Posted on 1/17/2008 5:12:54 PM

Australian Open Betting – Third Round Tennis Free Picks

By Nila Amerova

Melbourne, Australian – The bottom half of the draw, which includes No.2 Rafael Nadal, No.6 Andy Roddick and No.8 Richard Gasquet moves into the third round. Tennis odds for these match ups are currently available at BetUS Sportsbook. Here are some free tennis picks for a select few matches.

Match Time: Start at 5PM Eastern Time Thursday, 17 January 2008.

Tennis Betting Line:

Andy Roddick -6½ -125 -700 Over 36½ +105

Philipp Kohlschreiber +6½ -115 +400 Under 36½ -145

Tennis Prediction: Andy Roddick holds a 2-0 record against No.27 Philipp Kohlschreiber of Germany; however, the last time the two met in tournament action was in 2005. There is no question that Andy Roddick at -700 on the money line is the safe bet. Strengthening his odds is his overall Top 10 ranking, his consistent performance from season-to-season and his overall hard court game. One of the best servers on the tour, Roddick is a good play.

On the other hand, Philipp Kohlschreiber has had a promising start to the 2008 season. Kohlschreiber turned out two hopeful performances at the two Australian Open warm-up events. In Doha, Kohlschreiber advanced into the quarterfinal round, where he lost to Ivan Ljubicic; in Auckland, his run saw him claim the title, defeating Juan Carlos Ferrero in a close match 7-6(4), 7-5. At the start of the Australian Open, Kohlschreiber on the strength of his performance in the preceding weeks broke into the Top 30. He arrives in Melbourne with a 7/1 record. At +400 underdog odds there is a lot of value to be had by speculating on Kohlschreiber.

By all indications, this matchup will be a tough one for the favourite Roddick. Indeed, it could be a match that could produce and upset or a nigh upset. For bettors who balk at taking a risk, take Roddick, but for those who have the tennis balls to bet on an underdog, this match could very well be the one to deliver a surprise result in Melbourne.

Tennis Free Pick: Kohlschreiber in five sets

Tennis Betting Line:

Marc Gicquel +8½ -110 +800

Nikolay Davydenko -8½ -130 -2000

Tennis Prediction: No.4 Nikolay Davydenko owns a 1-0 record over No.73 Marc Gicquel. Davydenko is the safe bet. Davydenko is not a player who wins major events, but he is a consistent player and typically makes a deep run. At the very least, Davydenko is a good bet to the quarterfinal round. Against Gicquel, he should have a relatively easy match.

Tennis Free Pick: Davydenko in four sets

Tennis Betting Line:

Mikhail Youzhny -3 -130 -240 Over 43½ +110

Ivo Karlovic +3 -110 +180 Under 43½ -150

Tennis Prediction: No.14 Mikhail Youzhny arrived at the start of the Australian Open with a perfect record for the season at 5/0. Youzhny was the surprise winner at the Chennai Open, defeating Rafael Nadal emphatically in the final. As the -240 odds makers’ favourite, Youzhny is a safe bet to make. The 6’10” Croatian Ivo Karlovic, who ranks No.24 in the World, has one of the most formidable serves on the tour, typically acing his way through a match. Although Karlovic got off to a slow start this season, losing his opening match in Doha against No. 194 Christophe Rochus (a player whom he should have easily beaten owing to his low ranking), Karlovic’s Australian Open campaign has gotten off to a promising start.

This match will be the first real contest for both players. Both have much to recommend them on the money line, however, I would go with the odds makers and take Youzhny for the win.

Tennis Free Pick: Youzhny in five sets

Tennis Betting Line:

Richard Gasquet -6 -125 -450 Over 36½ -110

Igor Andreev +6 -115 +275 Under 36½ -130

Tennis Prediction: No.35 Igor Andreev of Russia spent much of last year trying to regain his playing form and fitness, after missing four months to undergo left-knee surgery in the spring of 2007. While his results in 2007 were hardly impressive (compiled a 26-15 record), he worked his way back up the rankings. Recommending Andreev (the odds makers’ underdog at +275 on the money line), is a punishing forehand shot – a shot that was largely responsible for handing Andy Roddick his crushing loss in the first round of Roland Garros last year. Clearly, Andreev is not a player to be underestimated.

Richard Gasquet or “Baby Federer” as he is oft fondly referred to is the short odds favourite at -125 on the money line; however, Gasquet trails 2-3 against Andreev in career head-to-heads. Andreev owns victories over Gasquet on hard, clay and grass. Their most recent meeting was in Sydney this year – a match Gasquet won 6-3, 7-6(6); but as the score indicates, it was a close contest. Andreev could prove to be a threat to Baby Federer’s Australian Open campaign and smarting from the loss in Sydney, what better stage for Andreev to exact revenge than on one of the Grandest in tennis – Vodafone Arena.

Tennis Free Pick: Andreev in five sets

Federer might be winning everything except clay these days, but with online sports betting in the BetUS.com Sportsbook, betting on tennis has never been so exciting! Join the BetUS.com online sportsbook today and start using the latest tennis lines, odds and props to earn cold, hard cash!

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