Posted on
3/14/2008 8:11:09 PM
Tennis Betting - ATP Pacific Life Second Round Odds
By Nila Amerova
Indian Wells, CA – The second round of the ATP Masters Series in Indian Wells gets underway on Saturday March 15, 2008, namely with the opening matches of the top 32 seeds at the tournament. Tennis lines are currently live at BetUS.com, so let us check out the odds for some of these premier matches.
Tennis Betting Line: Marcos Baghdatis -600 Wayne Odesnik +350
Match Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time, Saturday March 15, 2008
Tennis Prediction: No.123 Wayne Odesnik holds home court advantage but that is the only advantage the 22-year-old American has in this matchup. Is it enough to upset No.18 Marcos Baghdatis? Not really. On paper, Baghdatis is the better play – hands-down.
Tennis Free Picks: Baghdatis in straight sets
Tennis Betting Line: Guillermo Canas -400 Jonas Bjorkman +250
Match Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time, Saturday March 15, 2008
Tennis Prediction: Owing to a match-win in 2002 at the Australian Open, Bjorkman holds a 1-0 lifetime record over Guillermo Canas. The veteran has not met Canas at an ATP tournament since then. On paper, No.16 Canas is the better play – no question – and he should win. However, Bjorkman is one of the veterans of the ATP Tour, and as such, should not be underestimated. He arrives into the second round after defeating Filippo Volandri in straight sets. A fortnight ago in Memphis, Bjorkman reached the semifinal, defeating Capdeville, Querrey and Young en route to the final four.
I expect this to be a close and tight match, with the victory going to either player by only a handful of points. While Canas is the short-odds-on favorite to win at -400, especially since this was the event in which he sent seismic waves last year by defeating Roger Federer, betting on the 35-year-old Bjorkman at +250 holds value as well.
Tennis Free Picks: Bjorkman in three sets
Tennis Betting Line: Richard Gasquet -140 Robin Soderling EV
Match Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time, Saturday March 15, 2008
Tennis Prediction: The price tag on No.39 Robin Soderling is a good one – more importantly one that could payout. No. 8 Richard Gasquet, owing to his higher ranking and overall career ATP record is favoured; but the last time Gasquet beat Soderling was in 2006 (they are tied 2-2 lifetime) . The two most recent victories went the way of Soderling – Marseille in 2007 and 2008. I much prefer Soderlings odds.
Further recommending Soderling odds is his 2008 season, which has gotten off to an impressive start. In his first event in Marseille, Soderling defeated Gasquet in the second round, but lost in the quarterfinal to Ancic. In his subsequent two events, Soderling posted back-to-back runner-up finishes. Soderling is in-form and pulling off some impressive performances, namely stunning No.6 Andy Roddick in the quarterfinals in Memphis en route to the final. Soderling has the game to beat Gasquet – heck he has already beaten him once this year.
Tennis Free Picks: Soderling in straight sets
Tennis Betting Line: Marc Gicquel +250 James Blake -400
Match Time: 01:00 PM Eastern Time, Saturday March 15, 2008
Tennis Prediction: Entering the AMS in Indian Wells with an 11/4 record for the season and home court advantage No.9 James Blake is the better play in this matchup. Take Blake at -400 without a second thought.
Tennis Free Picks: Blake in straight sets.
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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room