AEGON Championships Betting / Sean Calvert / 08 June 2011 /

He may look like he'd be more comfortable on the beaches of California than the grass of Queen's but veteran Arnaud Clement has a good record on the green stuff and could spring a surprise today, says Sean Calvert.

It was a great start to the week yesterday at Queen's Club as both of my selections were successful, meaning a profitable beginning to the grass-court season.

Day three of the Aegon Championships brings Andy Murray and Rafa Nadal to the grass-courts fresh from Paris for their opening outings of the year on the lawns.

Both are unbackable today at around [1.02] and [1.16] respectively, with Murray clearly the more likely to become a high-profile cropper in a tricky first match against the unpredictable Xavier Malisse.

Murray hasn't lost his first grass court match of the year since 2006 though and he beat Malisse in three easy sets on grass in their 2008 Wimbledon meeting, so he shouldn't have too many problems, if he's fit.

For once, Murray's not the only Brit in the event after the opening couple of days after James Ward's excellent win over Stan Wawrinka, which gives him a shot at defending champion Sam Querrey next.

But the match I like the looks of today with value in mind is Marin Cilic v Arnaud Clement, with the veteran Frenchman a handy [3.45] to inflict further pain upon the big Croatian.

Cilic is a confidence player and that commodity must be in its boots after a straight sets first round loss to Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo at the French Open, while Clement has already won four matches on the grass.

The 33-year-old Frenchman likes the grass, having reached the final of Nottingham, S'Hertogenbosch, the semis here at Queen's, and the quarters at Wimbledon in the past, so he's no slouch on the green stuff.

Clement beat Cilic in straights en route to that Wimbledon last eight spot and although he's down at number 146 in the world right now, he still turns it on when he fancies it - and he should fancy this today.

Today's banker bet has to be David Nalbandian to see off Ilia Bozoljac at around [1.33].

The Argentine made a smooth return to the tour yesterday with a comfortable straight sets win over Ilya Marchenko, who is ranked considerably higher than Bozoljac in the rankings.

The 6ft 4 Serbian's main weapon is his serve, but Nalbandian has seen off many such players in his time and has one of the best returns in the game.

If he's suffered no ill effects from his first competitive match in a while, Nalbandian, who has a solid grass-court game - should defeat the world number 200 fairly comfortably.

Recommended bet

Back Clement to beat Cilic at [3.45]
Back Clement and Nalbandian in a multiple @ [4.25]

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