Posted on 5/5/2008 6:52:54 PM

Tennis Betting Odds - Masters Series Rome 1st Round

By Nila Amerova

Rome, Italy – The men’s online tennis betting market at BetUS Sportsbook is offering online betting odds for the ATP Masters Series in Rome, and as the tournament is already underway, what lies ahead for sports bettors, once again, is an exciting week of online betting. The 64-strong draw in Rome is steeped in talent, the early stages featuring some stellar matchups that within the first three rounds upsets are an almost certainty. While for the players themselves this is bad news because it amounts to some tough draws to overcome, for tennis bettors, this is good news, as this means there is profit to be made betting on tennis this week. So if you are torn about your picks, uncertain whom you should or should not pick, then check out the free picks below – they are full of fast facts, statistics and betting strategies designed to help you make your tennis picks.

Tennis Betting Line: Ivo Karlovic +225 Paul-Henri Mathieu -350

Match Time: 07:00 AM Eastern Time Tuesday May 6, 2008

Tennis Prediction: For me, the time when Paul-Henri Mathieu gained momentum was during the US Open Series in 2007 – at the ATP Masters Series in Canada – when he took Rafael Nadal to three sensational sets in the R16 before succumbing to the World No.2. Afterwards, a hiccup in the Cincinnati Masters (a first round exit) marred his US Open series before he recovered in New Haven with a run to the semi-final.

In 2008, Mathieu picked up momentum in the early months of tournament play that saw him reach a career-high ranking of No. 12. He reached the quarterfinal in Adelaide and the semi-final in Marseille and Munich (32-draw events). At the Australian Open, he made a fourth round appearance, retired in the R16 against Nadal. In Masters Series events this year, Mathieu reached the R32 in Indian Wells, the R16 in Miami and crashed out of the first round in Monte Carlo.

One stark observation in Mathieu’s season is inconsistency. Over the past few months, the trend with Mathieu has been a seesaw scenario from great to mediocre performances – giving him some solid, if unspectacular results on paper. The clay-court season alone points to his inconsistency, which he kicked off with a first round exit in Monte Carlo, before reaching the semi-final in Munich as the No.1 seed (lost to Boleilli).

In his third clay court event this year, Mathieu comes up against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia for the first time in his career. Entering the match with a 15-11 mark for the year (includes 3-2 mark on clay); Mathieu weighs in as the steep favourite at -350 odds. But is he a sure play? No doubt, the now No.20 ranked player in the world should win this match, especially since Karlovic is not enjoying the best year of his career and arrives in Rome on a low with an 8-11 mark for the season (2-2 on clay). Karlovic is a better player than his season would suggest, giving his underdog odds (+225) some value and making this matchup rather intriguing.

So whom should the bettor pick? I often wonder if I should pick Mathieu or not myself. You see: his inconsistency makes him such a risky play. Should Karlovic find some of the confidence that has deserted him in the early months, he can upset Mathieu – albeit with some help from the Frenchman overplaying and erring on court. However, if Mathieu takes the momentum that saw him reach the final four in Munich last week, he is a good play to advance into the next round in Rome. A tough decision but I will go for the Frenchman and hope my pick comes through.

Tennis Free Picks: Mathieu in three sets

Tennis Betting Line: Dmitry Tursunov +140 Jose Acasuso -180

Match Time: 07:00 AM Eastern Time Tuesday May 6, 2008

Tennis Prediction: Jose Acasuso’s season has been a play at inconsistency, but among his many first round exits, a sprinkling of encouraging results namely coming to him on clay, gives Acasuso some value in this tournament – at least in the early rounds, no pun intended. Tipped at -180 in his upcoming match against Tursunov, Acasuso is the better play as he holds the advantage on surface. In Buenos Aires, Acasuso reached the final (l. to Nalbandian) and in Acapulco, he reached the final four (l. to Almagro). His 14-12 mark for the season includes a 9-5 mark on clay. In comparison, Tursunov favors faster surfaces like hard and grass and so far, of his 13-9 mark for the season, he won two matches and lost two on clay.

Tennis Free Picks: Acasuso in straight sets

BetUS Sportsbook is taking action on the French Open with the men’s French Open Futures. Check out the futures odds and start betting on the second Grand Slam of the year now!

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