Rafael Nadal is aiming for his ninth ATP Monte Carlo title on the spin this week and the ‘King of Clay’ is a red-hot 1/2 favourite. Nadal was a fresh-faced 16-year-old when he was knocked out in the third round by Guillermo Coria in April 2003. Since then he has not last a match at the Monaco-based tournament winning a record-breaking eight consecutive times.

The Spaniard has been winning in style as well. Since that defeat Nadal has won 86 per cent of his games in straight sets. Rafa has lost just two games against R0ger Federer on clay in his career and beaten Novak Djokovic in 86 per cent of their clashes on the surface. The world number five has never lost to Andy Murray on the clay either.

On paper Nadal’s form is rock solid, on the clay it is even better. To celebrate Nadal’s mind-blowing success, here are ten events that happened last time he lost at Monte Carlo.

• Betting: Monte Carlo outright
  

1. This advert sparked a dance craze and sent ‘Make Luv’ by Room 5 and Oliver Cheatham to the top of the charts

2. All the cool kids wanted to get their hands on the latest in mobile technology – the Nokia 3300

3. Major Charles Ingram was on trial for allegedly cheating his way to a million through some clever coughing

4. Teenage hearts were broken as S Club 7 split up

5. David Beckham fell out with Alex Ferguson and left Manchester United for Real Madrid in a £25 million move

6. Eric Djemba Djemba came in to bolster Fergie’s midfield

7. England won the Six Nations and completed the Grand Slam. Then Jonny Wilkinson did this in the World Cup final against Australia

8. 60 per cent of One Direction hadn’t even been born

9. World number 396 Ben Curtis caused a shock and won the British Open with a score of one-under-par

10. Beyonce was busy doing this #Smokin

World number four Agnieszka Radwanska has pulled off one of the best tennis shots we have seen in a while at the Sony Open in Miami.

In the quarter-finals she defeated Kirsten Flipkens 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 and this is easily the shot of the match, if not the shot of the entire tournament.

It has everything a great tennis shot should have. The shot Radwanska originally plays puts her in a great position to win the point and then it all changes. The deflection off the top of the net, the blind swivel, the perfectly delicate back-hand giving your opponent no chance. Of course there is an element of luck but there is also a significant chunk of skill and technique that has to be admired.

The look on Flipkens’ face and disgusted manner in which she throws her racket on the floor makes the clip even more enjoyable.

Agnieszka Radwanska faces Serena Williams tonight in the semi-finals and is the 9/2 outsider to upset the tournament favourite.

• Betting: WTA Sony Open
  

Football

Gareth Bale goes in search of his 22nd goal for Tottenham tonight as Spurs travel to West Ham looking to leapfrog Chelsea in to third place. The Hammers are starting to struggle in the top tier after a promising start with just one win in their last eight games – and crucially just four goals.

The Welsh international scored at White Hart Lane in his side’s 3-1 home win earlier this season and is 3/1 to score first for his team tonight or 5/1 to get the game’s opening goal and cap off a miserable few weeks for Arsenal fan Piers Morgan.

Andre Villas-Boas side are unbeaten in their last 10 games and are a 6/5 shot in Paddy Power’s online betting but West Ham – for all their shortcomings – haven’t lost at home since the turn of the year and are 12/5 to pick up all three points.

Only a slip-up of Jennifer Lawrence proportions can deny Spurs the points here on their march to a Champions League spot.

• Betting: Spurs v West Ham 
• Betting: Football Coupon

We’ve already paid out on United to win the league and their latest odds of claiming league title number 20 are a Ronnie Corbett-short, 1/50.

Racing

Sprinter Sacre will be taken on by Tom George’s Mail De Bievre for the Champion Chase  after the trainer revealed that he will pay £17,500 to supplement the French import for the Cheltenham Festival.

The eight-year-old jumped superbly for a circuit before fading over the last half mile and his trainer is starting to get jiggy about giving last year’s Arkle winner and unbeaten chaser a run for his money in the ultimate 2m speed test at the festival.

We’re not under any pretence and we know it’s going to be an uphill struggle, but our horse does have an unbelievably high cruising speed and a good jump in him.

I think riding him positively over two miles will be just his cup of tea.

Today’s racing comes from Plumpton, Kempton and Wolverhampton.

• Betting: All Monday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Cheltenham 2013

Tennis

Novak Djokovic was busy pretending to save turtles for at a wildlife reserve in Dubai ahead of today’s ATP Dubai Championship which is being streamed live on PPtv.

The recent winner of the Aussie Open named the turtle he was holding ‘Leonardo’. “He was my favourite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle,” we’re guessing he said at some point, choosing the most anally retentive and pernickety of all the heroes in a half-shell.

