Posted on 10/18/2007 1:09:37 PM

Tennis Wagering WTA Tennis Zurich Open Second Round Picks

By Nila Amerova

Zurich, Switzerland – In a tournament that boasted the Top four players on the WTA tour, Wednesday’s second round action at the Zurich Open saw two of these distinguished figures sent off packing. Serbian sensations, No.3 Jelena Jankovic and No.5 Ana Ivanovic, were the first two casualties in the top elite.

Jankovic was eked out of the tournament by Nicole Vaidisova in straight sets 6-4, 6-1, and Ivanovic was overpowered by Tatiana Golovin 6-3, 6-1. Jankovic’s second round exit marks her third, consecutive second round exit in the last three years at this event.

Serbia’s Jankovic and Ivanovic were two of the favorites at the Zurich Open, receiving a bye into the second round, but with their untimely exit, their respective draws have become slightly easier for the two remaining favorites, Henin and Kuznetsova.

World No.1 Justine Henin eased into the tournament with a comfortable victory over Russia’s Vera Zvonareva 6-3, 6-1. Still to play today in the second round is No.2 Svetlana Kuznetsova. BetUS Sportsbook has Kuznetsova tipped at -600 against Austria’s Sybille Bammer +350.

Tennis Line: Sybille Bammer    +350        Svetlana Kuznetsova    -600 
Match Time: 02:30 PM EST

Tennis Prediction – No.2 Kuznetsova arrives in Zurich with a 54/16 record for the season and one WTA title. Further strengthening her odds is a comfortable 3-0 lead over No. 21 Sybille Bammer, of which, two of their meetings came this year - at Indiana Wells (hard) and Berlin Open (clay).

At the Sony Ericsson Open in Indiana Wells, Kuznetsova fought back from a set down to win in three sets 6-7(5) 6-4 6-1. At the Berlin Open, a clay court tournament – a surface that favors Kuznetsova’s game - Kuznetsova fared slightly better with a straight set victory 6-1, 7-5.

Since the summer hard court season, Kuznetsova has played some of her best tennis this season. Winning in New Haven and reaching the 2007 US Open finals were some of the highlights of her year. In her last two tournaments –- Stuttgart and Moscow respectively – Kuznetsova reached the semifinal rounds (lost to Tatiana Golovin in Stuttgart and Serena Williams in Moscow).

In the early rounds, Kuznetsova is a good bet. The only tournament that saw Kuznetsova crash out in her first match was in Sydney at the beginning of this year. Since then, Kuznetsova has consistently made deep runs. Betting on Kuznetsova at this stage is the better bet.

Tennis Free Pick – Kuznetsova in straight sets.

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