The reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion has been sidelined since mid-September, having played a massive part in helping Great Britain reach the World Group of the Davis Cup by defeating Croatia.

I’ll be doing my best to qualify again for the tournament next year.

Andy Murray

Murray underwent surgery on a back problem soon after his efforts against the Croats and had held out hope that he might be ready to feature in London.

However, he has now been forced to admit defeat in his race to be fit and will have to wait until next year to make his comeback.

Murray’s withdrawal leaves just three players who have already qualified for the Tour Finals, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and David Ferrer. The other five qualifying spots are currently occupied by Juan Martin del Potro, Tomas Berdych, Roger Federer, Stanislas Wawrinka and Richard Gasquet.

Murray told the official ATP Tour website: “I’m really disappointed not to be playing this year, I love playing in front of my home crowd, it’s a great atmosphere.

“All the players look forward to competing in London and I’ll be doing my best to qualify again for the tournament next year.”

Murray can be backed at 11/8 to win one Grand Slam title in 2014 and 9/2 to win two, while he is 5/4 to miss out on another major title next year.

Don’t forget, all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on mobile or tablet with bet365 On The Move.

View all Tennis betting

The post Andy Murray confirms ATP World Tour Finals absence appeared first on .

Danny Welbeck, Jermain Defoe and Rickie Lambert are also in the England squad and Rooney thinks Roy Hodgson has a rich array of attacking talent to choose from.

The Manchester United striker said: “I think since I’ve been in the squad this is probably the best group of forwards we’ve had in terms of ability, goal-scoring wise. Obviously Rickie Lambert’s come into the squad, he’s scoring goals for Southampton and he’s done really well for England.

Obviously we can all score goals so it’s a good blend of forwards.

Wayne Rooney

“You’ve got Welbeck and Sturridge and then obviously myself. Me and Jermain have probably been around the squad a bit longer and I think with Sturridge and Welbeck there’s a lot of energy. Obviously we can all score goals so it’s a good blend of forwards.

“Daniel’s been in tremendous form this season for Liverpool. He’s scored a lot of goals and it’s great to see.

“I’m sure if we play together we’ll try and link up and try and create and score goals.”

England will qualify from Group H if they win both of this month’s matches against Montenegro and Poland at Wembley. Rooney is 9/2 to open the scoring against Montenegro on Friday.

Meanwhile, England are 1/7 to qualify for the World Cup finals and 25/1 to win the trophy in Brazil, with holders Spain 11/2 to retain their title.

Don’t forget, all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on mobile or tablet with bet365 On The Move.

View all Soccer betting

The post England v Montenegro – Forward options excite Rooney appeared first on .

Chelsea star Cole, who has more than 100 international caps to his name, was forced off during the 3-1 weekend win at Norwich City and has been replaced in Roy Hodgson’s squad by Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs.

All the players believe, and are very confident, we can get over the line.

Steven Gerrard

Cole has yet to be ruled out of the clash with Poland at Wembley on Tuesday evening, but is facing a race against time to be fit.

That leaves Baines as the stand-out choice to face Montenegro at Wembley, with England needing to beat the Balkan outfit and then Poland to ensure automatic qualification for the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer.

Anything less than six points could see them forced to go into the play-offs.

England are 1/3 to defeat Montenegro, 4/11 to top Group H and 1/7 to qualify for the World Cup finals.

Meanwhile, captain Steven Gerrard is expecting a few nervy moments in the next seven days, but has confidence that England will get the job done.

He told the Daily Mirror: “I am sure there will be nail-biting situations in the next couple of games when our backs will be against the wall.

“All the players believe, and are very confident, we can get over the line by securing the two wins we need.

“These are the games you dream of from a very young age, to be playing for England with the chance of qualifying for a World Cup in Brazil.”

Don’t forget, all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on mobile or tablet with bet365 On The Move.

View all Soccer betting

The post Leighton Baines to step in for injured Cole appeared first on .

The north Londoners had hopes of joining Arsenal and Liverpool at the top of the table but were left reeling as three goals in 13 second-half minutes secured Sam Allardyce’s side a first top-flight win at White Hart Lane since 1999.

Winston Reid, Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison supplied the killer blows as Tottenham fell to a second top-flight defeat of the season so far.

“It is (a wake-up call),” he said. “This fixture was a bit dangerous.

“If we won everything [it] would be spectacular but if you draw or lose you drop into a position you don’t want to be. Either way, we have done well so far.”

The Portuguese coach felt his players never came to terms with West Ham’s physical approach and called for an immediate response when Tottenham travel to take on Aston Villa on 20th October.

He added: “The second half we were not first to the ball in the 50-50 duels. They were a bit more aggressive and punished us.

“We have conceded three goals but before we were the team who conceded the least chances. This time West Ham managed to surprise us and we have to bounce back.”

Aston Villa are quoted 14/5 in the match betting and the draw is available to back at 13/5. The Tottenham away victory is available at 10/11 in the 90 minutes market.

Don’t forget, all Premier League matches are covered by the bet365 100% Euro Soccer Bonus, where you could earn a bonus of up to 100% on your returns on pre-match accumulator bets.

View all Soccer betting

The post Villas-Boas calls for quick fix appeared first on .

Bet on Spurs v West Ham

The post Premier League Betting Preview – Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United appeared first on .

Vettel made it three wins in a row at Yeongam by dominating from pole position, stretching his championship lead to a massive 77 points, with just five races of the 2013 season to go.

I am really enjoying things at the moment, we have a great team and we are having a great time.

Sebastian Vettel

Lotus enjoyed a fine showing, with Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean coming in second and third respectively, in a race which saw the safety car out of track twice.