That was a bizarre choice, but the idea of Nole winning his4th Dubai Championship title isn’t such a hard shell. Plus, if the final point in any match is an Ace or Double Fault, we will refund all losing in-running Match bets on that match!

• Betting: ATP Dubai Championship 
  

The offer:
We will refund losing match bets if your player loses in the 5th set!

Murray wasn’t exactly patting himself on the back after beating Federer in a Grand Slam for the very first time, describing his win as ” satisfying” and “nice” but no more.

This will be his third appearance in an Australian Open final and his sixth Grand Slam final. However, having broken his duck by winning last year’s US Open and following it up with an Olympic gold medal, he’s unlikely to fold the the way he did against Djokovic in the 2011 final in Melbourne.

Djokovic is looking to win his third Australian Open and his fourth in total to add to his 2011 Wimbledon and US Open wins.

Both players are playing their best tennis, they both look in great shape and for the first time they’ll both have the belief that they can win. With Nadal out injured, these are the two best players in the world right now.

Which all sounds like the perfect ingredients for a thrilling five-setter. As soon as that scoreboard reads two sets apiece you know someone’s getting their money back.

• Betting: Murray v Djokovic

By Aidan Elder | Australian Open

The sailing couldn’t have been more plain. Wonderfully and economically plain. If Andy, Judy and Ivan Lendl sat down at some point prior to the Australian Open and plotted an ideal path to glory, it surely wouldn’t have looked as carefree as this.

It’s been a cakewalk for Andy Murray (25) and circumstances are stacking up in his favour as he goes for back-to-back Grand Slam titles with his energy largely preserved.

Sure, Roger Federe rattled his cage a little in Friday’s 3-2 semi-final win but otherwise he’s in great shape.

Not only has Andy reached the final – dropping just two sets which went to tie-breakers – along the way but his main rival has had to scrap shining tooth and manicured nail for his place in the final.

In the five matches up to the semi-finals in this year’s Australian Open tournament:

• Murray has spent 90 minutes less on court than World No. 1 Djokovic but he’s been tested less than the Serbian. 

After Djokovic’s facile win over David Ferrer, Murray has now spent nearly six hours less on court, albeit with his semi-final to come. It’s nothing decisive, but if you’re engaging in some Al Pacino style ‘inches gathering’, it all adds to Murray’s cause.

Andy’s progress has been serene and littered with slightly less swearing than we’re used to. He has played 185 games in Melbourne this tournament winning more than 60 per cent of them.  

Murray’s dominance may not be obvious

Murray has only dropped two sets – both in the semi final – but his dominance may not be as obvious. Of the 20 sets he has played, he has won 13 of them by a margin of three of more games (65 per cent). Djokovic has dropped a hardly catastrophic three sets, but he has been pushed harder and more frequently. Of the 21 sets he has played, the top seed has won 48 per cent of them by a margin of three games or more.

By his own admission, Murray hasn’t been in peak form, but if this is now his standard when he’s not quite in the groove, he’s not doing much wrong. “You have to trust yourself that when you are tested, you’re going to play better tennis,” said Murray. “I’ve done a good job so far in this tournament. I can’t be disappointed with where my game’s at.”

There was some speculation that getting the major monkey off his back would relax him and bring about even higher standards. It’s far from conclusive and flawless, but the numbers suggests things are adding up in Andy’s favour, Another major win could be the start of building a formidable empire.

• Betting: Murray v Djokovic
• Murray on course for back-to-back Grand Slams

NET GAIN: Federer congratulates Murray after the Scot’s semi-final win

By Andrew Robinson

Andy Murray takes on Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open Men’s final on Sunday morning – so expect some tears – no matter what the result.

The Scot secured his passage to the final after a tense encounter with Roger Federer earlier on Friday but almost threw it away failing to serve out the match in the fourth set.

But Serbian Djokovic is looking to add to his recent dominance of the event, which he won in 2008, 2011 and 2012.

He’s been in great form in Melbourne, dispatching David Ferrer in double-quick time in the semi-final leaving the Spaniard wondering what happened to his hopes of a first Grand Slam win.

The World No 1 is 4/7 favourite to beat Murray, who is looking for his second Grand Slam win. If you think he can show the fight he did to win the US Open last year, then he’s on offer at 11/8 with Paddy Power.

Of course, Murray goes into the game in the knowledge that he has beaten Djokovic on the biggest stage, when he took the US Open in five sets last season.

The Aussie Open has been one for five-setters this season and if you think this will go deep into the reserves of the players, you can have a flutter at 4/11 with Paddy Power who have been refunding on all 5th set losers in their Money-Back Special at the Australian Open that more than 3.5 sets will be played.

