Posted on 3/5/2008 6:00:39 PM

ATP Tennis Betting - Channel Open Free Picks Second Round

By Nila Amerova

Las Vegas, Nevada – Top seed Fernando Gonzalez, second seed and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt and third seed Marcos Baghdatis advanced into the second round relative ease. Also through is fourth seed Guillermo Canasa, fifth seed Potito Starace and eighth seed Nicolas Kiefer. Sixth seed Michael Llodra became the tournament’s first casualty yesterday when he was upset by qualifier Kevin Anderson of South Africa 6-2, 7-6(2). Anderson’s win was his first career ATP match-win, coming in his third tournament to be contested this season. (Seventh seed Robin Soderling withdrew from the tournament.) The second round of the Tennis Channel Open kicks off today, so without further ado, here is a look at some of the live tennis odds currently available at BetUS.

Tennis Betting Line:

Nicolas Kiefer -2 -125 -175 Over 22½ -140

Sam Querrey +2 -115 +135 Under 22½ EV

Match Time: 05:00 PM Eastern Time, March 5, 2008

Tennis Prediction: American Sam Querrey, who currently ranks No. 66 in the World, improved to 8/6 for the season, after defeating Sebastien Grosjean 6-2, 4-6, 7-6(8) in the first round. Querrey has had a promising start to his 2008 season, posting his best result in Delray Beach – a semifinal appearance (l. to eventual champion Kei Nishikori). Querrey also had a commendable run at the Australian Open; the up-and-comer reached the R32 for a second consecutive year. At +135, Querrey is disadvantaged on the money line, but with home court advantage, his underdog odds hold value.

No. 48 Nicolas Kiefer of Germany is contesting his third tournament of the season. Earlier this year he competed in Doha (reached the R16, but withdrew) and fell in the opening round of the Australian Open (l. Juan Carlos Ferrero). In the first round of the Tennis Channel Open, Kiefer edged past fellow German, Benjamin Becker 6-4, 6-3. Favored at -175 on the money line, Kiefer enters the second round with 2/1 record for the season. Short on match play, Kiefer is not a sure favorite to advance; since 2006, the 30-year-old Kiefer has been recovering from a wrist injury.

Tennis Free Pick: Querrey in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line:

Julien Benneteau +4 -120 +250 Over 21½ -125

Lleyton Hewitt -4 -120 -400 Under 21½ -115

Match Time: 10:30 PM Eastern Time, March 5, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Second seed and defending champion Lleyton Hewitt is tipped as the -400 favorite in this matchup. Hewitt holds a 1-0 advantage over Julien Benneteau of France; Hewitt defeated Benneteau at the AMS in Monte Carlo in 2004. Hewitt brings an 8/4 record into the second round, which includes a quarterfinal appearance in Adelaide; a R16 appearance in Sydney; a R16 appearance at the Australian Open and a first round exit in Rotterdam.

Julien Benneteau enters with a 5/4 record for the season; posting his best winning streak in Auckland, where he reached the semifinal.

Tennis Free Pick: Hewitt in straight sets