Posted on 5/11/2007 7:51:56 PM

Tennis Betting – ATP Masters Series Rome Predictions

By Nila Amerova

Rome, Italy – With the semifinal round of the ATP Masters Series in Rome almost upon us, we are only two matches away from the final on Sunday May 13th, 2007.

Clay court King Rafael Nadal advanced to the semifinal round with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over Novak Djokovic. Nadal’s next challenger is Nikolay Davydenko, who battled back from a set down to clinch the victory against Tommy Robredo in three sets 1-6, 6-3, 6-3.

Only a victory away from claiming a hat trick in Rome and third hat trick of the season, the odds for Nadal to accomplish this feat are entirely in his favor. Against Nikolay Davydenko, Nadal holds a 1-0 record, owing to a victory at the 2006 Tennis Masters Cup in China.

More importantly, Nadal is poised to break the record of most matches won on one surface, a record that currently is held by John McEnroe – 75-match winning streak on indoor carpet.

 

Improving his record to 30/5 for the season, and undefeated on clay in 75 matches, Nadal seems unstoppable. Particularly by Davydenko who has been struggling of late. In the semifinal, Nadal is the sure play indeed.

Tennis Free Picks: - Bet on Nadal to advance into the final round of the ATP Masters Series in Rome without a second thought.

On the other side of the draw, top seeds Roger Federer and Andy Roddick were dismissed in the third round by Filippo Volandri and Juan Ignacio Chela respectively. Continuing his poetic run in Rome, Volandri sent Tomas Berdych home with an emphatic 6-2, 6-3, victory to advance into the semifinal round.

Italy’s Volandri has had a spectacular run in Rome, particularly as he entered the competition on a wild card invitation. Only a victory away from a possible final with Nadal, the crowd’s favorite Volandri would appear to be a good play in the semifinal.

However, before Volandri can secure a spot in the final, he must first play either sixth seed Fernando Gonzalez or Juan Ignacio Chela in the semifinal.

With the quarterfinal match between Gonzalez and Chela currently in progress, and Gonzalez taking the first 2 sets 6-3, 6-4 Gonzalez is positioned well to advance into the semifinal.

Free Tennis Pick: - In the semifinal matchup between Gonzalez and Volandri, I like Volandri’s odds to advance. While the pressure of performing at the semifinal will be greater than before for the No. 54 ranked player in the world, with the crowd cheering Volandri on he can very well script another chapter in his Cinderella run at the Masters Series in Rome.

Finally, with my picks – Nadal and Volandri – for the ATP Masters Series Final in Rome selected, my final pick for the title is, of course, Nadal.

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