Sports Magician will be trading and providing regular commentary on the opening matches on the show courts on day six of the Australian Open. Rod Laver Arena will witness home favourite Samantha Stosur take on Alberta Brianti. Number seven seed Victoria Azarenka will face Italian Tathiana Garbin on Hisense Arena and number nine seed Vera Zvonareva will battle Gisela Dulko on Margaret Court Arena.

All matches begin at midnight (GMT) but join the Sports Magician from 23:30 as he takes a look at the pre-match markets involving all three matches. As well as being able to follow the moves the Sports Magician makes through the night, you can also get involved on the message board chat to discuss the matches and tournament as a whole. Sports Magician will be happy to answer any questions and debate the tournament with you while he looks for betting opportunities in-play.

Sports Magician will be starting with a bank of 500pts and will be trading prices available on Betfair. There will be a max bet of 50pts per selection and a 5% commission will be deducted as in line with Betfair policy.

23.28
We're 30 minutes from the start of action on day six of the Australian Open. It has been a very difficult first week of the tournament for the Sports Magician to say the least, but hopefully we'll be on the right side of any opportunities tonight. In a short while I'll deliver a brief overview of the opening show court matches and the current state of play in the market, then we'll look to get involved in any markets that appeal to us...

23.29
Be sure to have your say on the trading room message board, you can open the chat in a new window if you wish to do so.

23.31
Sam Stosur will begin proceedings on Rod Laver Arena against Italian Alberta Brianti. The Overrule has tipped Stosur to come through and she is currently best priced 1.26 on Betfair, with Brianti at 4.70. It will be the first meeting between the two.

23.34
"The Future" as I like to call her, now that Nicole Vaidisova clearly has no future, is in action on Hisense Arena. Victoria Azarenka holds a 2-0 record against Tathiana Garbin and if she shows the form of the past two rounds, we may well see a convincing victory. Azarenka can be backed at the very short price of 1.06, while Garbin is a major underdog at 15.00. I'll be assessing the handicap market on this match up more closely in a short while.

23.40
Vera Zvonareva faces Gisela Dulko on Margaret Court Arena and this is another match where the handicap market appeals. With a -3.5 games start, Zvonareva can be backed at 1.62. Given Dulko's comical performance against Ana Ivanovic, you can easily see Vera reeling off game after game. Zvonareva has flown under the rader during the tournament, even though she made the last four in 2009. Zvonareva can be backed at 1.29 to win, while Dulko is available at 4.30.

23.49
Our first forays into the markets this evening will be as follows, 20 points on Azarenka to beat Garbin with a 6.5 games handicap @ 1.77. We'll also have a maximum play of 50 points on Zvonareva to beat Dulko with a 3.5 games handicap @ 1.60.

23.52
Azarenka has been in destructive form lately and providing she keeps a cool head - very unlike Vika, I know - she should brush aside Garbin who has nothing to hurt her. Zvonareva is a class above Dulko, who struggled with her serving against Ivanovic. Vera has been in ruthless form and will be tough to beat over the next week.

23.54
That leaves us with a bank of 430 points. We'll see how the matches develop before making any further moves in any of the other available markets.

23.57
Feel free to join the conversation on the message board function. Mobes, Mkk and myself are currently discussing how pathetic Kim Clijsters was last night/this morning, not sure when it was or even what day it is, to be fair. The Aussie Open has that effect on me.

23.59
Not long now till the action gets underway. Stay tuned for regular updates.

BREAKING NEWS! Mikhail Youzhny has pulled out of the tournament.

00.04
The players are out on court on Hisense. Azarenka has her headphones on, given her attitude, more likely to be listening to some Norwegian black metal than Girls Aloud, I'd have thought.

0.06
Azarenka's handicap price is coming out, so we're going back in for another 15 points @ 2.1. It looks like Hisense will be closed as rain starts to fall lightly. An indoor match will favour Azarenka even more than usual.

