Posted on
3/13/2008 6:29:07 PM
ATP Pacific Life Open - Tennis First Round Odds
By Nila Amerova
Indian Wells, CA – The first round of the men’s Pacific Life Open gets underway today, so here are some tennis free picks to get you started.
Tennis Betting Line: Potito Starace +150 Over 22½ -115 Marc Gicquel -200 Under 22½ -125
Match Time: 08:30 PM Eastern Time, Thursday March 13, 2008
Tennis Prediction: This is a good matchup for these players in the first round. No. 34 Potito Starace of Italy plays a solid game on both hard and clay, but his best results have come on the latter. In 2008, he his best results were quarterfinal appearances in Buenos Aires and Acapulco – both clay court events. In Las Vegas last week, Starace retired in the second set against Amer Delic because of a mild back injury. He may be questionable coming into this match as a result. Marc Giquel of France enjoys hard surface (Indoors) and arrives in Indian Wells with a 2/4 record in ATP events. He is favoured on the money line, but his tournament results do not really support his price tag. I would take a chance on the underdog in this matchup.
Tennis Free Picks: Starace in three sets
Tennis Betting Line: Dmitry Tursunov -300 Over 21½ -140 Benjamin Becker +200 Under 21½ EV
Match Time: 08:30 PM Eastern Time, Thursday March 13, 2008
Tennis Prediction: No.37 Dmitry Tursunov of Russia is the better play in this matchup. Favored by the bookies at -300, Tursunov brings a 7/5 record into his opening match, compared to German Benjamin Becker’s 5/6 record for the season. Tursunov’s season got off to a great start with a quarterfinal run in his first event in Doha, which he then followed up with a title victory in Sydney. Since then, Tursunov has posted mixed results with a second round exit at the Australian Open and back-to-back first round exits in Rotterdam and Dubai. Nevertheless, he owns a 2-0 record over No.109 Becker and is my pick in this matchup.
Tennis Free Picks: Tursunov in straight sets
Tennis Betting Line: Bobby Reynolds +120 Over 22½ -135 Donald Young -160 Under 22½ -105
Match Time: 11:30 PM Eastern Time, Thursday March 13, 2008
Tennis Prediction: No.86 Donald Young leads in this all-American matchup with a 3-0 record over No.106 Bobby Reynolds in Challenger and Futures events. This is the first time they meet at an ATP level event –a prestigious one at that. Young favoured at -160 is the better play, owing to his talent and potential. His breakthrough moment has yet to arrive, but in spite of this, he is a good play in this opener.
Tennis Free Picks: Young in three sets
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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.