Posted on 3/13/2008 6:27:16 PM

ATP Pacific Life Open First Round Tennis Odds

By Nila Amerova

Indian Wells, CA – An impressive line-up of players, which features 47 of the Top 50 in the South African Airways ATP rankings, have gathered at the Pacific Life Open. World No.1 Roger Federer comes in as the top seed, followed by 20007 Champion No.2 Rafael Nadal and 2007 runner-up No.3 Djokovic . As the seeded players (32 in all) received a Bye into the second round, here is a look at the rest of the field contesting their opening matches in the first round.

Tennis Betting Line: Dusan Vemic +300 Over 20½ -125 Robin Haase -500 Under 20½ -115

Match Time: 07:00 PM Eastern Time, Thursday March 13, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Qualifier No.82 Robin Haase and No.154 Dusan Vemic meet for the first time. Haase is favoured at -500 on the money line and owing to some impressive match wins this season, namely defeating Andy Murray in his home event in Rotterdam, the 20-year-old Dutch tennis player is a good bet.

Qualifier No.152 Dusan Vemic is another Serbian instalment on the ATP tour. With very little ATP Tour activity to draw upon, speculating on the Serb is bit of a wild guess. Vemic has vowed to join his fellow Serbian tennis stars – Djokovic, Ivanovic and Jankovic and to some extent Tipsarevic – in the upper echelons of tennis. Vemic has a spectacular serve – a serve some believe could rival Roddicks.

Both Haase and Vemic came through a tough qualifying round of matches. I think they are well matched up. Haase is better known, therefore he is the favorite; however, Vemic could match the power Dutchman serve- for-serve and considering Haase prefers clay of all the surfaces, Vemic just might edge into the next round. With a price tag of +300, a winning wager would payout three-fold. At this stage o f the tournament, long shot bettors looking for a deal might consider this matchup. (But don’t bet the farm!)

Tennis Free Pick: Vemic in three sets

Tennis Betting Line: Sebastien Grosjean +200 Over 22 -125 Robin Soderling -300 Under 22 -115 Match Time: 07:30 PM Eastern Time, Thursday March 13, 2008

Tennis Prediction: No.39 Robin Soderling is contesting his fourth tournament of the year. In his first event of the 2008 season, he reached the quarterfinal (l. to Mario Ancic) and in his subsequent two events, he reached the final. Soderling is only two-match wins away from equalling his record of last year on hard (12-6) and the season has only just started. Soderling’s 2008 campaign has gotten off to a flying start and he is showing signs of being one of the most improved players on the tour. Against Grosjean, he is favoured at -300, and I would wager he will be the winning bet.

Tennis Free Pick: Soderling in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Robby Ginepri -180 Over 22½ -125 Vincent Spadea +140 Under 22½ -115 Match Time: 07:30 PM Eastern Time, Thursday March 13, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Betting on a veteran player has a bit of a sentimental undertone to it. The 33-year-old Spadea is one of the oldest players currently active on the tour. He enters with a 7/6 record for the season, which includes a R32 appearance at the Australian Open and two quarterfinal runs in Adelaide and Delray Beach. While a veteran player, the American is a popular fixture in American ATP events, and traditionally does well at these events. Against Ginepri, he leads 4-2 lifetime.

Robby Ginepri is enjoying a better season than last year, as with nine match-wins for the year, he has already equalled his total match wins on hard in 2007. Contesting his fourth ATP event of the year, in his past three events, all of which were in the USA, Ginepri reached the semifinals. Home court advantage has served him well. It should serve him well in this all-American affair as well.

Tennis Free Pick: Ginepri in straight sets

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