Events / Editor / 10 September 2007 /

The Thailand Open, held in Bangkok, swings into action on September 24 and tennis fans who like a bet will be keen to see whose odds appeal.

World number six James Blake triumphed indoors at Thailand's premier sports event last year, beating the strong-serving Ivan Ljubicic from Croatia 6-3 6-1 to land the bets, and the New Yorker will again be popular in the betting.

Blake's odds reflect his strong start to 2007, beating Carlos Moya to claim the Sydney International for the second time, before crashing at Roland Garros and Wimbledon.

However, third seed Blake then won his 10th career singles title with a 7-5, 6-4 victory over wild-carded compatriot Mardy Fish at the Pilot Pen Tennis, but then lost to Tommy Haas at short odds in the fourth round of the recent US Open.

Those who fancy a bet on Blake will monitor the 27-year-old's odds as the Bangkok event's betting develops.

Rafael Nadal and Andy Roddick will of course be shorter odds having confirmed their participation in the $550,000 tournament and will appeal to many in the outright betting.

It will be Roddick's second visit to Bangkok - he finished runner up in 2004 - and will be the first time Thailand has seen Spain sensation Nadal, always a sound bet on the harder surfaces, in action.

The two tennis giants will join teen sensation and world number three Novak Djokovic and local hero Paradorn Srichaphan.

Djokovic has made an amazing climb up the ATP rankings and in 2007 has enjoyed his most successful year, winning three titles including the Indian Wells Masters Series event where he beat Nadal in the final.

Punters pondering an outside bet may consider Haas and Benjamin Becker, the world's fastest rising player, to be worth paying close attention to in the betting.

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