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posted February 22, 2008 at 20:21 in Tennis Betting Trends

Buenos Aires, Argentina – On the Latin American leg the ATP Tour stopped in Buenos Aires for the Copa Telmex. As the tournament moves into the semi-final round on Saturday, February 23, 2008, already through to the final four is unseeded Argentinean Jose Acasuso and eighth seed Filippo Volandri of Italy. Still to contest for a semi-final berth in the top half of the draw is Argentinean top seed David Nalbandian (tipped at -400 with BetUS Sportsbook) against seventh seed Potito Starace of Italy (+250) and fourth seed Juan Ignacio Chela of Argentina (tipped at +130) against Nicolas Almagro of Spain (-170). BetUS is taking action on all the tournaments running on the ATP tour this week, so check out the odds currently open and get your tennis betting thrills on for this weekend.

Tennis Betting Line: Jose Acasuso vs. Filippo Volandri

Match Time: 07:00 AM Eastern Time Saturday February 23, 2008

Tennis Prediction: After battling through for a berth in the Copa Telmex semi-final with a comeback win from behind 3-6, 6-1, 6-3 over Igor Andreev of Russia, Argentina’s Jose Acasuso reaches his fourth semi-final in Buenos Aires. In his last three attempts, Acasuso reached the final only once (lost to Gustavo Kuerten in 2001) and in back-to-back attempts in 2004-05, he failed to advance, losing to Carlos Moya and Mariano Puerto respectively.

In tomorrow’s semi-final, Acasuso holds the edge over Filippo Volandri with a perfect 5-0 record, all of which came on clay. With such a strong advantage, Acasuso should be confident of advancing into his second final on home turf.

Acasuso enters the semi-final with a 7/5 record for the season and will try to advance into the final on Sunday to contest for his fourth overall career ATP title; the last time Acasuso lifted a title was in 2006, at Vina del Mar, and the last time he contested a title was last year in Sopot (clay). A clay court specialist Acasuso is a good bet to advance.

No.41 Filippo Volandri enters the semi-final with a 6/4 record for the season and with the knowledge he trails 0-5 against Acasuso; losing their last meeting in 2007 in Hamburg in a close three set battle 3-6 7-6(3) 6-3.

In the semi-final tomorrow, Volandri will face a player he has never beaten and one that will have the support of the crowd. The odds are against Volandri who reaches his first ATP semi-final of the season, but in the quarter-final, he defeated Agustin Calleri of Argentina, so the crowd may not factor as much as his losing record against Acasuso.

Volandri is attempting to reach back-to-back finals in Buenos Aires; last year he finished runner-up at this event, lost to Carlos Moya 6-7(6) 4-6.

On paper, Acasuso is the better play, but Volandri is a solid clay-court player and has the game to beat Acasuso. He has come close on several occasions, making him an underdog with value.

 

Tennis Free Picks: Volandri in three sets

 

 

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