Vettel said after another dominant display: “It’s not great getting stuck behind the safety car, but really pleased with the result and great by the team.

“Fortunately we had enough pace to get ahead after both safety cars. I am really enjoying things at the moment, we have a great team and we are having a great time.”

Meanwhile, Vettel’s closest challenger for the title, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, could only manage sixth place and his chances of a third world title are now slipping away.

That means that Vettel could be crowned world champion at Suzuka next weekend, if he wins a fifth consecutive Grand Prix and Alonso fails to finish inside the top eight.

Vettel has won three of the last four Japanese Grands Prix, in 2009, 2010 and 2012, with Jenson Button taking the chequered flag for McLaren in 2011.

He is now 1/500 to be crowned 2013 world champion, with Alonso 66/1 and Raikkonen 250/1.

Don’t forget, all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on mobile or tablet with bet365 On The Move.

View all Formula 1 betting

The post Vettel can clinch title in Japan appeared first on .

Play in the Mobile Casino at bet365 between Monday 7th October and Sunday 20th October and get daily rewards! You get cashback at a better and better rate when you play day after day. Just play for two days in a row to start receiving your reward.

Make the most of the great selection of games on offer, and any time during Daily Mobile Cashback that you qualify for two or more consecutive days, you get money back. Once qualified, you receive cashback on whatever the House takes in total as result of your play on each day. The more consecutive days on which you play, the greater the rate at which you’re rewarded.

Any cashback you earn is credited to your account on the very next day and you can be awarded up to £100 each time. Play Mobile Casino now and get rewarded day after day.

Casino at bet365’s packed calendar of events, including Daily Mobile Cashback, gives you many exciting opportunities to receive bonuses and win cash prizes.

Bet365 Mobile Casino

The post Enjoy Daily Mobile Cashback with Casino at bet365 appeared first on .

Wenger’s side are unbeaten since the opening day of the season and head to The Hawthorns to take on West Bromwich Albion on Sunday afternoon.

We want of course to win trophies, but that is all (still) to do.

Arsene Wenger

However, Wenger is wary of reading too much into the opening couple of months of the campaign, with Arsenal currently top of the table with 15 points from a possible 18.

“What is important is to put that all into perspective and you know that it’s the hype around the game,” Wenger told reporters.

“It is positive because it shows the huge interest, but as well people tend to judge the moment as the definitive situation – however, it is just a photo of the situation, of the moment you talk.

“We want of course to win trophies, but that is all (still) to do. The only way we have a chance to do it is to try to focus on the way we play.”

Wenger has one fresh injury problem for the trip to the Black Country, with French defender Bacary Sagna suffering with a hamstring injury and facing around three weeks on the sidelines.

Arsenal, who are unbeaten on their last six visits to The Hawthorns, are 4/5 to win on Sunday and 2/1 to keep a clean sheet, while in-form striker Olivier Giroud is 5/1 to open the scoring.

Looking for a top tip this weekend? Head to the bet365 YouTube channel and get the views of Sam Matterface & our very own Steve Freeth in the latest bet365 Update.

Don’t forget, all Premier League matches are covered by the bet365 100% Euro Soccer Bonus, where you could earn a bonus of up to 100% on your returns on pre-match accumulator bets.

View all Soccer betting

The post Wenger plays down Arsenal title talk appeared first on .

In-form Everton midfielder Ross Barkley has been included for the double-header, while Spurs winger Andros Townsend also retains his place.

As far as I’m concerned Joe Hart is my number one, he has never let me down.

Roy Hodgson

Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney has been included in the squad, with his club manager, David Moyes, expecting his man to be fit to feature despite a shin problem.

Liverpool frontman Daniel Sturridge returns after injury kept him out of the games against Moldova and Ukraine, while Red Devils striker Danny Welbeck is back in the squad after a one-match suspension.

England play host to Montenegro on Friday 11th October, before taking on Poland at Wembley on Tuesday 15th October.

Victories in those two games would ensure that the Three Lions qualify for the World Cup finals in Brazil next summer, with England 25/1 to win the trophy, while Brazil can be backed at 3/1 and holders Spain are available at 11/2.

Meanwhile, Hodgson offered his full backing to goalkeeper Joe Hart, who has struggled for form in recent weeks, saying: “As far as I’m concerned Joe Hart is my number one, he has never let me down.”

Squad:
Goalkeepers: Fraser Forster, Joe Hart, John Ruddy.
Defenders: Leighton Baines, Gary Cahill, Ashley Cole, Phil Jagielka, Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Kyle Walker.
Midfielders: Ross Barkley, Michael Carrick, Tom Cleverley, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard, James Milner, Andros Townsend, Jack Wilshere.
Forwards: Jermain Defoe, Rickie Lambert, Wayne Rooney, Daniel Sturridge, Daniel Welbeck.

Don’t forget, all of the fantastic markets we have to offer, including In-Play betting, can be accessed on mobile or tablet with bet365 On The Move.

View all Soccer betting

The post Wayne Rooney included for crucial qualifiers appeared first on .

Swansea and Wigan are also in Europa League action on Thursday and Michael Laudrup’s pass masters are 6/5 to score more than their English rivals on Matchday Two.

Matchday Two – Top Scoring English/Welsh side

Swansea               6/5
Spurs                    6/4
Wigan                   7/2
(Dead heat rules apply)

Anzhi v Spurs – Who will score more goals?

Anzhi                     11/8
Tie                           6/4
Jermain Defoe         5/2

(Defoe must start)

View all Soccer betting

The post Defoe 5/2 to prove he’s more than just a Soldado stand-in appeared first on .