THE Brisbane International offers an opportunity to gauge players’ form and potential betting rewards as the tennis season swings into life once more in 2011.

As a form guide to the Australian Open in Sydney, these fixtures are priceless, while online bookmakers, who will be offering any number of free bets to tempt UK internet customers, will ensure their odds are as attractive as possible while punters make their final predictions.

Brisbane’s hard court competition, featuring both men’s and women’s events, is always a tournament worth betting on.

WHILE the UK shivers through another brutal winter, the best tennis players on the planet will continue their preparations for the first major of the season in Australia with a stop-off in Qatar.

One of ATP World Tour 250 series events, Russian Nikolay Davydenko is the defending champion after he saw off none other than Rafael Nadal 0–6, 7–6, 6–4 in 2010’s final.

Roger Federer versus Rafa Nadal in the final? It may be considered a safe bet given the magnificent duo's recent domination of the sport, but the fact is Nadal has only reached the final of the Australian Open once throughout his career, and the event down under offers reward for UK internet customers looking to back their own Andy Murray to at least repeat his run to the final in 2010.

Samatha who? WTA Charleston betting has become a whole lot more interesting with the emergence of Samatha Stosur, the hard-hitting Australian who has the power and poise to threaten the global domination of the Williams sisters. The Family Circle Cup has fast become a spiritual home for the young Aussie and she will be a key player in WTA Charleston betting during 2011.

While Britain shivers under the blankets in early April, in South Carolina the sun shines and the tennis betting is hot.