Murray is 6/1 to win three sets to two, while the Serb is 5/1 to pull off the same result. At the US Open final at 2012 Murray got off to a flyer in New York taking the first two sets. A repeat of the in Sunday’s final is 11/10 with Paddy Power.

Whatever happens, it’s going to make some great viewing on Sunday morning.

• Betting: Andy Murray v Novak Djokovic
• Murray in great shape for Djokovic challenge

MURR’ TO COME – Murray celebrates his third round win by looking to the heavens. And probably swearing. (Pic: Eurosport)

By Aidan Elder | Chief Sports Writer

• MURRAY PROGRESSES TO THE 4th ROUND
• AN INCREDIBLE 27 REFUNDS THANKS TO OUR 5th SET MONEY-BACK SPECIAL
• DJOKOVIC STRUGGLES PAST WAWRINKA

There was a lot of swearing, grumpy cries of anguish and looking forlornly to the heavens. Yes, it was pretty much business as usual for Andy Murray at the Australian Open as he brushed aside Ricardas Bernakis in straight sets to book his place in the last 16 at Melbourne.

Despite the seemingly straightforward progress, Murray (25) still spoke with all the enthusiasm of a death row inmate in his post-match press conference.

“Every player wants to hit the ball well every day if they can but the reality is it isn’t always going to happen. So I’m aware I’ll need to improve,” he told the media before going on the offensive to rightly point out “but you also don’t necessarily want to be playing your best tennis the first rounds of a grand slam or of any tournament.”

In truth, it’s all looking pretty good for the Scot. With Juan-Martin del Potro suffering a shock defeat at the hands of Jeremy Chardy, his side of the draw looks easier than it might have been. In the fourth round on Monday morning (5am-ish), he’ll face Gilles Simon, a player he has beaten nine times in their 10 meetings.

It’s all looking good for Paddy Power customers too. Thanks to our 5th Set Money-Back Special, they’ve benfitted from a whopping 27 REFUNDS – a figure so startling, it has to be expressed in capital letters with bolding.

The Money-Back Special runs all the way to the end of the tournament, so that number could swell even further over the next seven days.

Murray is still on course to face Roger Federer in the last four, but to do so the Fed Express needs to overcome rising star, Milos Raonic and then Tsonga/Gasquet – all matches likely to test the stamina many people aren’t certain he still has.

No Djok’ for the defending champ

In contrast, world number one, Novak Djokovic had to dig deep to emerge victorious from his epic encounter against Stanislas Wawrinka. Nole pulled through, but only after having to withstand immense pressure from the Swiss player. The likely tests from Thomas Berdych and then probably David Ferrer will feel a little tougher after such exertions. After starting the week as the Evens favourite, the Serbian star has drifted to 11/10 as he looks to move level with Andre Agassi and Roger Federer with four Aussie Open titles in the Open era.

Further adding to the rosiness of his garden, Murray has spent just five and half hours on court for his three matches so far, a paltry amount of time he may feel the benefit of towards the end of next week. Anything other than straight sets victories will raise an eyebrow in the early rounds of a Grand Slam, but not only has Murray yet to drop a set, he hasn’t yet been handed the mild inconvenience of being dragged into a tie-breaker.

Murray’s solid but unspectacular progress is reflected in the minimal price change for him to win back to back Slams. He started the week as the 11/4 second favourite and with three wins under his elasticated waistband, he has been trimmed to 9/4.

Football

Today is not just a normal Tuesday because it is getting a healthy sprinkling of FA Cup magic. There are nine fixtures in all tonight as 18 teams look to progress to the fourth round of the cup via a replay. Six Premier League teams are in action including an all top-flight affair as West Brom host QPR.

Wigan avoided a shock defeat in their first game with Bournemouth at the DW Stadium. Now back at Deans Court Bournemouth look great value to surprise the Latics who are struggling for wins. Stoke and Sunderland are both odds on to beat Crystal Palace and Bolton respectively whereas Fulham have a tricky test away to Blackpool, with the winner facing either West Ham or Manchester United in round four.

Man City are the 4/1 favourites to lift old ‘big ears’ with defending champions Chelsea 9/2 to retain their crown. Brighton and Leicester are the biggest priced sides outside of the top-flight at 80/1.

• FA Cup replays: Banana skins galore for the Premier League teams
• Betting: FA Cup coupon
• Betting: FA Cup outright

Tennis

Andy Murray has laid down his marker for the Australian Open in Melbourne taking little over an hour and a half to beat Robin Haase in straight sets. The British number one won 6-3 6-1 603 in a one-sided affair as he took apart his Dutch opponent. The US Open and Olympic champ will now face Joao Sousa in round two.

