Aus Open 2010

The 2010 Australian Open could be one of the hottest tennis events on record and looking at how the top players are preparing for Melbourne is some indication of how they'll get on Down Under in a couple of weeks

Ana Ivanovic. Preparing for Aus with boyfriend Adam Scott. Currently based in QLD and is not finding the heat too bad. It has been 90/100 around where she is currently based, but has struggled with the humidity - which she won't get to the QLD degree in Melbourne

Novak Djokovic. have backed Nole at big prices so disappointed to see him spending Christmas in Italy where it is freezing cold

Jelena Jankovic - Spent Christmas and New Year in Miami which is obviously not too bad climate-wise, however it's still disappointing to see her arriving late in Australia once again - although not as late as last year

Vera Zvonareva - Spent Christmas in Florida training at IMG Academies. Will be very interesting to see how Vera is first up as she had a fantastic 2009. Interesting to also not that there is still plenty of attention being paid to her ankle right now

Sam Stosur - "Sam's preseason training consists of Swimming, Sand Dune running, Stairs/Hill sprints, Boxing/Kickboxing, Sprints using resistant bands/Parachutes, Core Strengthening using Bossu/Fitball, Strength sessions using weights/Straps/Kettle Bells/Vibroplate.

Hmm... this is either very good, or very bad - we heard plenty about players bottoming out before Melbourne last season and trhere's no doubt about it, Sammy is pushing the limits on the lead up to Melbourne 2010. The one thing in her favour though is that she is no idiot - on the contrary actually, and for that reason i'm edging towards putting her up as a player to follow over the upcoming weeks

Venus - as chilled out as ever. Palm Beach -> Asia -> Melbourne. No reason to feel she won't handle the conditions - but she has never done well in this event and the fact that she's changing nothing says quite a lot

Azarenka - Nearly landed the big one with Vika last year b4 she blew up against Serena in the fourth round. Not convinced about her abilities to handle the heat although she is preparing in Florida and also has a base in arizona. A player to watch out for as her price drifts like a barge

Further updates to follow...

You have mail...

Our La Liga card for the weekend is in your Inbox! Back up copy loaded up to the usual space

You have mail...

Members have mail x 3... The Premiership Page, and La Liga Page together with a small bet on the Falkirk v Rangers match

You have mail...

A quick note for subscribers to let them know they have mail - our Premiership page and La Liga page for the weekend

You have mail...

Message for subscribers: You should have 2 emails today - analysis on the New York Marathon together with a couple of small bets on the Bristol C v Sheff Wed match

Think the reverse

With hundreds of hours of reality tv show meetings under his belt, Simon Cowell knows exactly how to play a nation - he has done it in America and he has done in the UK - every sentence scrutinised, knowing what resounds and what doesn't

Sky news is currently churning out the (old chestnut) message - Cowell will leave the country of Jedward win X-Factor

And the BBC are running this story...

X Factor judge Simon Cowell says he is "praying" Irish twins John and Edward Grimes do not win the ITV talent show.

"If they win, it will be a complete and utter disaster," he said. "I'd probably sulk for about six months [and] get on a very fast plane out of the country."

The 18-year-old duo - dubbed 'Jedward' by their many fans - are one of nine acts left in this year's series.

"I don't dislike them as people," added Cowell. "I just don't think they are the act we were looking for."

The pop impresario was speaking at a press conference on Thursday to announce his patronage of the Children's Hospices UK charity.

'Singing candle'

Cowell, who is hoping to steer one of his over-25 acts to victory this year, also had some criticism for popular contestant Stacey Solomon.

"She's like a singing candle," he told reporters. "She hasn't moved in three weeks."

Singer Danyl Johnson remains favourite to win, despite ending up in the sing-off on Sunday's results show.

"He's back on Saturday to prove he should be there," said Cowell, who admitted a meeting had been called after Sunday's programme.

"It was simply to say I thought that Saturday's show song choices and performances weren't as good as I would have expected and that we have got to dig a bit deeper."

Fans have been assembling outside the north London property where the X Factor hopefuls are currently being housed.

Barnet Council said on Thursday it had closed the road to through traffic "to protect children and teenagers who have been amassing"

Thinking the reverse when Cowell offers a position is fast becoming a decent strategy

You have mail...

A message for subscribers to let them know they have mail - a bet in tonight's La Liga match between Sevilla and Espanyol