0.15
The roof is being closed on Hisense, but the rain means that Zvonareva and Dulko will have to wait a while before beginning their match.

To check on the selections made thus far, check below this text, where you can see a run down of what we have pulled the trigger on thus far.

0.17
The 1.60 we got on Zvonareva is now ancient history, as Vera has been cut all the way down to 1.42 on the handicap. Azarenka's handicap price has fluctuated from as low as 1.75 to as high as 2.34. We've backed Vika at 1.77 and 2.10.

0.20
The rain simplifies things for us in the trading room, we can focus on the Azarenka match, before turning our attention to the Zvonareva match once the rain is gone.

0.25
Well that's typical. As the roof closes on Hisense, the warm-up beings on Margaret Court. Azarenka will be playing indoors and Zvonareva outdoors. Azarenka seems to have some concerns about the court not yet being dry enough and they haven't begun their warm-up on Hisense.

0.30
Zvonareva and Dulko are just a couple of minutes away from starting. Azarenka and Garbin are still waiting for the roof to be closed completely. Azarenka is still using her IPOD, probably listening to classical music right now to calm her mood, we all know how calm Azarenka likes to be during matches.

0.40
Zvonareva begins play and holds serve after facing a break point. 1-0. Play begins on Hisense with the roof open! And then it starts to drizzle, what's going on? Close the roof, if you're going to close the roof.

0.41
Azarenka breaks Garbin's serve straight away. A strong start from Vika. 1-0 Azarenka.

0.42
Zvonareva breaks Dulko to love. A great start for Vera. 2-0 Zvonareva.

0.44
Pathetic stuff on Hisense, it's drizzling again! Azarenka isn't happy the roof wasn't closed to begin with. And now surely the best decision would be to close the roof so this match can continue without any further disruptions.

0.45
Zvonareva holds to love. 3-0 Vera.

0.47
Back on Hisense. Garbin wants to play outdoors, but Azarenka wants the roof closed. I know if there was a fight my money would be on Vika, even at 1.01.

0.49
The rain has halted Zvonareva's early charge. Dulko started brightly, but since holding a tough service game, it has been all Vera. Zvonareva is trading at 1.10 to win. As I type, play resumes again on MCA!

0.52
Dulko gets on the scoreboard with a comfortable hold. 3-1 Vera.

0.55
Zvonareva holds for a 4-1 lead.

Players are about to resume on Hisense under the roof. Azarenka is now as short as 1.21 on the handicap, just after one game and one break.

0.56
Azarenka holds for 2-0.

0.59
Zvonareva and Azarenka both break for the second time, just what we wanted to see.

Zvonareva 5-1.

Azarenka 3-0.

1.02
Zvonareva serves for the first set, and after an awful Dulko smash, takes it 6-1.

1.04
Azarenka continues to blow Garbin away, the difference in power between the two is clearly evident. Only a severe never before seen meltdown from Vika will stop her from advancing in the tournament.

Azarenka 4-0.

1.07
Azarenka is being ruthless with Garbin. 5-0 Vika. Another break and she will come out at the change of ends to serve for the first set.

1.12
Garbin finally gets into a game, but it matters not. Vika holds and serves up a bagel for the Italian.

Azarenka 6-0.

1.15
Dulko is really struggling on serve. 5 double faults already and Zvonareva starts the second set with a break of serve.

Zvonareva 6-1 *1-0.

1.17
How do our wagers stand? Well, because of the way the first sets went in the respective matches, the handicaps will be covered and then some providing Azarenka and Zvonareva complete straight set victories. And should they not, we will have the opportunity to make some trades, if need be.

1.18
Azarenka 7 Garbin 0. Another break for Vika, this match looks over for the Italian.

Zvonareva loses concentration as Dulko breaks back in the second set, 6-1 1-1.

1.22
Although the opposition is not the strongest its easy to see why so many, including myself, strongly believe Azarenka will be a world number one. The only part of her game which needs further development is the most important aspect - the mental side.

Vika holds and makes it 8-0.