You can watch and bet on all the games down under live on PPtv.

Murray is the 11/4 second favourite to win another Grand Slam with Novak Djokovic the clear favourite at 10/11 in the market. 

• Betting: Men’s Australian Open
• Betting: Ladies: Australian Open  

Snooker

World number two Judd Trump takes to the baize this afternoon in the Masters Snooker as he takes on Barry Hawkins at the Alexandra Palace. The 2011 UK Championship winner is aiming for another successful year as he attempts to take back the number one ranking spot off Mark Selby.

Later on this evening Shaun Murphy is a red-hot odds-on favourite to progress to the next round by beating world number 13 Ricky Walden.

If there is a century break scored in the final frame of any match, Paddy Power will refund losing single bets on that game.

• Betting: Masters snooker coupon

Racing

Today’s racing comes from Lingfield Park, Ffos Las and Wolverhampton.

George Baker’s Double Dash won on his only previous run at Lingfield. Which means he could be unbeatable on this track or, like Prince William, he may just have struck it lucky on his first try. In which case we suggest he enjoys the trophy he has and doesn’t push his luck. Maybe suggesting the trophies sister might want to join them on his birthday. Double Dash can make it two for two in the 3.35pm and crown off a successful days racing.

• Betting: All Monday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

Football

Andy Gray and a whole host of punters crashed in on the 4/1 Manchester double yesterday as the top two teams continued to rack up the points. League leaders United beat Liverpool 2-1 at Old Trafford with Robin Van Persie scoring his 21st goal in all competitions this season. City kept the gap at seven points by beating Arsenal 2-0 thanks to goals from James Milner and Edin Dzeko.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s side are the clear 2/7 favourites to lift the title with City 10/3 to retain their crown. Roberto Mancini believes if they are within four or five points of their closest rivals come the Manchester Derby on April 6th then they can still win the league.

Three goals in the last nine minutes meant Reading came back from 2-0 down to beat West Brom 3-2 at home and move within three points of safety. Aston Villa’s 1-0 defeat against Southampton drops them into the bottom three and Paul Lambert’s side are now odds-on for relegation at 10/11.   

• Betting: Premier League outright
• Betting: Premier League relegation
• Betting: Premier League coupon

Tennis

Defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has established himself as the best player in the world and is even money with Paddy Power to win his third Australian Open on the bounce – his fourth in total. Serena Williams is back to her brilliant best and is Paddy Power’s 5/6 favourite to win her sixth Australian Open title in Melbourne in an event you can watch and bet live on PPtv. 

• Betting: Men’s Australian Open
• Betting: Ladies: Australian Open  

Snooker

Reigning Masters champ Neil Robertson survived an early scare to get through to round two of the tournament. The Thunder from Down Under trailed Ding Junhui 5-3 but recovered to rack up some healthy breaks of 100, 62 and 90 to win 6-5.

The action from the Alexandra Palace continues today from 1.00pm with John Higgins facing Ali Carter and Stephen Maguire taking on Graeme Dott.

If there is a century break scored in the final frame of any match, Paddy Power will refund losing single bets on that game.

• Betting: Masters snooker coupon

Racing

Paddy smashed through the half-a-million euro barrier on Saturday and has refunded  €575k to punters with his Money-Back madness on all losers in two races every Saturday in January.

The boss must have been on another sugar rush at the weekend as he emptied his pockets to punters and refunded the 12.50pm at Lingfield and the 2.25pm at Warwick in another Saturday bonanza.

Somehow Paddy is still getting away with it and has promised to refund two more races on the last two Saturdays of January. With more than half-a-million already given back to punters Paddy is doing a sterling job of curing those January blues.

Today’s racing comes from Lingfield Park, Plumpton and Wolverhampton.

Marco Botti has been banging in the winners of late and has three runners at Wolverhampton today. The Newmarket trainer has saddled five winners from 15 runners for a 33 per cent strike rate in the last fortnight and will look to add to that tally with First Sargeant in the 3.20pm, Cheektocheek in the 3.50pm and Shockingdancer in the 4.20pm.

• Betting: All Monday’s cards, form and odds
• Betting: Future Racing & Cheltenham 2013

SWEET SUCC-SIS: The Williams sisters won doubles gold at the Olympics (pic: Inpho)

By Sean Goff | Tennis

Serena Williams is back to her brilliant best and is Paddy Power’s 5/6 favourite to win her sixth Australian Open title in Melbourne.

The World No 3 rolled her ankle in the tournament last season forcing her to withdraw and will be doubly-determined to pick up the season’s opening Grand Slam to add to the 15 (and 47 career titles) already on her mantelpiece.

