Daily tips for July 1

Tennis for July 1

Wimbledon men’s singles fourth round: David Ferrer v Ivan Dodig

With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, world #4 David Ferrer locks horns with Croat Ivan Dodig. Both players had contrasting victories in their previous round encounter with Ferrer winning in five enthralling sets while Dodig had it easy with his opponent retiring early in the third set. One of the hardest working players on tour, Ferrer is assured a personal milestone as he will rise above Roger Federer in the ATP rankings for the first time in his career.

His opponent Dodig comes into this match after an impressive victory over dangerous German Philipp Kohlschreiber in five sets in the first round. Dodig has had a great start to the grass season, going 7-2 through London, Eastbourne and Wimbledon. His losses came against in-form players Cilic and Lopez. He has wins over Istomin, Raonic, Fognini and Kohlschreiber. We’re banking that Dodig can win a set here, a feat he has managed against Nieminen, Dologpolov, Seppi, Fognini, Gasquet, Haas, Isner, Benneteau and Cilic this year.

Suggested bet: Game total +39.5 (two units @ $1.87) WIN, Ferrer 3-1 sets (one unit @ $3.45) WIN

Other tips

Jerzy Janowicz WIN v Jurgen Melzer WIN

Andreas Seppi v Juan Martin Del Potro WIN WIN

Bernard Tomic 3-2 sets v Tomas Berdych LOSE

Novak Djokovic 3-0 sets v Tommy Haas WIN

NRL (R16) for July 1

Sydney Roosters v Manly Sea Eagles, Allianz Stadium, Monday, July 1, 7pm

In a week of great battles – including the second State of Origin and the Labor leadership change – this match serves as the icing on one almighty feast of a cake. There’s no love lost between these two teams either. This clash is more than just a tussle between third and fifth on the table; it’s now a war of personal duels between two teams fighting to be known as the NRL’s best in 2013. The match-ups are intriguing and pit some of the game’s best against each other, even if they mightn’t come face to face throughout the 80 minutes – Michael Jennings and Shaun Kenny-Dowall v Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai; Mitchell Pearce v Daly Cherry-Evans; Sonny Bill Williams v Anthony Watmough. And, to add even more theatre to proceedings, the suspended Jared Waerea-Hargreaves returns after serving a five-match ban for his tackle on George Rose against Manly earlier this year.

The Roosters, in third position, are as you’d expect one of 2013’s best-performing teams following a 10-and-four start to the season and a defensive record that has them ranked best in the league (they concede just 13.2 points per game). The Sea Eagles, meanwhile, are perhaps the quiet achievers of the NRL – without their biggest star in full-back Brett Stewart since Round 8, they’ve gone about their business with an efficiency most other teams could only dream of. A slight worry for coach Geoff Toovey, though, will be his team’s back-to-back two-point losses to the Warriors and Bulldogs – the first consecutive defeats his team has suffered in 2013. They sit in fifth position with seven wins from 13 starts. Manly matches up well to the Roosters, and dominated possession and meterage differential at their last encounter at Brookvale, while this is their best venue away from home.

Suggested bet: Manly +2.5 (1.5 units @ $1.75) LOSE, game total -33.5 (2.5 units @ $2.00) WIN (18-12)

Racing for July 1

Horse racing: Rosehill (NSW), Mildura (Vic), Wagga (NSW), Kembla Grange (NSW – abandoned). Harness racing: Albion Park (Qld), Charlton (Vic), Globe Derby (SA), Gloucester Park (WA), Hobart (Tas), Menangle (NSW). Greyhound racing: Albion Park (Qld), Angle Park (SA), Ballarat (Vic), Bathurst (NSW), Geelong (Vic), Grafton (NSW), Launceston (Tas), Northam (WA), Nowra (NSW), Shepparton (Vic).

In a rare bonus for punters, Saturday’s abandoned meeting at Rosehill will be run today, adding some much needed interest to what was shaping up as a fairly lacklustre start to the new month. Our best of the day is scheduled to jump from barrier 9 in race 3, the Calcoup Knitwear BM85 Hcp over 1900m. Trained by Bede Murray at Kembla Grange and ridden here by Kathy O’Hara, #2 World Wide has won eight of 45 starts with a perfect 4-4 on heavy tracks. The 6yo gelding was a last start winner at Randwick over 1600m and, despite being up in weight here, looks best suited to the conditions today.

