Posted on
10/24/2007 8:23:34 PM
Tennis Betting - ATP Lyon Grand Prix – Roddick Stunned In Opener
By Nila Amerova
Lyon, France – The much anticipated match up between the top seed Andy Roddick (favored at -900 with BetUS Sportsbook) and Frenchman Fabrice “The Magician” Santoro (+450) concluded today with a stunning victory for the crowd favorite Santoro. The crafty Frenchman Santoro overwhelmed the 2005 Lyon champion Roddick (who returned to tournament play this week after sitting out with a knee injury since representing USA in the Davis Cup last month), ousting A-Rod in a marathon three set match 7-6 (7-5), 2-6, 6-4. For those tennis bettors who banked on Santoro at +450, enjoy the payout! Heck, go-ahead give’er a pat on the back! I know I will! I picked it!
However, let us not get ahead of ourselves! There is still a long way to go before a titlist is crowned in Lyon, so focus is the key. The tournament moves into the second round and while top seed Andy Roddick crashed out in his opening match, the defending champion and fourth seed Richard Gasquet, fifth seed Ivan Ljubicic and eighth seed Simon Gilles are still alive. Is the eventual titlist in this group, or will a new winner emerge from the rest of the playing field?
Care to bet on it? If so, here are some choice free picks for the tennis odds that are available with BetUS.com to get you started. The second round matchups are set to start on Thursday, October 25, 2007. Remember with careful handicapping you can have a lot of success with betting on tennis.
Tennis Betting Line: Richard Gasquet -300 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga +200
Tennis Prediction: Shanghai hopeful No. 11 Gasquet arrives into this match up as the favorite over his compatriot Frenchman No. 65 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Strengthening his odds is a modest season at 44/20, which includes one ATP title. Gasquet owns a 1-0 record over Tsonga – a victory he earned this year in the R16 in Wimbledon. By all indications, Gasquet should be the better play. However, last week in the AMS Madrid, Gasquet crashed out of his opening match to another kinsman – Paul-Henri Mathieu. Moreover, aside from winning this tournament in 2006, Gasquet made only one other appearance in Lyon, in 2002, where he crashed out in the first round to Marat Safin.
Tsonga has an opportunity to avenge his Wimbledon loss to Gasquet on this less high profile stage. Much has been said of this young Frenchman’s talent, and perhaps under less scrutiny and on this slower surface – which favors Tsonga’s game better, Tsonga could improve his record to 1-1 against Gasquet.
Tennis Free Pick: Tsonga for the upset in straight sets.
Tennis Betting Line: Oliver Marach +185 Alejandro Falla -250
Tennis Prediction – Both No. 157 Oliver Marach and No.128 Alejandro Falla arrive in to the second round after upsetting power players in their opening matches. Marach topped Andreas Seppi while Alejandro Falla overpowered Igor Andreev. Both players arrive with underwhelming records for the season. Neither holds a marked edge over the other.
Tennis Free Pick: Marach in straight sets
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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.