The American – who won the season-opening Brisbane International tournament earlier this month recording a serve of  200kph (124mph) in the process - is on a mission to become the oldest World No.1 again since Chris Evert (aged 30 years 11 months) in 1985.

Williams is the reigning Wimbledon, Olympics and US Open champion and will take some stopping in this tournament. 

Last season’s French Open champion and World No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova was forced to pull out of the Brisbane International to rest a collarbone injury. But the chief grunter has a history of succeeding in major tournaments with little match practice. She pulled out of Brisbane last year but went on to make the final of the Australian Open before losing to Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarusian World No. 1 is 9/2 to retain her title in Melbourne and the top seed and defending champion in the women’s draw is on course for a possible semi-final clash with Williams.

Former World No.1  Caroline Wozniacki  made a shaky start to the new WTA season with a shock defeat to Kazakhstan qualifier Ksenia Pervak (2-6 6-3 7-6) in the first round of the Brisbane International.

Cheered on by boyfriend and World No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy the Dane now heads to Sydney to get in some match practice ahead of the Australian Open where she’s a 66/1 shot.

China’s Li Na will look to her 2011 form – when winning the French Open and making it to the Australian Open final. At 18/1 with Paddy Power she could be a bit of value to lift the trophy if rediscovering her form of two seasons ago.

• Betting: Ladies Australian Open outright

GREAT SCOT: Andy Murray is out for more Grand Slam glory (pic: Getty Images)

By Sean Goff | Sports Reporter

Defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has established himself as the best player in the world and is even money with Paddy Power to win his third Australian Open on the bounce – his fourth in total.

Britain’s Andy Murray – fresh from his season-opening win in the ATP Brisbane International a fortnight ago is Paddy Power’s second favourite at 11/4 as the Scot looks for his second Grand Slam after last year’s US open heroics.

Djokovic comes under orders against World No. 60 Paul-Henri Mathieu in the first round on Monday while Murray faces World No. 53 Robin Hasse later that night.   Murray now has 23 ATP events to go alongside his London 2012 Olympic gold medal and US Open title and has a new-found confidence and serenity now that the Major monkey is off his back.

World No.3 Murray spent the off-season training in Miami and said:

I probably just feel a little bit more relaxed maybe the last few weeks than I normally do a few weeks out from a Grand Slam. I prepared very well in Miami and trained hard to get myself ready for the new season, and I hope can be successful here.

Australian Open: Men’s draw

Despite 2009 winner Rafa Nadal (26) crying off with a virus – the competition in Melbourne is going to be fierce and the evergreen Roger Federer will have his supporters at 5/1 with Paddy Power given his record at this event. A semi-finalist or better since 2004 and rediscovered his best  form last season.

China’s biggest tennis export Kei ‘Special Kei’ Nishikori could be the surprise package this season. The Japanese youngster got to the quarter-finals of the Aussie Open last season after beating – Jo Wilfried Tsonga – a 40/1 poke this time around – in the third round that was watched by 55 million in Japan.

The 23-year-old already has Djokovic’s scalp to his name and is targeting the Top 10 this year – from World No 19 – and is 125/1 with Paddy Power to go two rounds better and deliver the each-way money.

• Betting: Men’s Australian Open outright

Football

The transfer window is wide open and there’s more than a little draught coming through. First up Mario Balotelli and Roberto Mancini’s bust-up. There was plenty of handbags at City’s training ground yesterday after a naughty tackle from Balotelli on Scott Sinclair and it could result in Super Mario heading elsewhere. Despite his maverick behaviour, Zlatan Ibrahimovic thinks Mario is the only man who can win the title for City.

• Here’s a reminder of Mario’s antics and his undoubted talent – From the sublime to the ridiculous 

Elsewhere West Ham have signed Joe Cole from Liverpool and Chelsea have agreed a three-and-a-half year contract with Chelsea. As long as all the paperwork is completed by midday both players will be available for their respective FA Cup third round ties at the weekend. Chelsea face Southampton in an all-Premier League clash and West Ham host Manchester United at Upton Park on Sunday.

According to the morning reports Frank Lampard could leave Chelsea this month despite knocking in three goals in his last four games and appearing to have saved his Stamford Bridge career. Manchester United are rumoured to be in line for a sensational swoop for the England midfielder while America and China both look like equally possible opportunities.

• What’s next for Lampard if Chelsea don’t play ball?

Remember when the FA Cup was cool? It walked with that swagger and had its pick of any girl in all the coolest nightclubs. But somewhere along the line it started smelling a bit funny and wearing ill-fitting suits that were two sizes too big. The Champions League and the Premier League just stopped returning its calls. Well, ol’ jug ears is back in town this week with plenty of lower league clubs looking to upset the big boys.

