jacques Kallis: New hair, old consistency

South Africa / Frank Gregan / 21 March 2011 / Leave a Comment

"I knew you were a Jacques of all trades but I didn't expect you to be able to make your hair grow back"

"You can imagine Kallis, Bollinger and Warne doing a mean rendition of Gloria Gaynor's 'I am what I am' on karaoke night!"

The class, talent and resilience at the crease is there as it always has been but there's something a little bit different about Jacques Kallis in this World Cup. Frank Gregan investigates.

Jacques Kallis' batting average is just about nudging 30 and his bowling figures have been steady rather than sparkling during this World Cup. He's done ok but if he hits top form in the next couple of weeks then South Africa, the perennial bottlers, could be crowned World Champions.

There's every chance that he'll come good. Let's face it, he's proved he doesn't lack courage by stepping into the dressing room with a new head of hair! He had to have given his team-mates prior notice, he couldn't have just rocked up looking like Jon Bon Jovi, having said goodbye to them looking like Willie Thorne!

Perhaps not, perhaps he fronted it and just waltzed in and said "Hey fellas look, my hair grew back last night!" They say that playgrounds can be cruel. They are what they are, child's play compared to the dressing room where everything is fair game for a ribbing.

But it seems attitudes are changing. There's no longer any shame attached to fighting baldness with a little bit of help from a bedside rug. These days rolling around clinging to your sides whilst begging a team-mate to take off his wig before you soil yourself still happens but the 'wigee' brushes off the contempt. Syrups are now cool!

They're worn almost like a badge of honour and because they're no longer glued on (but woven in) and called a transplant, the 'wigee' is under the misconception that they're acceptable. But let's not kid ourselves, they're not real and if Kallis hadn't had it done, he would have been joining the 'swimming cap club!'

Of course he's not the first and he won't be the last. Doug Bollinger came in for heaps of 'gentle abuse' when his syrup slipped around like a curling stone recently. Has it deterred him? Not a chance. And why should it when one of the greatest Australian cricketers of all time is the leader of the baldy pack? "Hi, my name's Shane Warne - I've had a hair transplant and I don't give a monkeys!" Okay he's a bit more subtle than that but there's no embarrassment, au contraire. You can imagine Kallis, Bollinger and Warne doing a mean rendition of Gloria Gaynor's 'I am what I am' on karaoke night!

Whatever happened to taking the passage of time on the chin and growing old gracefully?

I'm probably just jealous. I've had a load of problems with my teeth from colliding with a goalpost to enduring a gum disease without treatment for ten days whilst on a military operation that has left me looking rough. I went bald at 35 and now I'm in my early fifties, I'm living proof of 'going to seed!'

All of these things could be fixed cosmetically but why? It's the thin end of the wedge. What would be next? Botox, liposuction, colonic irrigation and a gastric band? Sportsmen have gone crazy about image. Narcissism is the new gluttony! Who needs a Porsche when you can have a wig!

I remember a footballer telling me a story of how he got sacked by his manager (who is now a Premier League manager) for wearing red football boots! That kind of despotic management has been consigned to history. Players now take the lead and fashion is all the rage in sporting arenas. Some cricketers go out into the middle wearing more bling than a New York rapper!

Anyway, I digress. Jacques Kallis is back in action on Friday against New Zealand and he will be hoping to inspire the Proteas to a place in the semi-finals. South Africa are [1.39] whilst the Kiwis are available at [3.5]. The game will probably be closer than the market suggests and may well go down to the wire. And who knows, the difference between the two sides may be a hair's breadth. If so, Jacques will be able to step up to the plate!

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