1.23
Zvonareva breaks again to restore her second set advantage. 6-1 *2-1.

1.25
My fiancee is bored as hell of this match, but those of us who backed Azarenka with a -6.5 games start will be quite happy, and so will she when I buy her a new pair of Gucci shoes.

Azarenka 9 Garbin 0, the demolition continues.

1.26
Four breaks of serve in the second set as Dulko provides some resistance.

Zvonareva leads 6-1 2-2, Dulko to serve.

1.30
Azarenka makes it 10 in a row, she'd have had a far tougher time on the practice courts with her good friend Caroline Wozniacki.

Azarenka 6-0 4-0.

1.32
Dulko survives a break point to stay in the match, just.

Zvonareva leads by a set, but trails 2-3 in the second, on serve.

1.35
Garbin has a game point and misses an overhead accompanied by a huge scream. However, the Italian won't be denied! A fantastic lob puts her on the scoreboard.

Azarenka leads 6-0 4-1, but a comeback is...unlikely.

1.36
Zvonareva holds for 3-3.

Meanwhile, on Rod Laver Arena, the home fans are happy as Stosur leads Brianti 6-4 3-1.

1.40
Azarenka holds for a 6-0 5-1 lead, one game away from the next round.

Dulko holds serve and leads Zvonareva 4-3 in the second set.

1.43
Zvonareva has an easy hold for 4-4, the business end of the set is now upon us on Margaret Court Arena.

1.45
Azarenka puts a volley wide as Garbin doubles her total. Vika leads 6-0 5-2 and will come out to serve for a place in the fourth round.

1.51
Azarenka puts the seal on a comprehensive victory after saving break point. The future world number one hardly put a foot wrong as she toyed with Garbin. She will meet the winner of Zvonareva-Dulko.

Azarenka def. Garbin 6-0 6-2.

Two of our three wagers tonight are now in as winners, as we backed Azarenka at 1.77 and 2.10 with a -6.5 games handicap.

Our attention now turns solely to Margaret Court Arena where Zvonareva will serve to stay in the second set at 4-5.

1.54
Zvonareva holds for 5-5 as this second set nears a conclusion.

1.57
Zvonareva breaks to love and will come out to serve for the match at 6-1 6-5.

One more game for Vera will give us a trading clean sweep for the night.
 
2.02
Fortunately the debut of the Sports Magician in the trading room for the Australian Open has gone far better than The Overrule selections thus far for this year's tournament! Hopefully this is a sign that form will improve over the remainder of the event.

Zvonareva completes a 6-1 7-5 win and covers the handicap with room to spare. Vera won the match on her second match point with a fantastic backhand winner.

Vera will face Azarenka in the fourth round and that should be a great match-up, 50/50 call given the way both are playing right now.

2.19
Now that both of our traded matches are complete, let's have a quick run down of how things developed tonight...

1. We backed Azarenka for 20 points at 1.77 with a -6.5 games handicap. Having taken off the 5% commission, that resulted in a 14.63 points gain.

2. We backed Zvonareva for a max play of 50 points at 1.60 with a -3.5 games handicap. Having taken off the 5% commission, that resulted in a 28.50 points gain.

3. We then backed Azarenka for a further 15 points as her pre-match price went out to 2.10 with a -6.5 games handicap. Having taken off the 5% commission, that resulted in a 15.68 points gain.

We started with a bank of 500 points and after staking a total of 85 points over 3 wagers, we ended up with 558.81 points, for a total profit of 58.81 points.

2.35
Thanks to those of you that stopped by for a chat during the games, and for those of you who just observed the trading room, I hope you were able to utilise the selections made tonight to provide yourself with a tidy profit.
 
Sports Magician will be trading both football and tennis events/matches over the course of the year, so make sure you keep a close eye on Priceform for when those trading opportunities will take place. In the meantime I hope you enjoy the remainder of the Australian Open and I'll leave you with a taster from Australian Open's past as the action hots up for the 2010 edition...