Mansfield will host Liverpool, Aston Villa take on Ipswich and Brighton can take advantage of Newcastle’s troubles at the Falmer Stadium. There are plenty of room for cupsets and four all-top flight matches in a footballing feast of a weekend.

• Betting: FA Cup matches
  

Tennis

Andy Murray is in the semi-finals of the Brisbane International after he swept aside Denis Istomin in straight sets. The Scot faces Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori in the semi-final as he looks to retain his title. Murray has a 2-0 record over the 23-year-old and will be looking to build momentum before heading to Melbourne for the Australian Open in a few weeks.

Novak Djokovic is the best player in the world and the 5/4 favourite for the first Grand Slam of the season. But Murray broke his major duck last year winning the US Open and could prove to be a profitable bet at 11/5. The evergreen Roger Federer will always have his supporters at 4/1 but Rafael Nadal won’t be smashing any thunderous returns from the base-line in Australia because he has a nasty sounding virus.

• Betting: ATP Brisbane international
  
• Betting: Australian Open

Racing

Paddy Power went a bit bananas on New Year’s Day as he emptied his pockets to the tune of €150,000 as punters cashed in on our Money-Back ALl Losers campaign. He had the racing world buzzing on Tuesday as we refunded all losers in the 1.05 at Musselburgh and the 3.15 at Exeter. And with the New Year resolutions well out of the window Paddy is at it again this weekend.

• Keep calm and punt as normal – It’s Money-Back All Losers
  

Racing today comes from Lingfield, Musselburgh, Wolverhampton and Dundalk. Veloce in the 12.40pm at Musselburgh is the most napped horse in today’s Racing Post. The Donald McCain-trained five-year-old came second in a hot-looking maiden hurdle last time out and if that form holds out he has a great chance.

• Betting: All of Friday’s racing
  

Football

Alex Ferguson’s ‘Operation Rafa’ continues to go well at Stamford bridge as Chelsea crumbled to a 1-0 defeat against bottom of the table QPR. Rangers picked up a crucial three points thanks to Shaun Wright-Phillips goal ten minutes before the final whistle.

Harry Redknapp’s side are now level on points with Reading and just five points away from safety. The Hoops are 17/10 to avoid relegation. Meanwhile it means Chelsea are a staggering 14 points off the top of the league and have drifted to 12/1 to lift the Premier League crown.

Elsewhere Everton came back from 1-0 down to beat Newcastle 2-1 thanks to goals from Leighton Baines and Victor Anichibe at St James’ Park. It means Newcastle have lost three league games on the spin and are just two points from safety. They’ve been trimmed to 7/1 for the drop with Demba Ba on his way out of the club as well.

In the other game Liverpool picked up their third win in four games, thumping Sunderland 3-0 with Luis Suarez picking up another couple of goals for his tally. The Black Cats are 7/1 for the drop with Liverpool 7/1 for a top four finish. Suarez has been cut to 5/2 to finish the season as the league’s top goalscorer.

• Betting: Premier League relegation
  
• Betting: Premier League top four finish
• Betting: To avoid Premier League relegation
• Betting: Premier League outright
• Betting: Premier League top goalscorer

Tennis

Reigning champion Andy Murray faces local hero John Millman on Thursday as the ATP Brisbane International kicks off the 2013 tennis season ahead of the Australian Open on January 14.

Millman is a rising star on the Aussie circuit  given a wildcard into the Australian Open after taking his ranking from 541 to 199 in the past 12 months.

The Scot won this tournament on debut last year – his 22nd ATP event to go alongside his London 2012 Olympic gold medal and US Open title  - beating this year’s fourth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3 in the final.

Despite 2009 winner Rafa Nadal crying off with a virus – the competition in Melbourne is going to be fierce.

Defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has put his court jokes and mimicry behind and established himself as the best player in the world. Paddy Power make the Serbian their 5/4 favourite to make it three Aussie Opens out of three while the evergreen Roger Federer will have his supporters at 4/1.

• Betting: ATP Brisbane international
  
• Betting: Australain Open

Racing

Paddy had the racing world buzzing on Tuesday with his Money Back Special All losers on the 1.05 at Musselburgh and the 3.15 at Exeter on New Year’s Day. And Paddy will be whipping out the monster offer once again on Saturday’s racing.

Racing today comes from Ayr, Lingfield, Wolverhampton and Thurles.

Roger Varian’s Sporting Gold in the 2.50pm at Lingfield is the most napped horse of the day in the Racing Post.