Suggested bet: Rosehill R3 #2 World Wide E/W (two units) 1st ($5.00/$1.90)

Other tips

Rosehill R1 #3 Pitcrew (win) 1st ($1.80)

Rosehill R2 #5 Medvedev (win) LOSE (2nd)

Rosehill R4 #5 Relaxed and Happy (win) LOSE (U/P)

Rosehill R5 #5 Destiny’s Kiss (win) 1st ($3.20)

Rosehill R6 #7 Eigelstein (E/W 1x4) LOSE (U/P)

Rosehill R8 #13 Murder of Crows (E/W 1x4) LOSE (U/P)

Rosehill R9 #10 Travolta (E/W)

Mildura R1 #7 Mabrouk (win) 1st ($2.90)

Mildura R4 #6 Sava Nugget (win) 1st ($1.20)

Mildura R9 #4 Edge of Storm (E/W) 2nd ($2.10)

Harness racing tip: Hobart R8 #5 Rhetts Way (win) 1st ($2.20)

Greyhound tip: Shepparton R8 #5 Cracker Jack Lil (win) 1st ($2.50)

MLB for July 1

Chicago Cubs (34-45, 17-23 away) @ Seattle Mariners (35-46, 21-21 home), Safeco Field, Seattle WA, Monday, July 1

Starlin Castro and Alfonso Soriano are showing signs that they’re emerging from lengthy slumps. The Chicago Cubs are hoping right-hander Edwin Jackson can start heading in the right direction with a match-up against the Mariners. Jackson will try to earn his fourth victory in as many starts against Seattle and help the Cubs win their series at Safeco Field.

Jackson (3-10, 5.84 ERA) has yet to shake his inconsistency this season but will face a team he’s dominated in the past. However, that dominance is distant history. The most recent of those match-ups was April 18, 2009, and Jackson enters this game 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA in his last two starts after going 2-0 with a 1.38 ERA in his previous two.

Even if he can find an improved form, Jackson might still have to outduel a resurgent Jeremy Bonderman (1-1, 3.30). The right-hander is 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA in his last four starts but hasn’t gotten enough support to earn a victory in any of his last three outings. Despite not having a feel for his curveball, Bonderman gave up two runs in 5 1/3 innings last Sunday against Oakland before the Mariners scored three times in the 10th for a 6-3 victory.

Suggested bet: Mariners WIN (1.5 units @ $1.93) LOSE, game total +8 (2.5 units @ $1.83) WIN (7-6)

IL: Reds WIN $2.29 @ Rangers LOSE (2-3)

IL: Cardinals @ Athletics WIN $1.72 WIN (5-7)

AL: Tigers @ Rays WIN $1.91 WIN (1-3)

AL: Indians @ White Sox -7.5 $1.87 WIN (4-0)

AL: Angels -1.5 $1.95 WIN @ Astros +9 $1.95 LOSE (3-1)

AL: Yankees @ Orioles WIN $1.84 WIN -8.5 $1.95 WIN (2-4)

NL: Nationals WIN $1.77 @ Mets WIN (13-2)

NL: Diamondbacks @ Braves WIN $1.72 WIN (2-6)

NL: Brewers @ Pirates WIN $1.67 WIN +8 $1.83 LOSE (1-2)

NL: Giants WIN $1.88 @ Rockies WIN (5-2)

NL: Phillies @ Dodgers +7.5 $1.80 LOSE (1-6)

Football for July 1

Confederations Cup final: Brazil v Spain, Estadio Maracana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Monday, July 1, 8am

The final day of the Confederations Cup features a pair of matches including a tasty final that pits hosts Brazil against the nation which many describe as the best side of all time, Spain. Odds reflect just how close this match-up is going to be. The Canarinho defeated the United States 3-2 in the 2009 final. Brazil made it to the final courtesy of a late header by Paulinho. The midfielder has been Brazil's second-best player in the tourney. The best? The dynamic Neymar (pictured above). He has paced Brazil's attack with three goals and a pair of assists along with striker Fred who has three goals to his name.

Spain played a long, gruelling match against the Italians, which went scoreless into extra time and eventually won on penalties. It was a first-class penalty-taking exhibition that saw the Spanish prevail 7-6 with Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci the first to miss. The Spanish lead the way in essentially every offensive category in the Confederations Cup. They dominate possession, controlling the ball at a clip of 64.8 per cent. They take the most shots per game with 22. The Spanish are the most accurate passing team at 91.8 per cent. In that regard, it's been another master-class performance from La Roja.

However, the lengthy match against the Italians, paired with one less day of rest could mean the Spanish may very well be a fatigued side, and that’s the key factor in my mind. That said, they do possess the depth to replace tired legs with a sub of almost-equal value. When your bench boasts quality players like Santi Cazorla, David Villa, Jesus Navas, et al, it's a luxury. This should be a tight affair, but if the teams avoid parking the bus and do not play for a draw (and penalties), fans could be in store for a contest of the highest calibre.

Suggested bet: Game total +2.5 (one unit @ $2.05) WIN, Brazil HT/FT Double (0.5 units @ $4.35) WIN, correct score Brazil 2-1 (0.5 units @ $8.00) LOSE (3-0)

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