Monte's Multiple / Jaymes Monte / 08 September 2009 /

Jaymes Monte takes a look at this week's sporting events from around the globe in an attempt to bag that elusive treble....

Bet 1: Snooker - Shanghai Masters

The boys of the green baize have returned to the world stage for the season's first ranking event in Shanghai this week. Englishman Ricky Walden will be looking to defend the title he won last year when he beat Ronnie O'Sullivan 10-8 in the final, he is priced at [26.0] to do so.

Tournaments played in the Far East have a reputation for being difficult to predict in terms of the players mindset. But in the infancy of this Shanghai Masters tournament there is evidence that the players are certainly taking this one serious; O'Sullivan, Stephen Maguire and Mark Selby all made it to the semi-final stage last year when ranked one, two and four in the world respectively.

Former world number one Mark Williams has now made a long awaited return to the world's top 16 but arrives at this tournament carrying an injury. It is likely he will play wearing a plaster cast on his bridging hand after breaking his wrist following a slip on a tiled floor in his home last month.

His first round opponent will be Joe Swail who has in fact beaten the Welshman in their last three meetings and even without Williams' injury would be good money to run this one close. So for my first snooker bet of the season I will be backing 'The Outlaw' to beat Williams who has had his preparations severely disrupted by injury.

Selection: Back Joe Swail to beat Mark Williams @ [2.0]

Bet 2: Football - World Cup Qualifiers

There is potential for a number of shock participants in the play-off stages of qualification for the 2010 World Cup, none more so than Bosnia & Herzegovina. They currently occupy second place in Group Five behind European champions Spain, and with three games remaining a positive result against Turkey on Wednesday will see them installed as favourites to remain in that position when it matters.

Bosnia & Herzegovina have won their three home fixtures in this campaign to date, scoring 13 goals whilst conceding just two. Turkey are in town this week and they have managed just two goals (both away to minnows Armenia) on their travels from their three fixtures.

Turkey's reputation and FIFA ranking of 18 places above their opponents means they are installed as slight favourites. However, it is the team who are ranked lower in the FIFA rankings who have my support here; they are a team in ascendance and would be fully deserving of a second place finish in this group. I fancy Bosnia & Herzegovina to win this one, but I'm going to play it safe and lay Turkey at a [2.8] which looks way too short to me.

Selection: Lay Turkey to beat Bosnia & Herzegovina @ [2.8]

Bet 3: Tennis - US Open

As the 2009 tennis season draws to a close it's the usual suspects who occupy our TV screens at the business end of the US Open. As Roger Federer bids to win a record sixth consecutive title there are still many obstacles in his way shaped in the form of Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray and still possibly his old foe Rafael Nadal.

Should both progress, the semi-finals will see a repeat of the 2007 final between Federer and Djokovic. However, Djokovic must first overcome the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco who made it to the quarter-final after a five set epic with Tommy Haas. Verdasco won the New Haven tournament prior to the US Open and will be no push over for Djokovic.

Djokovic is in good form himself though, he didn't drop a set on route to the final of the Cincinnati Masters last month before he met the irrepressible Federer and has looked on top of his game at Flushing Meadows so far this week. The Serb is my final selection this week and will complete my treble.

Selection: Back Djokovic to beat Verdasco @ [1.5]

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