Posted on 2/21/2008 10:42:36 AM

Tennis Betting - Qatar Open Second Round Tennis Picks

By Nila Amerova

Doha, Qatar – The Qatar Open running from February 18-24, 2008 is a prestigious Tier I event with a total prize purse of $2,500,000. The 64-strong draw includes top seed and World No.2 Ana Ivanovic, No. 3 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No.4 Jelena Jankovic, No.5 Maria Sharapova and No. 7 Venus Williams. BetUS is offering tennis odds on the Qatar Open. So, as the second round prepares to kick off on Wednesday February 20, 2008, here are some free tennis picks to get you started betting on tennis.

Tennis Betting Line: Tamarine Tanasugarn +500 Amelie Mauresmo -1000

Match Time: 07:00 AM Eastern Time, Wednesday February 20, 2008

Tennis Prediction: No.22 Amelie Mauresmo of France should have an easy opening match against No.101 Tamarine Tanasugarn of Thailand. The last time the pair met was in 2004, with the victory going the way of Mauresmo. Lifetime, Mauresmo holds a 4-1 record over Tanasugarn. At -1000, Mauresmo is the sure play.

Tennis Free Picks: Mauresmo in straight sets

Tennis Betting Line: Virgine Razzano +130 Shahar Peer -170

Match Time: 07:00 AM Eastern Time, Wednesday February 20, 2008

Tennis Prediction: It is interesting to note that No. 25 Virginie Razzano of France is undervalued in this matchup at +130 underdog odds, when she holds a 2-0 record over No.17 Shahar Peer, both victories coming in 2007 on hard. Razzano is an underdog worth laying money on, for she has yet to lose to the 20-year-old Peer. Razzano enters this matchup with a 6/5 record for the season, which includes a run into the Paris quarterfinal round last week, her best result this season. Razzano is a player who clearly can beat Peer.

The higher ranked Peer is the bookies’ favorite to advance at -170, and with a 7/4 record for the season, which includes a run into the semi-final at Gold Coast—her best performance which came in the first week of the season, there is much to recommend her. However, this is the first tournament since the Australian Open last month (aside from Fed Cup action at the beginning of the month) that Peer is competing in. She is not a sure play.

Tennis Free Picks: Razzano in three sets

Tennis Betting Line: Yaroslava Shvedova +500 Jelena Jankovic -1000

Match Time: 07:00 AM Eastern Time, Wednesday February 20, 2008

Tennis Prediction: This is the first meeting between No.4 Jelena Jankovic and No.110 Yaroslava Shvedova. With the whopping price tag attached to Jankovic, there is no doubt she is the better player. Short of an upset, Shvedova is a long shot bet.

Tennis Free Picks: Jankovic in straight sets

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