• Betting: All of Thursday’s racing  

TAN-TASTIC: US Open champ Andy Murray catches some rays in Austalia (Getty Images)

By Andrew Robinson

Reigning champion Andy Murray faces local hero John Millman on Thursday as the ATP Brisbane International kicks off the 2013 tennis season ahead of the Australian Open on January 14.

Millman (23) is a rising star on the Aussie circuit  given a wildcard into the Australian Open after taking his ranking from 541 to 199 in the past 12 months.

Top seed Murray – who broke his Grand Slam duck in the US Open last season is 11/5 second favourite with Paddy Power in the first tennis Major of the season in two weeks time.

The Scot won this tournament on debut last year – his 22nd ATP event to go alongside his London 2012 Olympic gold medal and US Open title  - beating this year’s fourth seed Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-1, 6-3 in the final.

The World No.3 has spent the off-season training in Miami and said:

I probably just feel a little bit more relaxed maybe the last few weeks than I normally do a few weeks out from a Grand Slam. I prepared very well in Miami and trained hard to get myself ready for the new season, and I hope can be successful here.

Canadian Milos Raonic is the No 2 seed in Brisbane and faces Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov while French No. 3 seed Gilles Simon will play Marcos Baghdatis in the semi-final.

Australian Open: Men’s draw

Despite 2009 winner Rafa Nadal (26) crying off with a virus – the competition in Melbourne is going to be fierce.

Defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic has put his court jokes and mimicry behind and established himself as the best player in the world. Paddy Power make the Serbian their 5/4f to make it three Aussie Opens out of three while the evergreen Roger Federer will have his supporters at 4/1.

Japan’s biggest tennis export Kei ‘Special Kei’ Nishikori could be the surprise package this season. The Japanese youngster got to the quarter-finals of the Aussie Open last season after beating – Jo Wilfried Tsonga – a 33/1 poke this time around – in the third round that was watched by 55 million in Japan.

The 23-year-old already has Djokovic’s scalp to his name and is targeting the Top 10 this year – from World No 19 – and is 150/1 for the Aussie Open with Paddy Power.

NOT SO SWEET CAROLINE: Wozniaki was dumped out of the pic Getty

Women’s draw

French Open champion and World No. 2 seed Maria Sharapova was forced to pull out of the Brisbane International to rest a collarbone injury ahead of the Women’s Australian Open on January 14.

Chief grunter Sharapova has a history of succeeding in major tournaments with little match practice and pulled out of the Brisbane tournament last year but went on to make the final of the Australian Open before losing to Victoria Azarenka.

The Belarusian World No. 1 is 7/2 to retain her title in Melbourne and the top seed and defending champion in the women’s draw is on course for a possible semi-final clash with Serena Williams in Brisbane.

Last season’s Wimbledon, Olympics and US Open champion Serena Williams recorded a straight sets win over Varvara Lepchenko earlier in the tournament and gave French world No.44 Alize Cornet a lesson with a 6-2 6-2 exhibition that lasted exactly an hour on Wednesday.

World No. 3 Williams (31) recorded a serve of 200kph (124mph) in the win over  Cornet  and is aiming to become the oldest World No. 1 since Chris Evert (30 years 11 months) in 1985. The American rolled her ankle in the tournament last season and will be determined to pick up the season’s opening Grand Slam to help in her quest to become World No.1 again.

Former World No.1 Caroline Wozniacki made a shaky start to the new WTA season with a shock defeat to Kazakhstan qualifier Ksenia Pervak (2-6 6-3 7-6) in the first round of the Brisbane International last Monday.

Cheered on by boyfriend and World No. 1 golfer Rory McIlroy – the Dane now heads to Sydney to get in some match practice ahead of the Australian Open where she’s a 33/1 shot.

China’s Li Na will look to her 2011 form – when winning the French Open and making it to the Australian Open final.  At 18/1 with Paddy Power she could be a bit of value to lift the trophy if rediscovering her form of two seasons ago.

• Betting: WTA Brisbane International
• Betting: ATP Brisbane International
• Betting: Men’s Australian Open 
• Betting: Ladies Australian Open 

SHE’S JESS SUPERB: The world’s smuggest belly button is 9/1 for BBC Sports Personality of the year

The BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012 will be announced this Sunday. For once, it’s more competitive than a paternity test on the Jermey Kyle Show, with a whole host of athletes who have had stellar years battling it out for the accolade.

Bradley Wiggins is the red-hot odds-on favourite after his incredible year on the bike, but with a range of successful Olympians and Paralympians, a Wimbledon finalist and the greatest Ryder Cup comeback in history, is this the toughest year to pick a winner in living memory?

