Posted on 3/20/2008 5:34:58 PM

Tennis SportsBook Betting Pacific Life Open Quarterfinal Odds

By Nila Amerova

Indian Wells, CA – The top half of the draw enters the quarterfinal round on Friday, March 21, 2008. World No.1 Roger Federer will vie for a berth in the semifinal against Tommy Haas of Germany and No.7 David Nalbandian will face unseeded American Mardy Fish to fight for a place in the final four. BetUS is currently taking action on these quarterfinal matchups, so check out the tennis odds and place your bets on who you think will advance to the semifinal round on Saturday.

Matchup: Mardy Fish vs. David Nalbandian

Match Time: 02:00PM Eastern Time, Friday March 21, 2008

BetUS Tennis Betting Odds:

Mardy Fish +3 -115 +190 Over 22½ -135

David Nalbandian -3 -125 -275 Under 22½ -105

Mardy Fish (1st Set) +160 Over 10 -130

David Nalbandian (1st Set) -210 Under 10 -110

Analysis: Without a doubt, this is one of Mardy Fish’s best performances in a tournament this season. The American, who dropped in ranking from No.39 at the beginning of the year to his current ranking at No.98, emerged from his quarter of the draw on the heels of upsets over World No.4 Nikolay Davydenko in the R32 and former World No.1 and two-time Indian Wells champion Lleyton Hewitt in the R16. Two convincing victories have given this unlikely quarterfinalist a lot of confidence, making his underdog price tag at +190 on the money line a bet worth considering. As one of last two Americans standing in the tournament, Fish will be the crowd favorite to advance. Further recommending his odds is a 1-0 edge over David Nalbandian, but the victory was notched in 2003 at the ATP Masters Series in Cincinnati. Since then the pair have not met at an ATP level event.

Nalbandian weighs in as the World No.7 and enters this match with a 15-2 record for the season. At -275 favorite odds, he is the bookies pick to win this match. Nalbandian started his year at the Australian Open, but was shocked in the R32 by Juan Carlos Ferrero. Following the Australian Open, Nalbandian won the title in Buenos Aires and finished runner-up in Acapulco – both of which were clay events.

At the Pacific Life Open, Nalbandian was favoured by the draw. In his quarter, he topped Ernests Gulbis, Radek Stepanek and Juan Carlos Ferrero (avenging his Australian Open loss) and now with unseeded Mardy Fish as his quarterfinal challenge, he is out of all the quarterfinalists best poised for a semifinal berth.

Fish is on a bit of a Cinderella run— a fairytale impetus that may carry him into the next round. However, the bottom line is Nalbandian should win this match. As such, Nalbandian is the smart play.

Tennis Free Picks: Nalbandian in straight sets

Matchup: Roger Federer vs. Tommy Haas

Matchup: Roger Federer vs. Tommy Haas

Match Time: 02:00PM Eastern Time, Friday March 21, 2008

BetUS Tennis Betting Odds:

Roger Federer -5 -110 -1600 Over 20½ -135

Tommy Haas +5 -130 +700 Under 20½ -105

Roger Federer (1st Set) -800 Over 9½ -120

Tommy Haas (1st Set) +425 Under 9½ -120

Analysis: World No.1 Roger Federer holds an 8-2 edge over Tommy Haas – a record that includes seven consecutive victories for Federer. The last time Haas beat Federer was in 2002 at the Australian Open. At -800, Roger Federer is the better play.

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