posted May 6, 2008 at 18:05 in Tennis Articles

Rome, Italy – The second round tennis betting market on the Rome Masters Series holds many standout tennis bets, as the schedule of play for tomorrow is jam-packed with stellar matchups. So as some of the tour’s most in-from players get set to do battle in Rome, the online sports betting community at BetUS Sportsbook will look for handicapping success. To help you pick your winners here is a breakdown of some of the tennis betting lines currently open for betting, complete with my tennis free picks.

Tennis Betting Line: Novak Djokovic -1400 Steve Darcis +650

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Steep favourite Novak Djokovic, tipped at -1400 on the money line, is straight-up the better play in this match. Winner of the Australian Open and Indian Wells, Djokovic enjoyed a great start to the early hard court season this year. But in spring action on the dirt, Djokovic has not featured much yet. In his debut in Monte Carlo, his campaign was cut abruptly, when he withdrew from his semi-final against Federer with a sore throat. So long as there are no problems (let us hope he has a clean bill of health this week) Djokovic should roll through this match easily.

Tennis Free Picks: Djokovic in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Radek Stepanek +300 David Ferrer -500

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Radek Stepanek is one of the few true serve and volley players on the circuit today. In terms of surface, he is not bad at all on clay. Versatility is the name of the game for the Czech and he is able to adjust his style to all surfaces. That being said, he is set to contest a second round match against one of the most in-form clay-court aficionados in today’s game, David Ferrer. Tipped at +300 underdog odds, Stepanek will be hard-pressed to upset the odds-on-favourite Ferrer (-500 on the money line).

Ferrer is coming off a runner-up finish in Barcelona last week, a quarterfinal run in Monte Carlo a fortnight ago and a triumph in Valencia three-weeks ago. In his last three tournaments, Ferrer has compiled an 11-2 mark on clay. In comparison, Stepanek crashed out of his opening match in Monte Carlo and with his first win on clay this spring in the first round in Rome, he enters with a 1-1 mark. Aside from some nice serve-and-volleying and quick net play from Stepanek, his chances of upsetting Ferrer are slim. Ferrer should prove too strong.

Tennis Free Picks: Ferrer in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: James Blake -125 Andreas Seppi -115

Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Tennis Prediction: When Andreas Seppi defeated Fabrice “The Magician” Santoro in the opening rounds, no one was more ecstatic at the news than Blake, as it meant he did not have to worry about coming up with a supernatural performance in his opening match of the tournament. Blake leads Santoro 4-1 lifetime, but his victories did not come easy as both play beautiful shot making tennis, wherein they invariably try to outdo one another on-court in shot creativity and placement – albeit they always do draw delighted crowds into their sensational showy tennis. Their 2007 US Open meeting is one such example. So instead of showy tennis, this matchup will be something opposite. (Almost makes you wish Santoro did win, if not just to witness a great match.)

In terms of handicapping this second round encounter, James Blake is slightly favoured on the money line at -125, while Andreas Seppi – a home patch favourite – is nipping at his heels, tipped at -115. Both fall on the favourite plane. They are tied 1-1 lifetime, with Blake taking the most recent match – a R64 victory at the ATP Masters in Miami. Blake has had a solid, but quiet season this year, posting a 23-8 mark with two runner-up finishes – Delray Beach (hard) and Houston (clay).

Both have much to recommend them and this match should be another close affair. As long as Blake keeps to a simple strategy using his weapons effectively and not going for too much (effectively outplaying himself), he should be able to handle all Seppi has to offer. Seppi will not be without chances, but a nigh-upset is as close as I expect Seppi to come. Blake will persevere.

Tennis Free Picks: Blake in straight sets

So there you have it, a nice short break down for you of some of the exciting tennis betting options available at BetUS Sportsbook. Now that you are all read up, you are ready to start betting on tennis!

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.