Posted on 4/17/2008 2:01:19 PM

Tennis Betting - Family Circle Cup - Sharapova and Williams

By Nila Amerova

Charleston, South Carolina – As much as everyone in the tennis-betting world cannot help but look forward to a potential quarterfinal matchup between Maria Sharapova and Serena Williams at the Family Circle Cup, the duo must first win their respective R16 encounters before the mouth-watering prospect of a final eight clash between the two titans in tennis can become a reality.

Winning has not been much of a problem for No.4 Maria Sharapova and No.9 Serena Williams this year. In fact, both have lost just one match so far in 2008! It is no understatement, but they have been near perfect.

The enigmatic duo fall into the same section of the draw at the Family Circle Cup and in such crowded quarters what lies ahead for the lucky pair is potentially (more likely than not) a match against each other, which means the run of luck will end for one player inevitably in the quarterfinal.

Indeed a grim prospect for either player, but a hot tennis-betting prospect for sports bettors! Hey, tennis bettors cannot get sentimental – it’s not like every day a perfect tennis matchup like theirs comes our way. Losing is part of the game after all. And as far as tennis betting goes, there is only one question to be had: if the tournament receives this blockbuster matchup, on which player do you lay down your money.

Little in Maria Sharapova’s Way?

Sharapova, who lifted the 2008 Australian Open crown and the Doha title, is fresh of winning her season’s third title and career first clay-court title at the Bausch & Lomb Championships last week. Prior to Amelia Island, Sharapova was in a five-way tie in titles with Justine Henin (Sydney and Antwerp), Serena Williams (Bangalore Open and Sony Ericsson Open), Flavia Pennetta (Vina del Mar and Acapulco) and Lindsay Davenport (Auckland and Memphis). But with the title victory, Sharapova pulled ahead with a tour-leading 3 titles and an enviable 22-1 mark for the season.

In her opening match of the Family Circle Cup, Maria Sharapova strung together a masterful performance over a hapless Bethanie Mattek, paralyzing the American with a 6-0, 6-0 whipping that took a mere painless 59 minutes and 37 seconds to deliver! Cawaaazy! Either Mattek forgot she had a match today or Sharapova was sending a message to the rest of the playing field?

An Untroubled Serena Williams?

At the start of the tournament, Serena Williams arrived with a 14-1 mark for the season and 2 WTA titles; her second title victory of the year in Miami marks her second consecutive victory in Miami and fifth, overall Sony Ericsson Open title. In winning her fifth, Williams ties Steffi Graf’s record at the premier Tier I event (oft referred to as the fifth Grand Slam).

A relatively untroubled Serena Williams kicked off her tournament against Argentina’s Gisela Dulko in the second round. While she faced a stiffer challenge from Dulko, Williams defeated the Argentine 6-3, 6-4 to book her place in the R16.

A Winning Note!

Serena Williams holds a 4-2 winning record over Maria Sharapova, giving her the edge in head-to-heads, but also an added edge as she won their last three encounters. In 2007, Williams beat Sharapova twice – at the Australian Open final with a commanding 6-1, 6-2 score and in the R16 at the Sony Ericsson Open with a 6-1, 6-1 win. If history were an indication, Williams is a taker! But looking at Sharapova’s frightening performance this year, Williams will not have an easy match this time around.

To throw you a little crumb to chew on: Sharapova had her worst season last year; suffering with a shoulder injury, the first half of the 2007 season was a whitewash affair for the Russian. She crashed out of tournaments early or lost abysmally to top players. It was not only until the year-end WTA Tour Championships when Sharapova by reaching the final showed signs of regaining her frightening (err...fighting) form. Although she lost at the time to Justine Henin, she left an indelible impression of what her 2008 season would look like.

Fast forward three months and to the second week of the American clay court swing of the WTA tour and the Russian starlet, who had never won a clay court title – had never even reached a final of a clay court event, for that matter – arrives in Charleston with wait for it...drum roll...her first career clay court title. Yes, I did already mention it, but it’s a necessary reminder as – lest you did not know – Sharapovas’ least favorite surface is clay! Something about feeling like a “cow on ice” when playing on clay, so said the Russian at the 2007 French Open last year! Moreover, Sharapova has strung together an overwhelming 22-match wins thus far, many of which featured a complete destruction and annihilation of her opponents. Her second round victory over Bethanie Mattek – a 6-0, 6-0 humiliation – is case and point!

Milking the Victory?

So what does that tell you dear tennis bettor? Why it must be clear, No? Sharapova, Sharapova, Sharapova of course! An incredible season, marred by only one match-loss; winning a title for the first time on clay – a surface that makes the statuesque Russian feel like an ungainly cow; and championship credentials (three-time Grand Slam champion.. and so forth) ... need I say more.....

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