Not something I've bet on in the last couple of years. However last night I witnessed an amazing performance by a girl named after Cher. Her name is Cher Lloyd from Malvern. She looks like a young Lisa Stansfield but much older than her 16 years. Her voice and performance was very different from the usual dross and I have taken 5pts with William Hill at 8/1 for her to win the show. I'd be very surprised if she did not reach the final stages and hence trade at a much shorter price.

Some early disappointment with the Bag losing in five sets in the first round. Other selections, that have played their first round, have progressed - even out of form Kvitova who won her first match since Wimbledon! I was not impressed with Bandy's five-set win over a qualifier and he will have to reduce substantially his unforced error count if he is to progress further.

Nor was I impressed with Nadal who won in straight sets but it was all a bit of a struggle. Next up he faces the inform Istomin who you may recall Nadal beat in their only previous meeting at Queen's Club this summer. It was a tight one with Nadal winning 6-4 in the deciding set. I have laid Nadal at 1.07 on betfair to lose 3.5pts on tomorrow's match. There is plenty of 1.07 (to lay) as I write. So this means a potential 50 pts profit (less commission 5% = 47.5pts). For a risk of 3.5pts. A worthwhile speculation I feel.

Men's tournament

Bets placed (current bookmaker price): Murray 11/2 (7/2); Nalbandian 33/1 (33/1); Baghdatis 150/1 (66/1)

Small value on Murray plus the "Murray to beat Federer" bet incentive. Bandy has tough draw. The Bag could have a run - in Djoko section (who could suffer from the heat).

Women's tournament

Bets placed: Kvitova 66/1 (250/1); Bartoli 150/1 (100/1); Aza 16/1 (9/1); Woza 10/1 (8/1)

Kvitova in appalling form hence latest price. Bartoli playing ok. Aza was value pick and good draw (only evens with one firm to make the semis). Needs to keep her head screwed on. Woza, won New Haven last night (for the third time). Plays too much but stamina seems ok. If she wins this tourny will replace Serena as No1. Woza one of two women we backed at beginning of year to be No1 at year end (14/1) so it would be great if she won it. Runner up last year so lots of points to defend. Good friends Woza v Aza my dream final. In my dreams.....

Andy Murray has been drawn in the opposite half of the draw to Federer. Some people will think this was inevitable as he was seeded four and therefore would automatically be in Nadal's half of the draw as four plays one and two plays three. However that is not automatically the case as the number one seed has a 50% chance of theoretically playing the three or four seed in the semi final depending on the draw.

Well it's the luck of the draw for us as it keeps our ante post bet for Murray to beat Federer in a grand slam final alive. In fact the last chance for him to do so at the 16/1 we took at the beginning of the year.

The event starts on Monday and I'll have a final review of our selections before then. Meanwhile Aza seems to have been handed quite a good draw and looks to be a fair punt at the 16s we took a few weeks back. The scream queen has been picked by Brad Gilbert as the likely winner, which is an interesting call as these pundits do not often stray too far from picking the obvious favourite.

I watched Caroline Wozniacki win her semi-final and the final today at the Montreal Open. The matches were postponed from the rain soaked weekend. She beat both Kuznetsova and Zvonareva in straight sets. Both her opponents had shown improved form in recent weeks.

With the defection of Serena from the US Open Woza will be seeded number one. She reached the final last year and is priced at 10/1 to go one better with William Hill and Blue Square. I've had 5pts @ 10/1 with William Hill.

The tournament could be quite open this year with both Serena and Justine non-runners. In addition Kimmy, the current favourite with most bookmakers, looks like she might be carrying a thigh injury.

That gives us four selections in the ladies' event with a total outlay of 17pts. Let's hope our bets go as well as they did in the French Open and Wimbledon!