Posted on
3/3/2008 9:48:25 PM
Betting On Tennis - Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships
By Nila Amerova
Dubai, UAE – This week it is the men’s turn to compete at the Barclay’s Dubai Tennis Championships, after Elena Dementieva of Russia claimed her first Sony Ericsson WTA title of the season on these very same courts on Saturday, defeating Svetlana Kuznetsova for the coveted prize. Four-time Dubai champion and 2007 defending champion Roger Federer has already been eliminated on Day 1 of the tournament. The second day of tennis betting action is almost upon us, so don’t wait and bet on your favorite players to advance into the next round. To help you get started, here are a few choice tennis picks for the up-coming matchups.
Tennis Betting Line: Marin Cilic +375 Novak Djokovic -650
Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, March 4, 2008
Tennis Prediction: For the Top 10 players on the tour, who have seen limited tournament action, witnessing the momentous upset of Federer in the first round should be a cause for concern. No.3 Djokovic included. Since his big win at the season’s first Grand Slam, he retired mid-match against Russia in Serbia’s Davis Cup action and earlier last month ,lost in the second round in Marseille to Gilles Simon. While Djokovic owns an 8/2 record for the season, having lost only two matches thus far, his record is largely the sum total of his performance in Melbourne.
In No.45 Marian Cilic, he comes up against an in-form player, who has contested six tournaments but brings an 8/5 record for the season into their up-coming first round meeting. Cilic earned his best result in Chennai, where he made a semifinal appearance (l. to eventual champion Youzhny). At the Australian Open, Cilic topped 2007 Australian Open runner-up Fernando Gonzalez in the R32, before suffering defeat in the R16 (l. to James Blake).
Andy Murray’s victory may very well be an inspiration to Cilic, he could very well prove to be the winning bet. AT + 375 underdog odds, it is a tempting wager.
Tennis Free Picks: Cilic in three sets
Tennis Betting Line: Philipp Kohlschreiber +235 Rafael Nadal -375
Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, March 4, 2008
Tennis Prediction: No.27 Philipp Kohlschreiber is the proud owner of a huge victory over a Top 10 player this season, Andy Roddick at the Australian Open R32. Kohslchreiber also won his first ATP title of the season in Auckland in January. However, since his impressive turn-out down under at the start of the season, he has contested one tournament in Rotterdam, crashing out in its opening round (l. to Mischa Zverev).
No.2 Rafael Nadal owns a perfect record against Kohlschreiber, earning all three victories in 2007. Nadal, brings a 10/3 record into their first round meeting, which includes a runner-up finish in Chennai, a semifinal appearance at the Australian Open and a second round exit in Rotterdam. Nadal, not unlike Federer and Djokovic, is short on match-play coming into Dubai, but I like his odds against Kohlschreiber.
Tennis Free Picks: Nadal in straight sets
Tennis Betting Line: Andy Roddick -300 Juan Carlos Ferrero +200
Match Time: 05:00 AM Eastern Time, March 4, 2008
Tennis Prediction: No.6 Andy Roddick owns a perfect 3-0 record over Juan Carlos Ferrero, and enters this matchup as the -300 favorite. Ferrero, who is better known for his clay court skills, has never beaten Roddick on a hard surface, albeit in their three encounters on hard, the matches were close. Roddick owns one title for the season – San Jose and a 10/2 record.
Tennis Free Picks: Roddick in straight sets
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Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.