Posted on 3/27/2008 4:18:12 PM

Tennis Betting - Free Picks – Second Round ATP Masters Series in Miami

By Nila Amerova

Miami, Florida – Day 1 of the Sony Ericsson Open brought plenty of elation to the young up-and-comer contingent on the ATP Tour as Sam Querrey, Juan Del Potro, [Q] Kevin Anderson, and Marin Cilic advanced into the second round. Their reward: to set up a second round matchup with the seeded players who received a Bye into the R64. This is perhaps the most thrilling stage to bet on, as the occasion – the opening matches of seeded players – serves up the potential for the first series of upsets in a tournament. The expectation is that most – if not all—the seeds will be favoured by the odds makers to advance. But with players playing the “best of two sets,” the fair price is different than when playing the “best of three sets” as in a Grand Slam. The greater the skill level the more it helps the favorite to win the best of five. In the best of three, the age-old adage “anything can happen” applies.

So in terms of handicapping the second round, there are several underdogs who can keep up with the big players and string a perfect game that could knock them off their stride or come close.

Tennis Free Picks are for matches scheduled to start at 10AM Eastern Time on Friday, March 28, 2008.

Tennis betting Line: David Nalbandian vs. Xavier Malisse

Tennis Prediction: Seventh seed David Nalbandian should feel comfortable with his opening matchup in Miami, as he owns a perfect 4-0 lifetime record over Xavier Malisse. The last time they met was at the 2007 US Open in the R64, and Nalbandian dismissed Malisse in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 6-2. Comfortable on hard surfaces, I don’t expect Nalbandian to waver at this stage. Nalbandian owns a 15-3 record for the season and last week in Indian Wells, he made a quarterfinal appearance, lost to Mardy Fish.

Tennis Free Pick: Nalbandian in straight sets.

Tennis betting Line: Sebastien Grosjean vs. Radek Stepanek

Tennis Prediction: Seeded twenty-seventh in Miami, Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic faces a player he has never beaten in his opening match. Frenchman No.53 Sebastien Grosjean owns a perfect 3-0 lifetime record over the Czech, which is comprised of victories on all surfaces. Grosjean, who resides in Florida, owns a home court like advantage in his adopted State, adding to his edge. Taking Grosjean in this match up may be the better play. Although Grosjean was a first round casualty in Indian Wells, he contested a Challenger event and reached the final in the interim. His hard court game warmed up and more importantly, the confidence of winning reaffirmed in his game, he could upset the twenty-seventh seed Stepanek.

Stepanek enters this matchup with a winning record for the season at 12-6. In Indian Wells, he was a third round casualty, lost to David Nalbandian.

Tennis Free Pick: Grosjean in three sets.

Tennis betting Line: Ivan Ljubicic vs. Fabrice Santoro

Tennis Prediction: This is a tight matchup with No.24 Ivan Ljubicic leading by the slimmest of margins, 4-3 lifetime. In 2007, they met in the R32 in Miami; Ljubicic persevered, coming back from behind with the three set victory 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. In Indian Wells, Ljubicic advanced to the R16, where he lost to Roger Federer. Santoro skipped the ATP Masters Series in Indian Wells. Ranked No.49 in the World, Fabrice “The Magician” Santoro is a veteran player who still has the game to best the Tours best. This is one match the Frenchman can win in Miami, as Ljubicic, still chaffing from his loss to Federer last week on his 29th birthday, may have a shortage of confidence.

Tennis Free Pick: Santoro in three sets

Tennis betting Line: James Blake vs. Andreas Seppi

Tennis Prediction: No.9 James Blake trails 0-1 lifetime against Italian Andreas Seppi, after he shocked the American in Adelaide in 2006, coming from behind to seize the victory 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. I don’t expect Blake to underestimate Seppi this time around. Take Blake for the win.

Tennis Free Pick: Blake in straight sets

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