Posted on 4/11/2008 4:45:58 PM

Tennis Betting - B & L Odds - Mauresmo vs. Cibulkova

By Nila Amerova

Amelia Island, Florida – Three of the eight quarterfinalists at the Bausch & Lomb Championships are teenagers. No. 34 Dominika Cibulkova and No.49 Alize Cornet are perhaps the most impressive of the three up-and-comers of the game. Cibulkova and Cornet (both 18-years-old) delivered some of the most surprising results of the tournament thus far. Cibulkova caused the tournaments biggest upset when she topped second seed Anna Chakvetadze yesterday to book her berth in the final eight; meanwhile, Cornet became the tournament’s first semi-finalist today when she triumphed over Virginie Razzano earlier today. Bet on Cibulkova’s quarterfinal match against Amelie Mauresmo, which is scheduled for the night session. Should Cibulkova upset Mauresmo (a one-time champion in Amelia Island) she will set up an exciting semi-final match against Cornet – a battle of the teenage up-and-comers in the final four.

Tennis Betting Line: Amelie Mauresmo vs. Dominika Cibulkova

Match Time: Not Before 07:00 PM Eastern Time, Friday April 11, 2008

Analysis: Slovak Dominika Cibulkova has had a solid season to date, and reaches her third Tour quarterfinal in nine events. At the start of the year, she reached the quarterfinal in her first event in Gold Coast (l. to Victoria Azarenka). But her best result came in Doha where en route to the quarterfinal round, she defeated Venus Williams in the R32 before losing to Agnieska Radwanska in the final eight. Her victory over Williams marked her first victory over a Top 10 elite player (Venus was ranked No.7 at the time) bringing the 18-year-old Slovak to everyone’s attention.

Cibulkova arrived in Amelia Island with 14-9 record for the season, and en route to the quarterfinal she defeated Anastasia Rodionova, Viktoria Azarenka and second seed Anna Chakvetadze. Cibulkova improves to 17-9 for the season.

Cibulkova brings a 0-2 record in quarterfinals against veteran Amelie Mauresmo who notched her career 500th match win yesterday when she topped Agnieska Radwanska in the R16. A lack of experience and seasoning has contributed to Cibulkova two failed attempts at advancing from the quarterfinals, but both final eight losses came in close three set marathons encounters. With each tournament, Cibulkova’s game has seen marked improvement and you have to believe that someday – maybe today – she will win a quarterfinal match.

No.24 Amelie Mauresmo of France (28-years-old) is a one-time champion and one-time finalist at this event. She arrived in Amelia Island with an 11-7 record for the season, improving to 14-7 with victories over Olga Savchuk, Sorana Cirstea and Agnieska Radwanska. Mauresmo has been struggling to find her form since undergoing surgery last year.

Betting Verdict: Based purely on performance at this event, infallible Mauresmo is not. It took her nearly three hours and three sets to dismiss Agnieska Radwanska in the R16. At 28 years old and in questionable form, Mauresmo is vulnerable.

Cibulkova is in form and with a big upset in the R16 over second seed Anna Chakvetadze, she should be brimming with confidence coming into this match. Of course, the pressure could be overwhelming; however, after experiencing the weight of expectations once already this season (when she defeated Venus Williams in Doha) Cibulkova will be better equipped to deal with it this time around.

Tennis Free Picks: Cibulkova in three sets

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