Here’s our guide to the leading contenders for the award…

Bradley Wiggins – 3/10

First Brit to ever win the Tour de France and then won Gold at the Olympics in the time trial, becoming Britain’s most decorated Olympian with seven medals to his name. Somehow made sideburns fashionable. Might get a sympathy vote after some joker in a Vauxhall Astra knocked him off his bike.

Jessica Ennis – 6/1

The poster girl for London 2012 and a shoe-in for the not yet created Sports Personality and Abs of the Year. Ennis won gold in the heptathlon with a British and Commonwealth record score of 6,955 beating plenty of records on the way. She opted out of the 100 metres hurdle, but her time of 12.54 seconds would have put her right in the mix for a medal in that – which would have been quite an achievement for a non-specialist hurdler.

Mo Farah 7/1

A double Olympic champion winning the 5,000 and 10,000 metres in London. The noise in the Olympic Stadium as Farah kicked for home in the final of the 5,000m was one of the highlights of the event. On top of that, he was European Athlete of the Year for 2012, adding to the title he won in 2011. Plus, he invented the ‘Mobot’ celebration craze with some help from James Corden.

Andy Murray – 16/1

ONE GOLD IN MIND: Olympic champion Murray went on to break his Grand Slam duck (pic: Inpho)

2012 will be remembered as a year as hugely satisfying excessive fist-pumping for Murray. He won Gold for Britain in the Olympics and broke his Grand Slam duck by winning the US Open. Became the first British male to reach a Wimbledon Final since 1938 but got thumped by Rodger Federer. Broke down in tears, instantly gaining more support.

David Weir – 40/1

The Paralympic athlete won four Gold medals at the games in the 800m, 1500m, 5000m and the marathon. He won the London marathon for the sixth time and has been described as the greatest wheelchair racer of all time.

Ellie Simmonds – 55/1

The 2008 Young Sports Personality of the Year won four medals at London 2012 including two golds. The 18-year-old Paralympian broke two world records at the games on her way to outstanding success in the pool. Her tenacity and beaming smile make her hugely popular with the British sporting public.

Rory McIlroy – 80/1

Golf’s World Number One and the PGA Championship winner 2012. He won the European Tour Order of Merit, the PGA Player of the Year and the PGA Tour leading money winner. It’s been a brilliant year for McIlroy topped off with that dramatic Ryder Cup win. And things look to be going well very with Caroline Wozniacki. All in all, another great year for silly-pants wearing’s most exciting talent.

Chris Hoy – 100/1

A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER – Sir Chris carried the British flag at the opening ceremony (pic: Inpho)

Hoy’s major hurdle is that brilliance is now just expected as standard from him. But the Edinburgh native continues to deliver, winning gold in both the Team Sprint and Keirin at this year’s Olympics. Add to that bronze in the Sprint and gold in the Keirin at the World Championships and you’ve got an impressive record. The odds are against the 2008 SPOTY winner however. Only three people have one the accolade more than once (Nigel Mansell, Henry Cooper and Damon Hill) and in such a competitive year, he’ll find it hard to join them.

Katherine Grainger – 200/1

Grainger may not have to buy quite as much Brasso as some of the other contenders for this year’s award, but her story has the right mix of resilience and excellence to strike a chord with the public. After winning silver medals at the three previous Olympic games, the rower finally landed gold this time around when she partnered Anna Watkins to victory in the double sculls.

Ben Ainslie – 200/1

Ainslie became the most successful sailor in Olympic history when he claimed his fourth gold medal on the bounce this summer. We also claimed gold in the Finn class in this year’s World Championships. More important than all that bling however, he achieved something we all though was virtually impossible – he made sailing cool. The SPOTY has a habit of throwing up some surprise results and having brought the curtain down on his Olympic career, he’s an interesting outsider at a big price.

Nicola Adams – 250/1

Adams claimed a slice of history by becoming the first female boxer to win an Olympic gold medal this summer. That nugget of trivia is an achievement of scheduling rather than anything else and it’s her performances in the ExCel Arena that deserve the real attention. She dominated the flyweight division this summer (winning her fights by a combined score of 43-20), beaten her nemesis, Ren Cancan of China in the final.

Sarah Storey – 300/1

Few athletes in British sporting history have shown the versatility and dominance of Storey. She win 16 Paralmypic medals (five gold) in swimming before turning her attention to cycling in 2005 and going on to rack up the bling in that sport too. She won four golds at the London games in the Individual Pursuit C5, the Time Trial C4-5 500m, the Individual Road Time Trial C5 and the Individual Road Race C4-5 adding to the two golds she claimed in Beijing.

• BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2012 Betting